How to Set up a Skincare Routine When in Your 30s in 7 Simple Steps

I know the feeling. You get up in the morning, look in the mirror and think: “Ok, I do not have time now, but will start my routine first thing tomorrow”.

We have all been there! Then, a question appears: “Does it really matter if I skip once my skincare routine?”

Well, let us answer this question and many more by showing you how to set up a skincare routine if you are in your 30s and have not started one yet or simply you need to introduce some changes.

And, not only that! We are going to show you the right way to start a routine that you are actually going to stick to! Because, after all, a routine becomes a routine only if it is repeated enough times and your skin cells know it.

We will guide you step by step so you would be able to start and stick to this skincare routine even despite the fact:

  • You do not have time
  • You are bad at keeping habits active
  • You have not done it before
  • You do not believe that this skincare routine will make any difference

So, join us in the journey of setting a beauty routine that is beneficial for your skin!

Why Is It Important to Have a Skincare Routine in the 30s

Skin care routine
Source: Pinterest

Time is never an ally when it comes to the aspect of the body. However, with a good skincare routine for your 30s that is adapted to your age and skin type, you can have a great looking complexion even later in life.

Some women are stunning and look even twenty years younger than their age. A question these women get a lot is, “how do you do it?”. While there is always a long answer to this question, the short one is about consistency. And a skincare routine followed rigorously (if not religiously!).

Each decade comes associated with specific changes at the level of the aesthetics of the body and the face. If in our 20s, the skin looks close to perfection in many cases, as the years pass by, small imperfections become more and more visible. In the 30s, the skin needs special care to avoid premature aging.

Also worth reading: Best Natural Beauty Tips

What Happens With the Skin in the 30s

The early 30s is often the time when women start noticing the first changes at the level of the face. Wrinkles and spots occur as a result of excessive sun exposure. Dark circles under the eyes and visible pores are just some of the issues that can arise during this time.

The aspect of the face changes depending on many factors. Among them, we can mention the genetic predisposition. Also, the level of care and even the skin type we have can make a difference. For example, dry skin will show the first signs of wrinkles before oily skin.

An unbalanced lifestyle with sleepless nights, plenty of alcohol and junk food can also leave its marks at the level of the skin, especially in the 30s.

For women, at this time, the level of the hormones is starting to decrease. Also, there is a reduction in collagen production. This explains the changes that can occur at the level of the skin. The hyperpigmentation that can occur after pregnancy or sun exposure without protection, as well as the dark circles under the eyes can start happening in the early 30s.

How This Skincare Routine for the 30s Can Help You Maintain the Glow

Proper skincare is essential to help the skin maintain its firmness and glow. Four steps should be considered the basis of the skincare routine if you are in your 30s. By adopting this routine, you can prevent the signs of aging from showing up too early and to improve the condition of your skin.

Step 1: Cleansing, Toning, and Hydration

skin care

Even if it looks like there are three different steps, when you are in your 30s, this is just as essential as washing your face every day. The cleansing, toning, and hydration is a three steps process when you are in your 20s when this is more than enough in terms of skincare. But, as mentioned before, things change considerably with the 30s, and more care is necessary.

The cleansing and toning part can be unified and simplified by using micellar water, a solution preferred by many women nowadays. If you prefer different products for cleansing and toning, make sure to choose them according to your skin type. Sensitive skin requires special care, and the same goes for oily or dry skin. For hydration purposes, you can use a cream or natural oil, depending on your preference and budget.

This step will help you: 

  1. Remove impurities, dust, and makeup from the level of the face
  2. Eliminate excess sebum from the face
  3. Feel refreshed after waking up or before going to bed
  4. Prepare the skin to absorb active ingredients from serums and creams
  5. Ensure the skin is properly hydrated

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. In the morning, as soon as you wake up, wash your face with mildly warm or even cold water.
  2. Apply a small amount of cleanser directly on the face or on a cotton pad and wipe with circular movements all over the face and neck. Avoid the eye area.
  3. For the eye area, use a special cleanser that is designed to care for the delicate skin in the area.
  4. Follow up with a toner to remove the rest of the impurities from the level of the face and freshen up the skin.
  5. After cleansing and toning the skin, apply the moisturizing cream.

Step 2: Antioxidant Serum

Woman Putting Cosmetic Serum on Her face

Why is there a need for a serum? You might be wondering if the facial serums are really worth the money you are paying to get them.

Maybe you can do just as well without them? Well, the reality is that serums are not a caprice, but a necessity, especially after reaching the 30s.

The serum has a more concentrated formula compared to regular cream. This means that the serum is more efficient in treating certain skin conditions and preventing others. It is also important to mention that the serums often target the deeper layers of the skin, while the facial cream works only at the surface of the face.

The texture of the serum is often much lighter compared to the cream, and hence it is better at penetrating the skin and easy to absorb by the skin. Serums can target different skin issues such as pigmentation spots, dehydration, rosacea, acne, and others.

This step will help you: 

  1. Address very specific skin conditions such as dryness, dehydration, aging spots, wrinkles, premature aging, among others.
  2. Get a more even skin with an improved texture.
  3. Correct skin imperfections in time.

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. Only apply the serum according to the recommendations on the label. For example, retinol-based serums might be better applied only in the evenings, while sunscreen is necessary during the day throughout the treatment.
  2. Apply just a small amount of product. Usually, the serums are highly concentrated, and you don’t need much to get the results promised.
  3. Only apply the serum on clean and dry skin, unless otherwise specified on the label.

Step 3: Face Massage

Best Face Massage Gadgets

According to beauty experts, facial massage could be a cheaper, pain-free, and efficient method to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and prevent premature aging of the skin cells. Massaging the face represents a simple, yet effective method to remove the dead cells from the level of the skin, also it can improve the overall skin condition due to the stimulation of blood flow in the area.

This step will help you: 

  1. Lift and firm the facial muscles.
  2. Improve blood circulation in the area that can make the skin glowing and healthy-looking.
  3. Contribute to the reduction of dark circles around the eyes, as well as eye puffiness and fine lines.
  4. Eliminate toxins.
  5. Stimulate collagen production.

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. Always massage the face after cleansing and toning it, and preferably after a shower or a bath that will open the pores.
  2. Use gentle but firm movements of the fingers when performing the massage. You can also tap the skin when massaging it to relax the facial muscles and activate the circulatory and lymphatic system.

Step 4: Eye Cream

night cream

There is another special guest in your skincare routine if you are in your 30s and this is the eye cream. Keep in mind that the first signs of aging often occur at the level of the eyes.

Keeping the area hydrated and adequately moisturized is essential. Most products that are meant for the face shouldn’t be applied to the eye area. Make sure to choose a cream that is designed to address this area in particular.

This step will help you: 

  1. Get the proper level of hydration at the level of the eye area.
  2. Tone and firm the eye contour.
  3. Treat certain skin conditions that can occur at the level of the eye area such as dark circles, crow’s feet wrinkles, and puffiness.
  4. Prevent excessive dryness in the eye area.

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. The eye cream should be chosen according to the specifics of the skin in this area, not all over the face. For example, you might have oily or combination skin, but the skin around the eye area can be dry. This means that you need to choose a deeply moisturizing cream for the eye area.
  2. Check the active ingredients in the eye cream. They should be gentle enough not to trigger ophthalmological issues, but at the same time, effective in treating existing skin conditions.

Step 5: Sunscreen or SPF

Sunscreen or SPF

Being out in the sun all day long is probably a symbol of youth and freedom recognized by most societies. However, if this was an option in your 20s, it is certainly not recommended in your 30s, not if you want to have a youthful, glowing appearance.

Sunscreen creams are recommended to be used daily. It doesn’t matter if you are in the sun for just a few minutes. Sunscreen is meant to protect your skin from excessive sun exposure by limiting the sun’s damaging effects such as premature aging and depigmentation.

This step will help you: 

  1. Prevent skin damage caused by sun exposure.
  2. Prevent premature aging of the skin.
  3. Delay the occurrence of signs of aging at the level of the face.

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. Never leave the house in the morning without applying an SPF cream.
  2. Instead of using sunscreen, you can choose a moisturizing cream with a high SPF factor.

The skincare routine for your 30s should also cover the neck and cleavage areas. The wrinkles and imperfections can occur there too and betray your real age.

When considering the beauty routine for the evening, you can skip on sunscreen, and instead use the night cream. All the other steps remain the same.

Step 6: Night Cream 

eye care

If you were not too bothered with this in your 20s, now is a great time to say hello to the night cream. Just like in the case of the other products, you should choose it according to your skin type and the results you are trying to achieve with it. Some night creams focus on better hydration; others fight wrinkles, and so on.

This step will help you:

  1. Have glowing, hydrated skin in the morning, when you wake up.
  2. Accelerate skin cell regeneration process.
  3. Keep skin hydrated overnight.
  4. Improve skin texture and tone.

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. Choose a night cream from the same range with the daily moisturizer to complement the effects.
  2. Get a night cream that is suitable for your skin type (dry, oily, sensitive, etc.)
  3. Avoid oil-based night creams if you have acne-prone skin.

Step 7: Facemasks (Sheet Mask as an Option)

face mask

Facial masks should also become a part of your beauty routine as they are efficient in targeting different skin conditions and correcting them in time. The face mask can address excessive dryness, or even acne, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. The face masks should be used only a few times per week at most as they have a concentrated formula.

This step will help you: 

  1. Improve skin condition in time.
  2. Correct certain skin imperfections.
  3. Get glowing, healthy-looking skin.

You can get the best results if you follow these tips: 

  1. Apply the face mask on cleansed skin, preferably after a shower or a bath.
  2. Avoid getting face masks with highly abrasive substances as they might trigger skin irritations.
  3. Follow the recommendations and don’t use the facial mask more often than recommended.

Sources

The Ultimate Skincare Routine For Your 30s – Hudabeauty

The Best Skincare to Use in Your 30s – Women’s Health

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About The Author

Elena D. is a passionate advocate for ethical consumer choices and sustainable living. With a deep commitment to clean, organic, and non-toxic products, Elena is on a mission to promote a healthier, planet-friendly lifestyle. Her expertise in non-toxic skincare and eco-conscious alternatives to traditional beauty products reflects her dedication to a more sustainable and compassionate world. Elena's goal is to empower readers to make informed choices that benefit both their well-being and the environment. Join her on the journey towards a cleaner, greener future.