Oh, the 20s! It’s a golden era - A time of glamour and possibility, beauty and basking in the glorious wonderment of being young and free. The 1920s are looked back on as one of the first decades to celebrate youth culture, frivolity, daring and glitz, living through your 20s isn’t seen as all that different.
Of course, each generation has its struggles but, in general, the 20-30 year period is a period of building dreams, deepening friendships, possibly falling in love and hopefully enjoying that less new and scary sense of freedom the late teens can invite. We emerge from those turbulent teenage years, with all the pressure that period brings and our hormones begin to settle. We may not have decided what we want to do with the rest of our lives. We may not be settled into our careers yet or living in our dream homes, but we begin to feel more settled into ourselves as we emerge carrying some life experience but still enough naivety to be optimistic and the kind of youthful wisdom required to appreciate that.
For many of us, our skin begins to settle too - if it was ever unsettled. We may believe this will be long-lasting. The teens are over and this is how our body will function for the next few decades. I’m sorry to tell you that it likely won’t - there are more hormones and changes to come. But the 20s are often a respite. That does not mean we don’t need to pay attention and take care of ourselves though, inside and outside. If you’re fortunate enough to experience a period of calm in your skin in your 20s then this is the time to prep and lay a new foundation (not the make-up kind).
Of course, for those who have problematic skin, your 20s may not alleviate your struggles. So, we’ll tackle taking care of your skin in your 20s in both scenarios, but you’ll probably see the approach is fairly similar.
Taking Off Your Make-Up
Make-up can be a key cause of skin irritation. Even the good stuff that’s quite natural and supposedly kind to the skin is an irritant - a barrier that makes your skin work harder for what it needs. But, I’m not going to tell you not to wear make-up. We all want to feel our best and make-up can be fun.
Please do your research and avoid heavy chemical makeup and don’t cake yourself with it because it’s not supposed to be a mask. Masking your skin prevents it from breathing and can dehydrate it. Both cream and powder can find their way into pores and clog them which can lead to acne, spots and dry skin.
My advice is to wear minimal make-up - only when you feel the need to and, most importantly, take it off at night and at times you don’t need it. To ensure you're giving your skin an opportunity to breathe and rehydrate, you must wash off your make-up with a good all-natural cleanser. This will help clean out pores and help your natural oils (sebum) do their thing. As tempting as it may be, especially after a night out, to use a face wipe to take off your make-up, they are simply not as effective as a cleanser and fresh water. They cannot get as deep into your pores and the chemicals that help them stay moist may suck moisture away from your skin, rather than restoring it.
After cleansing, use a good moisturiser to alleviate the dryness that make-up use can cause.
Screening Against Sun Damage In Your 20s
In your 20s, that gorgeous tan may make your skin glow and appear healthier but it can have long-term effects. Those who don’t protect their skin in the sun will suffer later and this kind of damage will never fully be reversible - no matter what some skincare brands might claim. Enjoy the sun, get that much-needed vitamin D and be outdoors - it’s good for your mental health too - but use SPF.
Not only does SPF reduce the chance of getting burnt, but it also can protect you from developing sun spots, rosacea and, most importantly, skin cancer. You will still tan with suncream on but you may do so more slowly which can mean you retain your tan for longer and it appears more natural. As important as it may feel to look sunkissed right now, your long-term health and long-term skin beauty will be better served by a sensible, conscious approach to protecting your skin from the sun.
Don’t Get Drawn Into Anti-Ageing Products
We are not anti-ageing at Olive & Joyce. We celebrate ageing. That’s why our range for more mature skin, The Eternal, is ‘pro-ageing’ - because ageing is a privilege and a joy. Yet, with women who seem to be in their 20s or 30s so often being the face of anti-ageing products, it has become popular for young people to begin using these creams earlier in a gamble to delay the ageing process. I have to tell you, this is not an approach likely to pay off. In fact, it can do the opposite.
Most mainstream anti-ageing products contain harsh chemicals formulated to tackle natural signs of ageing and smooth out lines and wrinkles. There is very little evidence that these make much of a visible difference and this is an aggressive approach, which is why those who don’t yet have these wrinkles and signs of skin ageing should avoid them. All you’re doing is adding harsh chemicals to your skin in an attempt to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. In doing so, your skin may well wage war against these foreign stimulants.
Whilst I urge you to think of your skin in the long term, the best way you can protect your skin and give it the best chance of thriving in the future is to keep your skincare routine simple and natural. This leads me nicely on to my next point -
Take Care Of The Basics
Eat well, drink plenty of water and sleep properly.
It makes no sense to invest your hard-earned money in multiple expensive skincare and make-up when you’re not taking care of yourself. It’s not only your skin that benefits from good healthy practices, it’s your whole body and mind too.
Eating healthy food is better for your skin. Avoid heavily processed foods and make sure you’re getting nutrition from fruits and vegetables because this provides your skin with the vitamins and minerals it needs. It also will give you more consistent energy helping you to stay active, alert and resilient.
Drinking water is also essential. Especially since some people tend to be drinking more alcohol in their 20s. Again, I’m not going to preach abstinence but you should be aware that alcohol is toxic and can affect the skin as well as your health. Take regular breaks from drinking alcohol and make sure you’re consuming plenty of water every day.
Sleep is also important. It can be difficult to come by in your 20s because life is so busy and late nights are often a part of being young. However, try to stick to a sleep routine at least most of the time because your body needs rest. When you sleep your body is working to repair, grow new cells and basically take care of itself. When you regularly deny it this time, you will see the consequences.
Stay active also. Daily activity keeps your body healthy and strengthens that mind-body connection. It also creates habits that can last a lifetime. If you fail to create a good healthy relationship with the body in your younger years, it will always be harder to set that up later. Take advantage of your youth and start to live the way you intend to for the years to come.
Skincare Products For Your 20s
Keep it minimal because your skin needs cleaning and moisturising - that’s all. Make sure you wash your face when you wake and apply an SPF moisturiser to serve as a barrier throughout the day. Do the same in the evening, but use a cleanser also to clean out your pores, ridding them of make-up and toxins. Go to bed having applied an oil-based cream to lock in moisture and aid your skin’s natural oils. If you can, opt for silk or satin bedding over cotton. Cotton is absorbent and will soak in your skin and hair’s natural oils, potentially stealing moisture from your body.
So what do I have in my collection for you? The Balance is one of the most popular ranges because it has multiple benefits and no harsh chemicals. Actually, none of my products do, but this one is not designed to tackle any particular issue so if you have reasonably good skin health then this is the one to support that.
