hough once reserved for women navigating their 40s and beyond, anti-aging skincare has officially gone preemptive!
From retinol serums lining beauty store shelves, to twenty-year-old influencers booking botox appointments, a new wave of beauty philosophy is taking over: prejuvenation. This is the idea that it’s better to prevent aging than to correct it after the fact.
But with so many options like collagen powders, night creams, eye treatments, injectables, etc., it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So many questions can arise. Do I really need to start retinol in my early 20s? Is botox safe as a preventive tool? How can I build a skincare routine that actually supports my skin now while also protecting it for the future?
In this article, we break down the essentials of preventive anti-aging:
- What works
- When to start
- How to tailor your skincare at every age.
Whether you’re just beginning to build a routine or refining it for the decade ahead, we’re here to help!
Prejuvenation + Incorporation
Breaking Down the Uses and Benefits of Retinol, Collagen, and Botox!
Prejuvenation emphasizes early intervention to prevent visible signs of aging. This trend has been particularly embraced by younger generations who seek to maintain their skin's youthful qualities through proactive skincare routines and treatments.
So, what makes a skincare product preemptive? In terms of the prejuvenation trend, this typically refers to products that protect the skin from outside aggressors, like UV rays, bluelight, and pollution. This is where you’ll find retinol, peptides, and collagen boosters; products well-known for the prejuvenation craze.
Regardless of age, certain skin care practices are universally beneficial. You should use sunscreen everyday, no matter what your age. This will prevent signs of aging, but it is also just a great practice to lower risks of skin cancer by protecting you from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
It is also important to drink plenty of water, get regular exercise, and eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants. Again, this should all be done at any age to keep your skin glowy and healthy.
If you feel like doing more to prevent signs of aging, you may be considering a retinol. You can begin adding this into your skincare routine around your mid-late twenties. You can also start using a retinol to reverse aging at any point! Don’t feel discouraged if the prejuvenation trend took effect after your twenties.
Retinol can reverse the signs of aging, as well as prevent them. It affects the skin in various different ways, which is one reason why it is so popular. Retinol will:
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Improve skin texture
- Boost collagen production
- Reduce skin pigmentation
- Even skin tone
Some people use retinol to clear their acne, which is why they may use the product even younger. There are no set rules about age when it comes to retinol, so feel free to use it as you see fit.
However, it is important to note that you’ll want to start slow and build your skin’s tolerance to retinol. Using too much too quickly can cause some skin irritation and redness, which is just something to keep in mind. Start using retinol once or twice a week and then increase the frequency as your skin adjusts.
Retinol can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, so it's even more crucial to wear sunscreen daily.
As the skin's natural collagen production begins to decline in the 30s, it's beneficial to start taking collagen supplements. Collagen is vital to our skin, bones, and muscles. Once we start to lose collagen, these parts lose elasticity and strength, leading to wrinkles and aching joints.
Some sources suggest starting to take these supplements in your early to mid-20s as a preventative measure to combat the early signs of aging and support joint and muscle health. By your 30s, you might start noticing more visible signs of aging, making collagen supplementation even more beneficial for maintaining skin hydration and elasticity. For you 40’s and beyond, collagen supplements can be essential for maintaining skin health, reducing wrinkles, and supporting joint function.
Certain lifestyle choices can speed up your body’s natural decline of collagen, including:
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Sun exposure
- Pollution
- Poor diet
In this case, you may want to start supplements earlier to counteract these choices.
Botox has become more and more popular as a preventative measure in the midst of the prejuvenation trend. Experts recommend Botox when you start to see visible wrinkles or fine lines begin to appear. A good age range would be around your mid-late 20s or early 30s.
Botox can help smooth out existing wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming by relaxing the muscles and preventing them from moving and causing wrinkles.
If you are considering Botox, it’s always a good idea to consult with a dermatologist or experienced professional to discuss your concerns and determine if it is right for you.
Skin Care Through the Ages
What is a Good Routine in Your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and Beyond?
We’ve established some of the big buzzwords that surround the prejuvenation skin care trend, and we’ve started to put ages to some of those products, but now we’re going to dive deeper into what a good routine looks like at each age.
Twenties:
The 20’s are an ideal time to establish a solid skincare routine that focuses on prevention. You will want to be using a daily sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, and may consider using vitamin C serums or niacinamide to combat environmental damage and promote collagen production. The big focus, however, is washing your face daily, as well as consistently moisturizing. This would be a time to consider introducing a low-concentration retinol product to help regulate skin cell turnover and prevent early signs of aging. It is not necessary, however.
If you start to see wrinkles in your late-20’s, then you may consider Botox. Again, this is not a necessary precaution, but something to think about.
Thirties:
The skin's natural collagen production begins to decline in the 30’s, and you may start to notice more fine lines, a dull skin tone, or a loss of volume in the cheeks or around the lips.
This would be the time to start using eye creams to address fine lines and maintain the delicate skin around the eyes. You may also utilize hyaluronic acid-based products to maintain skin hydration and plumpness.
Definitely consider a retinol at this point, and start taking collagen supplements to undo some of the natural loss.
40s and Beyond:
This will probably be past the time of preemptive skincare, but don’t worry! You can consult with a dermatologist about treatments like Botox to address dynamic wrinkles and maintain a youthful appearance.
This will be the age where sun damage is apparent. You may start to see hyperpigmentation, an uneven skin tone, and dryer skin.
Make sure to use a retinol by this point to smoothen wrinkles. Also be sure to drink lots of water for hydration as your metabolism will have begun to slow.
You can also incorporate products with peptides and growth factors to support skin repair and elasticity. These can be found in moisturizers and night creams!
If you have further questions or skincare needs, routine check-ups with a dermatologist can help tailor skincare routines to your evolving skin needs.
Adopting a preventive approach to anti-aging skincare involves understanding the appropriate products and treatments for your age and skin type.
By establishing a consistent routine that includes sun protection, antioxidants, and retinoids, and by considering professional treatments when necessary, you can effectively maintain your skin's health and youthful appearance over time.
However, hydration, exercise, and a balanced diet come just as much into play as Botox and retinols do.
Remember that aging is not a bad thing! Wrinkles are not something you have to get rid of, though if it makes you feel more confident, then by all means do so. Do what feels right for you and what will allow you to feel confident at any age!
