Skincare Tips For Your 20s

BY RACHEL VALVERDE

When it comes to keeping your skin looking youthful, prevention is KEY. In your 20s your skin is still plump and full of collagen and elastin, but the production of these fibers start to drop off more and more with every birthday party. Here are some of my tips to keep your skin looking like Selena Gomez’s long after your 20s.

1. Sunscreen

This isn’t the most exciting skincare product, but it’s without a doubt the most important. The sun causes MOST of the the visible signs of aging. It’s estimated that sun exposure causes 90% of premature aging. GUYS. 90%?! Here’s the other kicker, you get the majority of your daily sun exposure from the windows in your car, and at home and work.

There is a common misconception that you only need to wear sunscreen when you’re in direct sunlight, but the truth is we need it every single day regardless of season or weather. Oh! And sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours. Super easy right? Just wash your face every 2 hours and re-apply your sunscreen and makeup. No biggie! You’re probably panicking right now but don’t stress, I’m about to share my favorite sunscreens that you will actually enjoy putting on your face and make reapplication a breeze.

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46

Sunscreen

This lightweight SPF uses physical blockers zinc and titanium (physical sunscreens reflect the sun’s rays off your skin instead of chemical sunscreens that can irritate the skin). This is literally the lightest, best feeling sunscreen EVER. It works for all skin types, even the most sensitive, acne prone skin.

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ColoreScience Sunforgettable Brush-On-Sunscreen

Sunscreen

These brushes are life-changing and allow you to reapply sunscreen on top of makeup while you’re on the go. With 24% zinc and 24% titanium dioxide they provide serious sun protection that takes 10 seconds to apply. They come in 4 different shades and also help to control shine for my oily girls.

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IN THIS PHOTO

Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum

2. Antioxidants – Antioxidants like vitamin C help to fight free radical damage to our skin from things like pollution and UV rays. Vitamin C gives you 6-8 times more sun protection than your SPF alone as well as repairs damage that has already occurred in the skin. It’s also a natural brightening agent and helps to reduce discoloration in the skin.

Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum

Antioxidants

Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum is my go-to vitamin C product because it is lightweight, doesn’t irritate or sting my skin, and contains 19 different antioxidants.

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3. Exfoliate – Exfoliation is the most commonly missing step in most people’s skincare routine. Our skin cannot properly absorb serums or other products if there is a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface.

Zo Skin Health Exfoliating Polish

Exfoliation

One of my favorite exfoliators is ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish, which I recommend using 2-3 times a week. This product is like a facial in a jar and will leave your skin smooth and glowing.

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4. Botox – One of the most common questions my patients ask is when they should start Botox. The best time to start is as soon as you start to see wrinkles forming, which will be different for everyone based on their anatomy, but typically starts in the mid twenties. Now, Botox isn’t for everyone but if you are wanting to prevent or get rid of crow’s feet or wrinkles on the forehead it’s your best bet. Over time as wrinkles get deeper they essentially become scar tissue and are very difficult to treat. Starting young with small doses of “baby” botox 3-4 times a year will prevent these scars from forming and allow your skin to stay looking younger for longer. Fun fact: Botox has been used safely in medicine for over 20 years and one of its original uses was to treat a condition called blepharospasms which causes uncontrollable blinking of the eyes.

I hope these tips were helpful! Stay tuned for more posts about all things skincare and feel free to comment below with any questions!

Article and images by Rachel Valverde. For more skin tips visit Rachel’s Instagram here. To schedule a skin consultation with Rachel, please call Desert Sky Dermatology at 480-855-0085.

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