Every Age & Stage
I've been hearing from clients that information about Skincare & Self care for specific ages & stages is of particular interest, so I've decided to do a blog series to address them, decade by decade, starting in your 20s!
In Your 20s:
LEARNING / College Life / Early working years / Social Life / Relationships/ Skincare & Self Care Strategies
I see young clients in their twenties, still young and fresh in views and physical form. Some still dealing with the hormonal acne that plagued them as teens, wondering if they are ever going to grow out of it.
This is a time of life when the pressure is on. Attend and finish college, find a good job that pays well and have a plan for how you’re going to spend the rest of your life. The truth is, it’s not really the way it works.
The decade between 20-30 is a time for working hard, playing hard, paying the proverbial dues and getting some experience in your field.
At the rate that life changes these days, who knows if the time and money invested in your college education and beginning of your career is even going to be paving the way to what you’ll want to do in 5 or 10 more years?
With this fundamental question looming, this time that should be more carefree often is anything but.
The good news: your skin is youthful and healthy.
You are young, vibrant, energetic and capable of going strong for long periods.
This is a superpower of youth! However, it’s one that gradually diminishes with time and age. This doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds.
A Healthy, Happy Life is All About Balance. Begin to cultivate tools and habits for taking excellent care of yourself so that your future self will thank you later!
The Best Habits for this decade (20-30) are:
Self-facials:
Cleanse, Treat with serum, use weekly masques to gently exfoliate and hydrate
Sleep. In a quiet, dark room. 8-10 hours per night. Like it’s your job.
Wear Sunscreen. This is a must to protect your skin from the damage of UV rays.
Nutrition. "Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much." – Michael Pollan, Author of Food Rules and The Omnivore's Dilemma. Lots of fresh veggies, fruits, whole foods, include occasional indulgences and enhance your glow from within.
Exercise. Move your body. Pump your blood. Increase circulation. Tone your muscles. Sweat. Ideally, outside in fresh air. Let it feel good. Do what you enjoy.
Yoga. "Yoga is profoundly effective self care"- Rolf Gates, Yoga Teacher & Author of Meditations from the Mat. The benefits of a yoga practice are vast and many. If you can begin a practice early in life, it will be something that will welcome you back anytime. Your body, your mind, your whole self will thank you. You can read my blog post about what Yoga is here: http://www.complexionsoncarter.com/yoga-is-prayer-and-self-care
Meditation. Meditation is a practice that can be used to create the life you want, self-soothe anxieties and fears, create new neuropathways that protect your brain and benefit your body in ways science has only begun to understand. It is a practice that is perfected by very few, which is beautiful, because the practice is the journey.
Visualization. Getting clear about what you want optimizes your chances of receiving what you want. See yourself the way you strive to be. Use the power of your mind to see your ideal self, in your ideal situations.
Change sheets & pillowcases often, to reduce dust & bacteria from getting all over your face and aggravating your skin.
Clean phone screens: Reduce bacteria from clogging your face where your phone touches.
Don’t touch your face: Again, the bacteria from your hands can irritate your skin.
Sit up straight: Better posture leads to feeling better and looking better.
Take screen breaks: Phones and screens are addictive. Mindfully set them down and engage in the world around you. Your life is happening in your PRESENCE, not in your phone.
Take deep breath breaks: Every hour or so, stop and take 10 deep, slow, full inhales and exhales. It takes about 2 minutes and can reset your mind and body. It's a great way to begin a mini-meditation practice. Bring in a visualization for something you'd like to create in your life or even in your day, as a bonus!
Drink lots of water: Hydration is very important. I recommend drinking only water & tea. No sodas or sugary beverages. Your body and your skin don't need the extra sugar.
Cleansing skin every single night before bedtime. If you are someone who is prone to skipping this step because you are too tired before bed, then do this in the late afternoon, right when you get home for the day/evening.
“I want to take better care of my skin, but I get too tired/lazy/forget before bed!”
I hear this fairly often. Understandable!
When I hear this from my clients, I advise them to take a few moments after arriving home from work. Change into comfy clothes, and do your skincare ritual! You will feel fresh, rejuvenated and relaxed! Even if you decide to take a long, hot, salt bath by candlelight later or a luxurious shower, your face will be bedtime ready. Remember, sleep is the time when your body rejuvenates itself, balances hormones, brings down inflammation.
Use a night cream with Vitamin C to brighten and tighten.
The more sleep you can get before midnight, the better your skin will look and the better your body will feel the following day.
In the morning, rinse your face with cool water. Apply a serum to treat any specific concerns.
For Lightening & Brightening, use a Vitamin C
For Redness Reducing, use a serum or light lotion with calming ingredients like: azaelic acid, vitamin C
For Oil control, use a serum or light lotion with 2% salicylic acid
For Big breakouts & Pimples, use a spot treatment with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
Sunscreen with spf 30.
A Tinted moisturizer is a great way to protect your skin and create a more even tone. It’s a perfect base for a BB creme, which is a full coverage, breathable, skin-loving concealer to create a perfect complexion.
Professional treatments: Invest in a deep-pore cleansing facial every month or so.
Even quarterly is a great way to keep your skin fresh at the turn of the seasons.
Work with a Licensed Esthetician you like and trust to create a home care regimen with professional products. The price point for professional products may be higher than what you can find in the beauty aisle or department, but you will likely save money, time and energy in the long run by working with someone who knows their product line well and can make recommendations based on a thorough consultation and assessment of your skin.