17/02/2025
6 skin care practices to start in your 20s
With an overwhelming array of products and skin care trends, it can be difficult to know whatโs good for your skin. Thatโs why we asked two board-certified dermatologists to share their expertise.
Hereโs the skin care advice they recommend for women in their 20s:
Use these two skin care products daily: To keep your skin looking its best, dermatologists recommend using these two skin care products every day:
A mild cleanser: When selecting a cleanser, choose one for your skin type. Dr. Katta says, โFor example, if you have acne-prone skin, use a mild cleanser that removes oil.โ Dry skin does better with a hydrating cleanser.
To get the best results from your cleanser, wash your face twice a day โ when you get up and before bed. You also want to wash after sweating.
Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum, and water resistant): Any time you plan to be outside during the day, even if itโs to take a walk or drive to work, you expose your skin to the sunโs harmful rays.
If you will be outside during daylight, protect your skin. Apply sunscreen to your face and any skin that clothing wonโt cover, putting the sunscreen on 15 minutes before you go outdoors. Always put sunscreen on after other skin care products โ and beneath your makeup.
Like your cleanser, you want to use a sunscreen formulated for your skin type. If you have oily skin, look for the words โnon-comedogenicโ or โwonโt clog poresโ on the product. Women with darker skin tones may want to use a tinted sunscreen. Most tinted sunscreens wonโt leave a white cast on your skin.
Add in a skin care product that addresses your primary skin concern: โIn our 20s, womenโs skin care concerns can vary greatly,โ says Dr. Katta. While some women have acne-prone skin, others are noticing fine lines and other signs of aging. Dark spots can be the biggest concern for some.
The best way to address your concerns is to use a skin care product that contains science-backed ingredients, says board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Baxt, MD, FAAD. She recommends the following ingredients:
Vitamin C serum or cream: Science shows that this ingredient can reduce skin aging and dark spots.
Like other skin care products, you want to use a product formulated for your concern and skin type.
When to apply vitamin C: Dr. Baxt tells her patients, โApply it after washing your face in the morning, before you put on your sunscreen.โ
Retinoid: The term "retinoid" is a catch-all for an array of vitamin A-based products used on skin. It can treat mild fine lines and wrinkles, acne, and dark spots. It can also improve skin texture.
If youโre looking to treat uneven skin tone, dark spots, or your skinโs texture, look for the word โretinol.โ Itโs a type of retinoid thatโs used for these purposes.
Retinol can give you younger-looking skin by speeding up new skin cell turnover, which starts to slow in your 20s.
To treat acne, dermatologists prescribe one of these retinoids โ adapalene, tazarotene, tretinoin, or trifarotene. Youโll also find adapalene in an acne-fighting product available without a prescription.
When spread on acne-prone skin, a retinoid can unclog pores. This can give you clearer skin and allow other acne gels and creams to work better.
When to apply a retinoid: Dr. Baxt recommends applying a retinoid before bed. After washing your face, wait 20 to 30 minutes and then apply it.
If you find the retinoid too drying, apply a moisturizer immediately after washing your face, using a moisturizer that wonโt clog your pores. Then apply the retinoid 20 to 30 minutes later.
Make your skin care routine Adjustable, Consistent, and Tailored (ACT). To help her patients remember this point, Dr. Katta tells them to build ACT into their skin care. Hereโs why.
โFor a skin care routine to meet your needs, it must be adjustable,โ says Dr. Katta. For example, you may need a moisturizer during the winter when the air tends to be dry. Youโll also need to adjust your skin care with the passing years. If a product you chose irritates your skin, youโll want to stop using it right away.
When it comes to creating a skin care routine, consistency is also key. Unless a skin care product is irritating your skin, you need to keep using it. It takes at least 30 days to know whether itโs working.
With so many skin care trends and products available, following one routine can be difficult. The results you see on social media can tempt you to add in another product or two. Thatโs understandable.
When temptation to try a new product or routine hits, remember this fact. To get results, you need to use products consistently. It takes time to see results.
If you try new skin care products too often, you may not see any progress. In fact, all you may have to show for it is irritated skin.
You also want to create a skin care routine tailored to your needs, as discussed above.
