From 20s to 70s, as you age your skin’s needs change and your routine needs to keep up. Here is how to switch things up in every decade.
Skincare in your 20s
Your 20s are all about laying the foundations for healthy skin later in life. While you can usually afford to keep things relatively simple, breakouts, congestion and lingering acne can still be common, making a stripped-back routine particularly important.
The essentials are straightforward, an effective cleanser, a hydrating moisturiser and, most importantly, a good daily SPF. Look for formulas that contain niacinamide. Not only will this help to calm and support blemish-prone skin, it will also recharge skin cells and boost ceramide production.
The biggest mistake to avoid? Doing too much. Over-exfoliating or combining multiple strong active ingredients can compromise the skin barrier and aggravate breakouts rather than improve them. Instead, focus on consistency, and make sunscreen a non-negotiable habit now.
Recommendations:
Dr. Barbara Sturm The Better B Niacinamide Serum
Sisley Phyto-Hydra Teint Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15
Eve Lom Cleansing Oil
Skincare in your 30s
Your 30s are often when the first subtle signs of ageing begin to appear. Collagen production gradually slows, while fine lines, uneven pigmentation, enlarged pores and the effects of sun exposure may become more noticeable.
This is the decade to move from simply maintaining your skin to actively protecting it. Introduce a high-quality antioxidant serum, particularly vitamin C, which can help protect against environmental damage while brightening the complexion.
Your 30s are also a good time to introduce a retinoid. Start with a lower-strength formula a few nights a week and gradually build up as your skin adjusts. Used consistently, retinoids can help improve fine lines, texture and pigmentation while supporting collagen production.
Recommendations:
Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
Dr Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Creamy Cleansing Oil
Skincare in your 40s
By your 40s, changes in collagen and elastin production tend to become more visible. Skin can feel thinner and drier, while fine lines, pigmentation and loss of firmness may become more pronounced.
This is the time to prioritise antioxidants, hydration and ingredients that support the skin’s structure. Look for products with vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea and grape seed extract, these antioxidant ingredients help protect skin from environmental damage and support a brighter, healthier-looking complexion.
Cleansing should remain gentle, particularly if your skin is becoming drier or more reactive. Niacinamide can be particularly useful for supporting the skin barrier, while peptide-rich moisturisers can help improve the appearance of fine lines and loss of firmness.
At night, step things up with a richer moisturiser and targeted actives. This is also the decade when hydration becomes increasingly important, so ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane can make a noticeable difference to how plump and comfortable skin feels.
Recommendations:
Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial
Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment Ferment³+ Vitamin C Serum
Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. 300-Peptide Face Cream
Skincare in your 50s
For many women, the 50s bring one of the most significant changes in skin since puberty, menopause. Falling oestrogen levels can affect collagen, elasticity, hydration and the skin barrier, meaning skin may suddenly feel drier, thinner or more sensitive than it did before.
The key to your skincare now is to strip away anything unnecessarily harsh. If scrubs, cleansing brushes or highly foaming cleansers leave the skin feeling tight, swap them for creamy or balm-based formulas and concentrate on supporting the skin barrier.
Daily SPF remains just as important as ever, not only for preventing pigmentation but for protecting the collagen and elastin already present in the skin. Antioxidants should remain a staple too, with vitamin C particularly useful across the face, neck and décolletage.
For moisturising, look for ceramides, peptides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, and don’t be afraid to graduate to richer textures than you used in your 30s and 40s.
Recommendations:
Estée Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Creme SPF 15
Sisley Black Rose Beautifying Emulsion
Lancôme Rénergie Cream Triple Serum Retinol
Skincare in your 60s
In your 60s, hydration and skin quality take centre stage. As skin becomes thinner and produces less natural oil, dryness can become more persistent, while reduced elasticity may be noticeable around the cheeks, jawline and neck.
Look for products containing high levels of hyaluronic acid and natural oils to increase hydration and soften fine lines and soothe dry patches.
Moisturisers containing peptides and antioxidants such as vitamin C can also help improve the appearance of firmness and radiance. Rather than constantly adding new products, however, concentrate on choosing formulas that deliver plenty of moisture without irritating the skin.
A retinoid can still have an important role, provided your skin tolerates it. You may find that using one less frequently, or sandwiching it between layers of moisturiser, gives you the benefits without excessive dryness.
Recommendations:
Dr Dennis Gross DRx BioRejuvenation Serum
111Skin Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster
La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream
Skincare in your 70s
By your 70s, the goal is less about chasing every individual line and more about keeping skin healthy, comfortable, hydrated and luminous. The skin barrier becomes more fragile with age, natural oil production declines and cell turnover slows, which can leave the complexion feeling noticeably drier and looking less radiant.
This is the decade to favour nourishment over aggression. Choose a gentle, non-foaming cleanser, and if your skin isn’t particularly oily, you may find that simply rinsing with water in the morning is enough.
Follow with a hydrating serum containing ingredients such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid, then seal everything in with a rich moisturiser containing ceramides, peptides, squalane or nourishing oils. If dryness is particularly troublesome, an overnight balm or facial oil can provide an additional layer of comfort.
Recommendations:
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum
Sisley Longevity Essential Serum
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
