How I Aged My Skin Back in My 30s

• At 31, I still didn’t have a real skincare routine and wasn’t even wearing sunscreen every day.
• I had lines on my forehead, oily skin, and dark spots from acne that made me self-conscious.
• I started learning more about products like vitamin C serum and best practices for Botox.

At 31, I had no skincare routine. To paint a clearer (and grimmer) picture, I thought foundation with SPF 15 was enough to protect my skin.

I was aware of my forehead lines and dark post-acne spots, yet overwhelmed by 12-step nighttime regimens. But when I started covering skin care for my job, I started absorbing advice from dermatologists in interviews. They didn’t agree on every product, but they did agree on some big points, like the importance of wearing sunscreen.

Two years later, I feel like my skin has aged back. I no longer have the same problems with hyperpigmentation and a patchy complexion. I don’t feel as oily and my lines have definitely faded.

As a result, I am much more confident, I often go without makeup. I stopped zooming in on every candid photo taken of me, obsessing over every imperfection.

Now follows a basic routine (half of which involves drugstore products). Being consistent not only transformed my skin over time, but also gave me peace of mind that I was taking care of my body’s largest organ.

1. I found a sunscreen that I like to put on

Part of the reason I hated putting on sunscreen every day was how unpleasant it was. Most over-the-counter sunscreens felt greasy and took a long time to rub in completely, so I was very inconsistent in wearing them.

Every dermatologist we interviewed emphasized the importance of using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, including reapplying. A few recommended EltaMD, which costs around $40 — more than I’d ever want to pay for sunscreen.

But after trying it once, I became obsessed with how dewy it made my skin look and how smooth it went on. I actively like to apply it every morning and always make sure I top up when I run out. I also try to minimize sun exposure by wearing a hat when I run outside.

2. I bought beginner friendly products

The most daunting part of starting a routine was potentially wasting money (and precious cabinet space).

I started by finding more affordable products, like a $12 retinol from The Ordinary, that I wouldn’t feel bad about throwing away if it didn’t work.

Retinol, which promotes cell turnover, comes in a range of concentrations. The stronger, more effective ones can cause burning and peeling if applied daily. But in the beginning, it helped to use a milder formula that I could apply every day before working up to a stronger one.

3. I committed to a new product at some point

I quickly learned that skin care is only as complicated as you decide to make it.

Instead of buying every new product I hear about on TikTok, I read a good review from a co-worker about Matter of Fact’s Vitamin C Serum, I loved that I didn’t break out when I tried it, and I kept using it I buy when I saw it bright. my skin in a few months. I haven’t changed it since, but if I did, I would only try a new serum after finishing the current one.

4. I took makeup removal seriously

The biggest obstacle to soft, blemish-free skin was my hatred of facial cleansers. Something about splashing water on my face after a long day felt so tiring, so I cleaned my flesh with makeup remover wipes.

It took learning about the damage I was doing to my skin to take it seriously. The scraping on my eyeliner was not only harsh on the lids, it was practically useless at removing the smudge. There was no way around it: I just had to get used to getting clean, regardless of how I felt about it.

I now use an oil cleanser to slide away makeup and dirt because “like dissolves like.” Follow with a water-based cleanser to remove oil and keep my pores clear.

I still get the occasional pimple, but I don’t get the same breakouts (and subsequent scarring) that I used to.

5. I made lifestyle changes

I’ve learned that I can’t repair my skin unless my lifestyle habits are healthy. If I’m dehydrated or not getting enough sleep, my skin looks drier and more wrinkled. If I consume too much sugar and alcohol, my skin feels more puffy and acne-prone.

It’s convenient how interconnected health is. The same things I do to increase my longevity, like eating a balanced diet, also benefit my skin.

6. I only got Botox after trying everything else

Most dermatologists I spoke to recommend internal procedures, from injections to laser treatments for more dramatic results. I felt it didn’t make sense to spend money on plastic surgery if I didn’t already take care of my skin.

I only got Botox after I had a routine. While my wrinkles have smoothed out, they haven’t gone away completely because I developed too much sun damage in my 20s.

7. I stayed consistent

As of now, my morning routine is as follows:

• Cleanse my face with a water-based drugstore cleanser in the morning
• Apply vitamin C serum
• Apply sunscreen to your face
• If you go out, apply makeup

At night, I:

• Cleanse my face with an over-the-counter oil-based cleanser
• Clean with water-based cleanser
• Apply retinol serum every other day
• Cover with drugstore moisturizer

Knowing the order of applying the products helped me stick to a plan without overthinking it. Ironically, putting a little effort into my skin twice a day is easier than constantly worrying about my shiny forehead, fine lines, or darkening acne scars. In that sense, doing the work was like not working at all.