How to Have Your Best Skin Past Your 30's

What exactly happens to your skin as you age?

It’s inevitable that your skin changes as you age. Although not very visible in your early 30s, you may start noticing your fine wrinkle lines, irregular pigmentation and broken blood vessels well past your 30s. Even more so if you are subject to daily sun-bathing as part of your work or lifestyle.

According to Dr Chua, as you age, your dermis loses its ability to produce collagen and elastin that keeps the skin strong, taut and healthy. Your skin cells naturally produce hyaluronic acid – which is a sugar complex that maintains skin hydration – and the fibroblasts in your skin that produce an enzyme known as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) are significantly reduced. As a result, skin appearance and laxity are drastically compromised and will eventually result in wrinkly skin.

At a deeper layer, Dr Chua explains that the ligaments and connective tissues go through the same degradation process causing firm contours of the face and body to sag and result in unevenness and droopiness. On top of that, the loss of youthful fat as we age can cause sunken areas on your face, especially around the eyes and cheekbones.

Of course, another skin foe is hormones. The majority of hormonal changes in women start around the age of 30 and above. When the female reproductive hormone levels begin to decrease, it usually manifests as undesirable skin conditions, like dry skin and wrinkles. Men don't typically face skin problems but fall victim to male pattern baldness due to changes in testosterone and DHT.

You may not be able to avoid these hormonal changes past your 30s, but Dr Chua warns that indulging in excessive drinking, smoking, poor eating habits and irregular exercise can all contribute negatively to your skin’s health.

What are the best skincare ingredients for you, past your 30s?

If you’re not already practicing a daily skincare routine, now is the time to start. However, with so many acids and oils in the market that seem dangerous and hard to pronounce, we understand how this can be scary. We asked Dr Chua to break this down for us and give us the easiest and best tips that you can follow, no matter your skin type;

1. Protective Sunscreen

When shopping for sunscreen, look for zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and iron oxide on the label. These ingredients protect against both UVA and UVB rays, while iron oxide guards against skin-damaging blue light from computer and cell phone screens. If you drive under the sun a lot, ensure to slather some onto your arms as well.

2. Gentle Cleanser

If you’re past your 30s, Dr Chua recommends using a cleanser containing ceramides, glycerin, and vitamin E. These active ingredients help keep your facial skin hydrated and moist throughout the day. Ensure you cleanse daily in gentle motions.

3. Hydrating Moisturiser

We all know how important it is to keep our skin moisturised in our hot weather. Do not be lax on slathering on your moisturiser daily. Choose one that includes niacinamide, ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to lock that moisture in.

4. Chemical Exfoliator

This product may seem the scariest with various acid ingredients. But Dr Chua advises that you find the right one for your skin to ensure that all your dead cells are removed to promote cell turnover and clear pores. Look for words such as glycolic, lactic, mandelic, or salicylic acid on the label.

5. Anti-aging Serum

We know being past 30 is not old but this is the time you need to think of preventative care to achieve lifelong healthy skin. Using anti-aging serums in the morning and nights can ensure your skin is fed with the right ingredients to do its work. Vitamin C, E, antioxidants and retinol are what you should be feeding your skin with.

Looking for a professional skincare treatment to help with the process?

A preventative approach to having your best skin past your 30s and maintaining it is a minimalistic resolution. Dr Chua advises that you combine these daily practices with a more proactive approach if you have severe skin issues and want immediate, long-lasting results.

Injectables, thread lifts, and laser treatments are all evidence-based and clinically-approved options that you may to consider. Sometimes, a choice between devices and injectables, or a combination of both, may be necessary depending on your skin type and condition.

Conclusion

So, if you’re at the tail end of your 30s and heading into your 40s, don’t panic! It’s the start of your wonder years. You have already come into yourself and should be comfortable with the skin you’re in. Speak more with Dr Chua on what practices and treatments may work best for you to maintain lifelong healthy skin. Upholding the creed of, “Honesty to patients isn’t a virtue, it’s a must,” you are sure to get precise and truthful advice.

Are you past your 30s and looking to grow more confident in your own skin? Get expert advice today on how you can achieve and maintain lifelong healthy skin way past your 30s and into your 50s. You can begin by reading about the services offered at Veritas Medical Aesthetics on their official website to learn more.

References:

1. https://veritas.com.sg/aging/

2. https://www.self.com/story/skin-care-routine-30s

3. https://food.ndtv.com/beauty/8-expert-beauty-tips-skin-care-in-your-30s-696030

4. https://aedit.com/aedition/best-skincare-routine-products-ingredients-for-30s