Top Tips for Skincare In your 20’s

Needles to say but during this time we think we are immortals and nothing can affect us. Therefore we engage in debauchery, sun bathing, partying too much, lack of nutrition and the list goes on. I’m not here to tell you to live your life like a monk but mitigating these factors can ultimately lead to better health in your thirties, forties and beyond. In your twenties, fighting acne is usually the top concern but you should also start thinking in prevention and specifically an anti-aging routine with quality, results-oriented skin care products. Nutrition and exercise should also be a top priority. These healthy habits can be the difference between looking like a movie star in your 40s and 50s or looking like life beat your with a brick hammer. The key to a healthy, smooth and blemish-free complexion is a good daily regimen and smart prevention that includes clean food and exercise.

Here’s how to get started:

Always Wash Your Face at Night. Always Yes, I know, the club was lit and you’re barely able to pull off those Super Skinny’s much less wash your face. But you have to. Seriously. Skin begins to lose some of the ability to repair itself by as early as age 20! Dirt, grime, makeup and pollution sitting on your face slows this process down even more and can cause the formation of free-radicals, which accelerates the aging process, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. And no, cleansing wipes don’t count as this is the lazy way to do it. For oily/combination skin, Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar, $22, at Amazon.com. Bioelements Decongestant Cleanser, $37, bioelements.com. For normal to dry skin, Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash, $40, Amazon.com. Assemble Your Skincare Squad By your mid-twenties you should be able to evaluate any damage to your skin and have a good sense of any ongoing concerns or conditions, and with the help of a dermatologist and esthetician, arm yourself with a plan on how to treat them. “Everybody should be seeing a board-certified dermatologist at least once a year by this point in their life”, says celebrity Esthetician, Joanna Vargas. Also, “monthly facials are essential for detoxing the pores and doing a mini-peel,” Vargas says. “You should also look for a service that provides oxygen for the skin, which promotes healing.” At Joanna Vargas Salon, these treatments are included in the Purifying Facial and the Oxygen Purifying Facial. Take a Look at Your Toner That astringent toner you fell in love with in your teens should be traded in for something more balancing. Rose is hydrating and softening and helps maximize the benefits of your moisturizer. White Rose Hydrosol, $10.75 8oz., mountainroseherbs.com Start Using an Eye Cream The skin around the eyes is thin and delicate and is likely area the first to show signs of aging (unless you smoke. Don’t smoke.). Use an eye cream day and night to keep skin hydrated and to ward off fine lines. And don’t forget your sunnies year-round. Joanna Vargas Revitalizing Eye Cream, $75, Amazon.com. For an inexpensive way to switch up your sunglasses game, and keep your eyes protected from UV damage, Zenni Optical, zennioptical.com Get Serious About Sunscreen UV exposure from the sun is the number one cause of premature aging. Use an SPF of at least 15 to 30 daily and apply liberally on all of your exposed skin. SPF’s in makeup are great but just make sure that if you’re outside for extended periods, you’re able to re-apply. A good rule of thumb is to apply every two hours. Get Some Glycolic, Girl Glycolic acid – a natural ingredient found in sugar cane – can help lighten skin discoloration, minimize blackheads and clogged pores, combat acne and speed up cell turnover, making pores appear tighter and skin look smoother and more radiant. When using glycolic or alpha-hydroxy acids, it is even more important to use sunscreen daily to prevent hyperpigmentation. Bioelements Quick Refiner, $48, bioelements.com Antioxidants are the Answer A good antioxidant-rich treatment or serum can, along with glycolic, help temporarily diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven skin tone. Antioxidants fight free radicals and help to defend the skin against the stress caused by UV light exposure. Joanna Vargas Daily Serum, $85, Amazon.com.]>>