Skin Care at 25
According to psychologists, we 'fully' reach adulthood at 25. So how should we care for our skin, as we chop and change between products designed for young adults and treatments that slow down the skin-ageing clock?
#1 Cleansing
Cleansing is a skincare golden rule, no matter what age we are! Cleansing before bed removes all the grime that's built up during the day (pollution, smoke, dust, make up), whilst a morning cleanse will remove impurities that accumulate overnight (toxins, sebum...). Go for products suited to your skin type: a milk for dry skin, micellar water for oily skin and a cleansing gel for combination skin. Whatever you do, make sure your cleanser is right for your skin or you could end up with spots or blackheads.
#2 Exfoliate and Repair
Give your skin a twice-weekly scrub. It'll boost your micro-circulation to give you a fresh-faced glow and help your skin to soak up the active ingredients in your moisturiser. Fruit acids, enzymes, grains - the choice is there! Once your skin is squeaky clean, treat it to a green clay mask for its purifying, repairing and anti-ageing properties.
#3 Moisturise and Prevent Wrinkles
Moisturising is up there with cleansing! Fortunately, at 25 we don't need to bring out the heavy artillery. A moisturiser (serum, cream, mask) will leave your skin supple and radiant, whilst keeping the wrinkles at bay. And despite what you may have heard, moisturising won't give you a greasy shine: nowadays the active ingredients in lighter creams balance sebum levels, leaving our complexions matt and blemish-free. To round off, apply an eye contour cream to prevent the early appearance of crow's feet.
#4 Protect Your Skin From The Elements
We all love to party! Downing a few glasses and sneaking in a couple of cigarettes at the pub, basking on a beach, hitting a club and ending the evening with a kebab in hand... Sadly, going on the razzle can wreak havoc with our skin. Booze dehydrates our skin and ciggies increase wrinkles by 80%! Plus they cause spider veins to burst, leaving us with a blotchy complexion. They also cause blood vessels that nourish our skin to contract, literally starving it of essential nutrients. So it's vital we protect our skin from our fun-loving lifestyles - the sun included! To prevent red patches, sunburn and premature skin ageing, make sure you apply a day cream that contains an SPF. You'll moisturise and protect your skin in one go.
#5 Keep A Check On Your Lifestyle
The importance of getting our beauty sleep? Our skin recovers overnight, particularly between midnight and 4am, when cell renewal peaks. Adopt a relaxing bedtime routine: a hot bath, a face mask, a cup of herbal/fruit tea. It'll help you unwind, let go of your hectic day and enjoy a good night's sleep. And if you apply a night cream, you'll help your epidermis to repair itself. Diet-wise, keep up with your 5 a day for their antioxidant goodness (raspberries, nuts, artichokes, red cabbage) and drink LOTS of water!
Article supplied & written by Marie Claire, part of Hearst Communications, Inc.