The Best Skincare Routine for Your 30s, According to a Dermatologist

You’ve made it through your 20s…congratulations! While your 20s can be a time of exploration and fun, with a bit of chaos in between, your 30s are still a time to try new things, but with more structure—especially for your skin.

“The 30s are a time of stress and hormonal fluctuations, all of which can take a toll on your skin,” explains celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau.

“Growth hormones drop, so the skin can’t repair itself as well as it did in the 20s; breakouts often show up in the form of acne.”

In your 30s, you may still be struggling with dark spots, acne scars, and fine expression lines that never showed up before. “Now’s the time to take your skin seriously,” says Rouleau.

“The days of ignoring it are over.” But don’t panic—there’s a simple solution to all the skin-care woes that may arise in your 30s. We spoke to Rouleau and two other experts to share their best tips for skincare in your 30s.

How to develop a skincare routine in your 30s

“Many people in their 30s are used to the same morning and evening routines. It’s important to understand that everyone’s needs vary from day to day,” says Rullo.

During the day, our skin is exposed to UV rays and environmental stressors that cause us to age. At night, it switches to repair mode to restore all of this.

Lyons AB, Moy L, Moy R, Tung R. Circadian rhythms and skin: a review of the literature. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.

Therefore, your morning skincare routine should focus primarily on protection, including the use of antioxidant serums and sunscreen.

Your evening care should focus on rejuvenation, including the use of products such as retinol, peptides, and chemical peels, followed by a night cream.

How to start using anti-aging products at 30

“It’s important to start using anti-aging products at age 30,” says Jaliman. If you start at age 30, you can prevent the signs of skin aging and not have to worry too much later.

“In addition to sunscreen, retinol or prescription retinoids like Retin-A are the best and most effective ingredients for smoothing skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores,” says Rouleau.

In your 30s, you can start using an over-the-counter retinol, like RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream ($30), once or twice a week, then gradually increase to three to four nights a week.

“After six to nine months of use, you can switch to a prescription retinoid,” says Rouleau. It takes about six weeks to see results with retinol, so be patient.

Morning Skin Care for Your 30s

During the day, your skin protects itself from harmful effects like free radicals and the sun’s rays. Your skincare routine should support this process. Read on for our expert advice.

Apply an Antioxidant Serum

Remember our tip that your morning skincare routine should be all about protection? DermaDoctor’s Antioxidant Kakadu C Serum ($98) is the perfect lightweight serum to apply before makeup.

Kakadu plum extract, ferulic acid, and vitamin E work together to brighten, smooth, and soften skin.

Wear sunscreen

Sun protection is essential for healthy skin, no matter your age. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk ($36) is a Byrdie favorite and dermatologist-recommended with an SPF of 60.

According to the brand, this French sunscreen is fragrance- and oil-free, water-resistant for over an hour, and non-irritating. The best part (and a bonus for any sunscreen): It’s clear and absorbs quickly, creating a very soft and smooth effect.

Evening Routine for Skin Over 30

Estheticians agree that it’s especially important to care for your neck and upper chest as you age. “These are the more sensitive areas that show signs of aging first,” Czech explains. “Her face starts at the nipples and ends at the hairline.”

At night, your skin switches from protection mode to repair mode. So it’s important to moisturize all of the above areas.

Clean your skin

In your early twenties, it was a good night if you could remember to remove your makeup; by your late twenties, you’ve gotten used to it. But now it’s time to get serious.

“Makeup-removing wipes dry out and spread dirt and debris onto your face,” explains Czech. Not to mention, they may not actually clean your skin very well. Instead, opt for a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser or Renée Rouleau’s gel-like Luxe Mint Renewal Cleanser ($39).

Then blot your skin with a baby washcloth. Change the washcloth after each wash to avoid a breeding ground for bacteria.

“Clean skin is healthy skin,” Rouleau reminds us. “Thoroughly remove the day’s makeup, dirt, and bacteria from your skin to ensure the best results for the serums and moisturizers you apply afterwards.”

Moisturizing treatments

Remember: It’s not enough to just rub any leftover moisturizer from your face onto your neck. “It’s well-intentioned, but it doesn’t do much to keep your neck smooth and moisturized,” says Rouleau. Instead, your neck should be part of your skincare routine.

“That means applying a layer of moisturizer to your face (with sunscreen during the day), and then another layer on the front and sides of your neck,” says Rullo. “This ensures your neck is well moisturized and protected from the sun, keeping it soft, smooth, and undamaged.”

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Neck & Chest Broad Spectrum SPF 25 ($89) is a moisturizer specifically formulated for the neck. Use it every night as part of your skincare routine to smooth, firm, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles in this area.

(Note: If you want to use this cream during the day, you must combine it with another sunscreen with at least 30% sunscreen.)

Apply an eye cream

Rouleau explains the importance of eye cream this way: “Since there are few oil glands around the eyes and the eye area is the first to age due to facial expressions like blinking and smiling, it’s critical to protect the eye area with a well-formulated eye cream.”

But that doesn’t mean you should cover your entire eye area with eye cream. “Eye cream should only be applied to the orbital bone, which is the bone just above the cheekbone,” Rouleau advises.

For daily use, we recommend using a pea-sized amount of Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum ($88) every 12 hours. Eye serums can be used in the morning, and thanks to the cooling ceramic applicator, they can be used at night to supplement your routine.

For a more affordable alternative, we recommend Botanics All Bright Refreshing Eye Roll-On with Hibiscus Extract ($14).

Sleep on your pillowcase

You probably didn’t get a full eight hours of sleep every night in your twenties, and that’s undoubtedly taking a toll on your skin. “Beauty sleep is so important,” says Jaliman. As our experts point out, skin regenerates during the night, and the more sleep you get, the more time your skin has to regenerate.

“Use a satin pillowcase when you sleep so your skin isn’t pressed against the pillow and sleep wrinkles don’t form,” advises Jaliman. We highly recommend the Slip Silk Pillowcase ($89), which nourishes the skin and prevents unwanted frizz and moisture loss in your hair.

Conclusion

Aging is a beautiful and natural thing. Our bodies do so much for us, and the least we can do is take care of our skin with the right products to age gracefully.