Guest Blog: 5 Ways to Start Caring for Your Skin in Your 20s by Cori Scherer

I’d love to say that entering your 20s means bright skin, no more acne, and a plump, clear complexion! Don’t get me wrong, for me personally, my 20-something skin is definitely better than my teenage skin, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take a little bit of work!

Our skin goes through SO many hormonal changes as we age, and it can change quite drastically from the issues you experienced during your teenage years – especially for women. Twenty-something skin seems to be smack dab in the middle of several different transitions. No longer fighting the swings of adolescence but not yet dealing with the major concerns of aging skin such as dryness or lack of radiance.

My skin has cleared up tremendously since being a teenager, but I still have periods of time where I wake up one morning and wonder what on EARTH happened to my skin overnight. I still get those weird, pesky cystic spots from time to time, and I’ve noticed a few more fine lines than I had just a few years ago. UGH, aging!

Simple is Key!

One of the main pieces of skin care advice I can offer is to simplify your skincare routine. It may look and feel glamorous to have a million and one products on your counter, but believe me, it’s not. Oftentimes, there are products that aren’t right for your skin type or can products that can interfere with the efficacy of other products and cause irritation. Plus, it just takes up space, clutters your environment, and most likely wastes a lot of money.

I’ve found that a few quality products and a couple techniques help to keep my skin its best. I have to stick to a good regimen and make it a priority to take care of my skin because prevention is key! Starting in your 20s (or even in your teens) can make a world of difference in the appearance of your skin as we age.

Here are a few products and tips I follow to keep my skin as clear, bright, and youthful as it can be (and prevent aging as much as possible)!

1. Use Protection

… As in a sunscreen! I can’t stress sun protection enough. I remember getting a facial about two years ago, and my aesthetician noted that she was starting to see just a little bit of damage on my upper chest and that it was most likely due to not putting sunscreen there. Use a topical sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day. Yes, even if you’re just driving to work – The sun isn’t afraid of beaming through your car windows! Even cloudy days, UV rays can penetrate and leave their mark on your skin.

The Sunshade 30 is great for face and body, and it’s made from quality ingredients like Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Green Tea, and Coconut Oil, so it feels nicer on the skin than other natural sunscreens! I also love that it’s coral reef safe too.

2. Use an Ice Roller

I’ve honestly never found a tool so inexpensive that I love so much for my skin. An ice roller is essentially the same as an ice pack, but it’s just more fun and convenient! I try to use it every morning, but sometimes time doesn’t allot for that! 

An ice roller is especially helpful any morning when I feel puffy, haven’t slept well, or feel any inflammation. It feels amazing on the skin and really relieves puffiness quickly. I roll it all over my face and make sure to roll under my eyes and down my neck as well. I picked one up on Amazon. This technique stimulates blood flow to the skin, bringing life bringing oxygen that helps to keep cells healthy and looking youthful.

3. Use an Eye Cream

This is a product that you should definitely have on your bathroom counter. We put so much emphasis on moisturizing our face and our body to keep hydrated and prevent aging, so why would we neglect our eyes?! 

I’ve found that using a great eye cream like the Cucumber Eye Cream helps my eyes feel less puffy and look more refreshed. The eyes are one of the first places we start to age, so start early for an ageless complexion. 

It isn’t necessary to spend a ton on an eye cream in your 20s. Try using an eye cream that is beneficial for brightening and hydration. The more moisturized you keep the area, the more plump it looks. Plus, the skin under our eyes is thin and delicate, so they need a little TLC and a light to look their best!

The Cucumber Eye Cream improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles. It’s a light, gel-like formula and feels nice and cool on the skin. I love how it gives my eyes a little pick-me-up when they don’t look awake!

4. Exfoliate

Think about everything you do on a daily basis, from busy to-do lists, the pollution we are all surrounded by, the makeup you wear, etc. Cleansing our skin is great, but sometimes we really need to an exfoliating boost to polish the skin’s surface and get rid of any dead skin that can keep the complexion looking dull and contribute to break outs.

Depending on your skin type, try exfoliating at least once a week. I use the Silt Scrub or Algae Deep Scrub about once a week to give my face a quality exfoliation. If it’s a week where I’m wearing more makeup than normal, working out more often, or just feel like my face needs the extra scrub, I’ll use it twice.  

I love that these scrubs aren’t too harsh – oftentimes,  scrubs for our face are just too aggressive and can actually lead to irritation and breakouts. The whole purpose of exfoliation is to rid the skin of dead skin cells and impurities, leaving it more clear, revived, and looking brand new!

Both of these Source Vital exfoliants are gentle enough to leave your skin feeling smooth and clean – Just don’t overdo it! Use gentle, circular motions to exfoliate, avoid using back-n-forth movements. It’s your skin, you aren’t scrubbing a dirty dish!

5. Never Sleep in Makeup!

We’re ending the list on a super important note. I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP!  Sleep is the time for our skin to repair itself, absorb the ingredients in your skincare, and go through cell turnover. It can’t do any of that if you have a whole layer of makeup on your face – It can’t breathe!

I know we all have those nights where we are just too tired to go through every single step of our skincare routine. When nights like this come around, go for something quick and easy like Micellar Cleansing Water for a one and done makeup removal. I love this product – I keep it in my travel bag too to keep my makeup removal easy when I’m away.

Pour a little bit of the Micellar Water on a cotton pad and voila. A few swipes removes your makeup, including your eye makeup (no, it doesn’t irritate my eyes) and you’re done. Of course, I recommend still cleansing after and moisturizing if you’ve been out and wearing makeup, but if you’re being SUPER lazy, at least do this to get the gunk off your face before passing out. 

You’ll be glad you took the time to cleanse your skin the next morning! Plus, I just can’t stand the feeling of waking up with dry, crusty mascara on my eyes…no thank you!

Do you have any twenty-something skin care secrets? Share them with us in the comments section below.

About Guest Blogger Cori Scherer

Cori is a twenty-something, Houstonian who's out here to help women (and men) be the best version of themselves. She believes in living a balanced life and strives to inspire others to accept and love the skin they're in while choosing to keep it healthy, happy, and in shape. 

Cori is also the co-founder of the "Find Your Sweat" movement, which inspires women to try new workouts, engage with one another, and support each other through the good and bad times of life.