Beauty routine for healthy skin at any age

People spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a year searching for the fountain of youth in a container. Even fresh-faced teens and tweens are filling their vanities with beauty products, often pitched by social media influencers. While some of these products are wonderful, others may not be worth the hype or the cost. 

Skin care by age

Great skin care can be three simple steps:

1. Cleanse
2. Hydrate
3. Protect

With every decade of maturity, you'll add another tool to your routine. Here are my recommendations for your skin care routine by age.

Tweens and teens

• Start with a gentle cleanser. I always recommend Dove soap, Cetaphil or CeraVe facial wash.
• Next, moisturize your skin for hydration. If you have dry skin, try Aquaphor. You can also try moisturizers by CeraVe or Eucerin.
• Finally, protect your skin from the sun. Grab a sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or higher. Use it every day. I like to use mineral sunscreen that doesn’t have any harsh chemicals.

At this age, your skin is too sensitive for products with hyaluronic acid or retinol.

Age 20 and up

As you reach your 20s, you can add retinol cream to your skin care routine, day and night.

• Retinol helps to increase skin cell production, exfoliates the skin and helps to unclog pores.
• You can get retinol over the counter or with a prescription.

Age 30 and up

Now is when you should consider adding a vitamin C serum to your routine.

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps prevent damage from environmental issues such as air pollution.
• Vitamin C also helps the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body, including the face.

Age 40 and up

In your 40s, your skin will become a bit drier. You may also begin to see a loss of elasticity and firmness. Now is the time to add EXTRA moisture. I prefer moisturizers with hyaluronic acid because it helps reduce lines and wrinkles.

These are all tips to keep your face looking and feeling its best. Since your skin is the largest organ and covers your entire body, consider seeing a dermatologist once a year to make sure any damage isn’t something more serious.