We have compiled 58 skincare tips for glowing skin at any age. Creating good skincare habits should begin at an early age and continue throughout your life. Whether you are in your teens, 20’s, 30’s 40’s or have mature or dehydrated skin, we have some of the best skincare tips for you to follow. This advice will help you develop and maintain the right skincare routine so your skin will always look hydrated, healthy and glowing.
Table of Contents
Skincare Tips:
Skincare Advice For Teens
1. Wash Your Skin Carefully
Since you are so young, your skin is delicate and is still growing. You will want to be careful with how you wash your skin, what you wash it with and how often you wash it. If your skin isn’t very oily, you might only need to wash it once a day with a gentle cleanser using your fingers. You may also want to apply a moisturizer afterwards.
Those with very oily skin should wash their face twice a day with a gel cleanser. Make sure you always wash your face before you workout or whenever you will be spending time outside in the hot summer. Finally, carrying around blotting tissues to wick away the excess oil can be a good idea.
2. Wash Off Makeup Before Bed
After a long night cheering on the football team at homecoming or spending the evening at the mall, you might be tempted to go to bed without removing your makeup. Sleeping with a full face of makeup is a very bad idea. It can cause acne, dermatitis or even infections. If you are too tired to remove your makeup completely, tie your hair back with a scrunchie and quickly wash your face with a washcloth to get as much makeup off as possible.
3. Control the Shine
A common problem with teenage skin is oil. Being able to control the oil will help reduce shine and eliminate breakups. The easiest way to control the oil is by using a salicylic acid cleanser, wearing an oil free primer (even if you don’t wear makeup) and using blotting tissues throughout the day.
4. Limit How Often You Exfoliate
Since teenage skin is so delicate, you only need to exfoliate once a week at most. Use a product that is gentle on the skin. Exfoliating won’t help with acne or blackheads so you don’t want to scrub hard. Do not over-exfoliate or you could irritate your skin.
5. If You Have Acne, Keep Your Skincare Routine Simple
Using too many products on your skin can irritate your acne. One of the best skincare tips for teens is to keep your skincare routine to a minimum. There are only three things you should do to keep your acne controlled: Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser, use a hydrating toner and then apply a medicated acne lotion.
Sharing makeup, particularly eye and lip products, will spread germs. This can cause acne, rashes and even eye infections. Instead of sharing your friend’s new eyeshadow, pay the extra money for your own palette. If you are new to makeup, check out our guide on Makeup for Beginners.
7. Wash Your Hands And Don’t Touch Your Face
The best way to keep your skin free from germs is by washing your hands before touching your face. If you aren’t putting on makeup or applying lotion, avoid putting your fingers on your face. You should also regularly clean anything that might touch your face such such as makeup brushes, a cell phone or headphones. Here is a great way to clean your makeup brushes.
8. Beware of Hair Products
Some hair products can collect at your hairline and clog pores. If you are noticing breakouts around your hairline or on your neck, then it might be time to change your hair care routine. Spray products are less likely to cause breakouts than gel products.
9. Don’t Believe Everything You Read
There are many strange acne remedies floating around on the internet. Some of these actually work but some can cause allergic reactions or make your acne worse. Instead of trying weird things like putting toothpaste on your pimples, use skincare products that have been scientifically tested and proven to work.
10. Avoid Tanning Beds
Tanning beds and sunbathing are popular among teens and young adults but they are one of the worst things you can do for your skin. They will dry out your skin, give you early wrinkles and increase your risk for skin cancer as you get older. If you like the look of dark, bronzy skin, then get a healthy glow using a self-tanner. There are many natural looking self-tanners available.
11. Visit a Dermatologist
Visiting a dermatologist at a young age can set you up for younger looking skin in the future. A dermatologist can help you with virtually any skin problem you may be experiencing. This can prevent scars, pain and wrinkles from trying to solve the problem yourself. As you get older, a dermatologist can provide fillers and check for cancer. Make friends with a dermatologist as a teenager and you’ll have healthier skin throughout your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and beyond.
Skincare Advice For 20 Year Old’s
12. Apply Sunscreen
Anyone who wants to prevent wrinkles and dark spots needs to be wearing sunscreen daily. It is not that difficult to remember when you choose a moisturizer or makeup product that has sunscreen built right in. Don’t forget to wear it in the winter as well since the sun can still be powerful even when it’s cloudy.
13. Wash Your Face Twice A Day
Many people think that washing their face only in the evenings is good enough but it’s not. While you sleep, your skin can still get oily, slough off dead skin cells and come into contact with bacteria on your bedding. This is why you need to be washing your face in the morning as well. Choose a cleanser that contains antioxidants to help fight anti-aging and give your skin a healthy glow.
14. Hydrate Your Skin Often
Even people with oily skin need to keep their skin hydrated. Moisturize at least twice daily and every time you wash your face. Skin that is well hydrated will be less irritated, less inflamed and will have less wrinkles. Try to choose a moisturizer that is made for your skin type. People with dry skin need a moisturizer that is thicker than those with oily skin.
15. Include Vitamin C In Your Morning Routine
Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that helps fight free radicals which leads to younger looking skin and a decreased risk of skin cancer. One of the top skincare tips for 20 year old’s is to incorporate vitamin C in your daily morning routine by using a serum that contains the vitamin. These serums will help neutralize free radicals and will promote collagen formation. After just a few days of adding vitamin C to your routine, you can expect to see brighter and healthier skin.
16. Exfoliate With Acid
Once or twice a week, you should exfoliate your skin with a chemical exfoliator. There are many different types of chemical exfoliators and some work better than others. Glycolic acid is a popular choice because it works well at reducing the aging process. Be careful that you don’t over-exfoliate by either exfoliating more than twice a week or using a harsh exfoliant.. This can cause microtears in the skin which can lead to inflammation and redness.
17. Treat Your Hands The Same As Your Face
Most people put lotions, serums, moisturizers and sunscreen on their face but they fail to do the same for the rest of their body, particularly their hands. Your hands have very sensitive skin that tends to age faster than other skin on your body. This is why it is important to use the same skincare routine on your hands that you use on your face. After you apply a lotion or sunscreen to your face, apply the excess to the back of your hands. Your 40 or 50 year old self will be glad that you did.
18. Use A Retinol
Retinol, also referred to as vitamin A, works to help with skin cell turnover throughout the years. [source] It is really good at reducing the effects of photoaging from the sun. It is best to start out slow when adding a retinol to your skincare routine. A good skincare tip is to use it two or three times a week and eventually start increasing the amount of times you apply it. You only need a small pea-sized amount each time.
19. Take Care of Your Body
Your skin is an organ. In fact, it’s the largest organ you have and you need to treat it well so it can perform at peak efficiency. Eating well, getting eight hours of sleep and reducing stress all work to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. A big component of healthy living is to avoid drugs and smoking. Smoking is the second biggest cause of wrinkles and dry skin.
In order to help manage stress, take long soaks in the tub and burn scented candles. When you are stressed out, your body produces a stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol can cause inflammation which aids in premature aging. [source]
20. Get A Facial Once Or Twice A Week
Most celebrity estheticians recommend that their clients get facials regularly. Facials will clean out your pores without scarring or causing hyperpigmentation. If you don’t have time to get a professional facial, you can conveniently do one at home while watching TV or soaking in the tub.
Skincare Advice for 30 Year Old’s
21. Drink Water
Water is necessary for healthy skin. It helps your body absorb nutrients, flush out toxins and plump up skin cells. A good rule of thumb when it comes to drinking water is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. Also, be sure to drink an 8 ounce glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Keep a bottle or pitcher of water on your nightstand so you won’t forget. For an extra kick to wake you up, add some fresh squeezed lemon juice to the water. It has long been thought that it is a contributor to clear skin.
22. Sleep On Silk
One of the best skincare tips for 30 year old’s is to prevent wrinkles by sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase. It will help remove the appearance of fine lines, help smooth out your hair and will allow your skin to breathe better than a cotton pillowcase.
23. Use An Eye Cream Nightly
You are never to old to start using eye cream. The younger you begin using it nightly, the better your eye area will look as you age. Many people will first notice wrinkles around their eyes due to the lack of oil glands in the area. A hydrating eye cream should be applied gently with your ring finger nightly.
24. Inspect Skincare Ingredients Closely
Anyone experiencing adult acne needs to take a closer look at what they are putting on their face. Inspect the ingredients in your skincare products to figure out what might be clogging your pores or breaking out your skin. Some products to watch out for include acetylated lanolin, vegetable oil, cocoa butter, soybean oil, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate and carrageenan. When trying a new product, make a note of when you started using it and the ingredients it contains. If you begin to notice a breakout, then you can pinpoint exactly what is causing it.
25. Incorporate AHAs Into Your Routine
Alpha hydroxy acids, also known as AHAs, are a great addition to any skincare routine to help exfoliate dead skin cells. Exfoliating using a chemical such as AHAs is much safer than other methods. AHAs work to break down the bonds holding dead skin cells together. This allows the new skin cells underneath to come to the surface. Alpha hydroxy acids can be found in serums and face masks making it easy to incorporate in your routine.
26. Embrace The Shade, Avoid The Sun
Many chemicals found in skincare products can cause your skin to be extra sensitive to the sun. As we get older, we need to be extra careful about spending time in the sun. Embrace the shade and be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen, a wide brim hat and sunglasses.
27. Get Your Beauty Sleep
There’s a good reason as to why it’s called beauty sleep and not ugly sleep. While we sleep, our body is repairing skin and other organs. Your body’s blood circulation is elevated during sleep and the extra oxygen helps repair your skin.
If you slack on sleep, your body gets stressed out and your skin can become inflamed, puffy and dull. Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep at night to give your body plenty of time to repair itself.
28. Change Your Skincare Routine With The Season
You wouldn’t wear a t-shirt when it’s twenty below zero outside just as you wouldn’t wear a sweater when it’s a hundred degrees outside. The same thing can be applied to skincare. In the summer, your skin will produce more oil and sweat so you want to use lighter products that won’t clog pores. Meanwhile, your skin will be very dry and flaky in the winter and you will need to use a thick moisturizer. This is why it is important to change up your skincare routine depending on the season.
Skincare Advice for 40 Year Old’s
29. Embrace Moisturizing Emollients
As we age, our skin gets drier, duller and flakier. One way to combat that is to make a habit of protecting your moisture barrier while you are young. Moisturizing emollients such as moisture-trapping lipids will mimic the lipids naturally found in the skin. Over time, these lipids deteriorate and replacing them will keep the skin smoother and more moisturized.
Another moisturizing emollient is hyaluronic acid. HA will help your skin absorb moisture better and keep it in the skin longer. Embrace moisturizing emollients if you want healthy, moisturized skin as you get older.
30. Create A Skincare Routine And Be Consistent
Once you create the perfect skincare routine for your skin, it is important to do it every day and night – consistently. The most expensive lotions and serums won’t work if you don’t use them. Some of them take time to work so using them once or twice a month won’t do any good. Follow the advice of dermatologists and be consistent in doing your skincare routine every single day.
31. Get Regular Head-to-Toe Skin Checks
As you get into your 40’s, you need to start thinking about cancer screenings. Make a habit of seeing a board-certified dermatologist at least once a year to get your skin checked for any unusual moles or blemishes. If you have a family history of skin cancer or have a lot of sun damage, you may want to get checked out more often. The earlier you start these exams, the easier it will be to detect any changes in your skin.
32. Exfoliate Often
As you get older, your skin will begin to thicken and look dull. Dead skin cells are slow to shed which can cause a dull look. Exfoliating three times a week can help shed these skin cells and reveal the new, healthy, glowing skin. Try to use a combination of both physical and chemical exfoliation to help shed all the skin cells.
33. Use A Sunscreen With Zinc
Hitting your 40’s means that it’s time to up your sunscreen game, especially if you use retinol regularly. Retinol will thin out the top layer of skin cells making it more prone to sun damage. Use a sunscreen with zinc daily after you apply retinol. There are some sunscreens on the market that contain anti-aging antioxidants such as vitamins C and E which will make you look younger over time.
34. Customize Your Eye Cream
An eye cream is an important part of any skincare routine but as you get older, a generic eye cream just won’t cut it. One of the great skincare tips for 40 year old’s is to choose an eye cream that is designed to combat a specific problem you may be facing. Whether you are having trouble with dark circles, fine lines or deep wrinkles, you can find an eye cream created to specifically fix these particular issues.
35. Add A Serum to Your Routine
If you aren’t already using a serum, now is the time to add it to your routine. A good serum will include hydrating ingredients which will drench your skin with moisture. You can also get a serum with retinol for anti-aging benefits.
36. Use A Moisturizer At Night
The best time to use a moisturizer is at night because your skin repairs itself while you sleep. Choosing a moisturizer with peptides will ensure that you will wake up with fresh, glowy skin that is free from fine lines.
37. Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables will give your skin essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Your skin will look healthier, younger and more radiant. Try to eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables to take advantage of the many different vitamins each one offers.
38. Wash Your Face With A High Quality Cleanser
Cheap facial cleansers will provide wild claims on the bottle but they may actually be hurting your skin. Don’t buy cleansers based on price or big promises. They may actually dry out your skin and irritate it. Instead, choose a cleanser based on your skin type. If your skin is on the dry side, opt for a hydrating cleanser. If your skin is oily, then choose a foaming cleanser.
Also look for a cleanser that contains AHAs to help aid in the shedding of dead cells. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to find a cleanser that is right for your skin.
39. A Multitasking Moisturizer Is The Holy Grail Of Younger Skin
One of the best skincare tips is to add a multitasking moisturizer to your skincare routine. What is a multitasking moisturizer? It is a moisturizer that does multiple things at once. Try to choose a moisturizer that includes a SPF to protect your skin from the sun, a peptide to stimulate collagen growth and a DNA repair enzyme such as photolyase to block UV light on a molecular level. [Source] You can easily customize your moisturizer based on the needs of your skin. A multitasking moisturizer will save you time, money and will make your skin look amazing.
40. Hire An Expert To Take Your Skincare To The Next Level
There is only so much that you can do yourself when it comes to skincare. A lotion or serum may not be enough to get rid of deep wrinkles, sun damage or dark spots. Sometimes you need to do more and that’s where an expert comes in. Botox or fillers can smooth those deep wrinkles. Laser treatment can get rid of sun damage or dark spots. These treatments can only be performed by a professional. By doing these treatments in your 40’s, you won’t have to spend as much time or money on skincare in your 50’s.
Skincare Tips for Mature Skin
41. Workout Regularly
Staying in shape helps improve your skin in many different ways. By exercising regularly, you are increasing the blood flow throughout your body and delivering essential nutrients to your skin. Maintaining a healthy weight will help prevent stretch marks, wrinkles and loose skin caused from weight gain. Try to exercise at least 20 minutes three times a week and maintain a healthy diet.
42. Add A Primer To Your Skincare Routine
Even if you don’t wear makeup, a good primer can even out your skin and hide large pores. If you do wear makeup, it will help your makeup last longer, make it easier to apply and will smooth out the appearance of rough surfaces.
43. Focus On The Dark Spots
As your skin matures, dark spots or age spots can appear. These are caused by exposure to the sun over a period of time. People with mature skin should be using a brightening serum, face mask or moisturizer. Hit the dark spots hard with products that are designed to help brighten the skin. If all else fails, see a professional for a laser treatment to knock the dark spots out for good.
44. Be Happy
Just because you are older doesn’t mean you can’t be happy. Happier people look younger and have less wrinkles. There’s a reason they are called ‘frown lines’ so smile, laugh and enjoy life. Which would you rather have – laugh lines or frown lines? If you are going to get wrinkles anyways, they might as well be happy wrinkles.
45. Don’t Forget The Neck
One area that many people forget about is the neck. The neck area has skin that is similar to the face – thin and delicate. When you apply your skincare, be sure to apply it to your neck at the same time. Another good skincare tip is to apply a firming moisturizer to your neck daily to help tighten it up and reverse signs of aging.
46. Don’t Be A Downer
Many people will automatically apply lotions or creams in a downward or circular pattern. This can cause your skin to sag or cause wrinkles to appear. Instead, apply your lotions in light, upward strokes. This keeps your skin tighter and helps reduce sagging.
47. Personalize Your Cleansers and Moisturizers
When you are creating your skincare routine, it is important to personalize your cleansers, moisturizers, serums and other products to your skin type.
If you have oily skin, you won’t develop as many wrinkles so you won’t need as many products designed to reduce wrinkles. People with mature skin often have drier skin and need thicker moisturizers.
Also, as you get older, your skin changes and a product that once worked great, may not work anymore. Be sure to change up your skincare routine regularly to adapt to these changes.
48. Add An Oil To Your Routine
A great option for moisturizing mature skin is with an oil. There are a variety of oils available so choose one based on your skincare needs. Oils are natural, apply smoothly and will leave your skin feeling hydrated and glowy.
49. Don’t Be Scared of Fillers
Many people don’t like to give this skincare tip for mature skin because they are afraid of the backlash. However, fillers are a great way to get rid of wrinkles, especially if you use it sparingly. Botox and other fillers can look natural if you use them the right way. They can help lift your eyes so you look more awake, eliminate smile lines, plump your cheeks or lips or even contour your nose. Many professionals will offer free consultations if you are on the fence. If you do decide to try fillers, always have a medical professional inject them.
50. Target Problem Areas With Chemical Peels and Lasers
If you have some problem areas that you just can’t get rid of yourself, then consider trying a laser treatment. Lasers can be painful and expensive but they work wonders for your skin. The technology they use today can remove dark spots, sun spots, scars, uneven texture and unwanted hair.
Another skincare tip you can try for rough texture, fine lines and wrinkles is a chemical peel. A chemical peel can be done in a dermatologist’s office in just an hour. They are painless and are less expensive than lasers. If you do chemical peels regularly, they work better each time as your skin gets used to them.
Skincare Tips for Dehydrated Skin
51. Don’t Use Hot Water
Hot water can not only burn your skin but it strips your skin of essential oils. This can dry out your skin and make it flaky. Use lukewarm water instead and don’t scrub the skin too hard. You can also use a micellar water or a cold cream as an alternative to water.
52. Choose A Cream Cleanser
Cream cleansers are designed to help moisturize dry skin without being too harsh. They are extremely affordable and even work better than expensive brands.
53. Use A Thick Moisturizer Under Makeup
Many people only apply thick moisturizer at night, however, one of the best skincare tips for dehydrated skin is to also apply a thick moisturizer in the morning. This will keep your skin hydrated throughout the day.
54. Stay Away from Drying Body Wash
In order to hydrate the skin on your body, use a creamy body wash in the shower instead of body wash that dries out the skin. When you get out of the shower, moisturize your skin with body oil.
55. Avoid Dry Brushing And Other Exfoliating Tools
Many people recommend using dry brushing to remove dead skin cells, however, they can irritate dry skin and can cause redness. A skincare tip for dehydrated skin is to avoid using a dry brush or other exfoliating tools.
56. Avoid Drying Ingredients In Your Skincare Products
If your skin is really dry, a good skincare tip is to check out the ingredients in the skincare products you are using. You may have to avoid certain ingredients such as retinol, acid or vitamin C if they irritate your skin. Try to eliminate one ingredient at a time and see if your skin gets better. If it doesn’t get better, then eliminate a different ingredient. Keep going until you find the ingredient that is causing your skin to become dry.
57. Supplement With Antioxidants
Antioxidants are a great ingredient to add to your skincare routine if you have dehydrated skin. They help to protect the skin and will neutralize free radicals while counteracting the signs of dehydration. Source.
58. Don’t Use High-Linoleic Acids
High-Linoleic Acids are found in certain oils such as rosehip oil, hemp oil and grapeseed oil. Do not use these oils if you have dry skin. They are known to emulsify the sebum and dry out the skin. Linoleic acid can also block DHT and cause a reduced sebum production.
Conclusion
These are some of the best skincare tips available and we hope you apply them to your skincare routine so you can have glowing, healthy skin at any age. If you want more skincare advice, check out some of the related articles listed below.