Should You Be Using Anti Aging Products in Your Twenties

Want to stay looking young forever? Most anti-aging skincare products typically don’t specifically target consumers in their twenties. They tend to get a better bang for their buck with the consumers in their 30’s, 40’s and up. That said, when you are in your twenties it's very tempting, and quite logical to wonder if, by using anti-aging products earlier, you can successfully persuade mother nature to keep you looking younger for longer.

In this article, I’m going to dig into the details of anti-aging products, discuss the pros and cons, and different treatment options. By the end of it you should have a good deal of knowledge about when the perfect time for you is to start using anti-aging products.

Anti-Aging Treatments

First, let’s just define what we mean when we are talking about anti-aging products. In general, anti-aging products aim to:

• Protect against skin damage caused by aging

• Prepare your skin to defend against the acceleration of the appearance of aging

• Improve skin elasticity, discoloration, and smoothness of the skin, all of which help to roll back the years.

Anti-aging products are not designed to reverse the aging process, but rather slow it down or make it less obvious. How effective the treatment is can depend on the type and the ingredients.

Anti-Aging Product Categories

With these anti-aging goals in mind, let's take a look at the various types of anti-aging products and treatments to determine whether or not you should be using them in your twenties. We’ll start our list with the least contentious.

• Moisturizers

Moisturizers are arguably one of the most important products you should be using at any and every age. These should be included in every skin care routine. By moisturizing, you’re adding an extra layer of protection on your skin and keeping it hydrated and elastic to prevent wrinkles and looking plump and glowy. Moisturizers are a natural anti-aging product that can be implemented into your skincare routine in your twenties to start helping your skin stay youthful.

• Sunscreens

People have been going on about wearing sunscreen for years. But seriously, the sun is probably one of the most aggressive aging accelerators. Nothing good comes from exposing your unprotected skin to the sun. Don’t think if you have dark skin you get a free pass either. The sun is an equal opportunity skin disruptor.

If you haven’t added sunscreen to your daily skincare routine, this is your sign. Great sunscreens offer protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Incorporating sunscreen into your daily routine protects your skin from damaging rays that cause skin damage such as wrinkles and discoloration. Applying your sunscreen correctly during your skincare routine assures that it is providing you with the maximum protection from damaging rays. A good sunscreen should be a mainstay within your morning skincare routine starting right now, regardless of your age.

• Retinoids

Retinoids are a family of drugs that have been used to treat various skin conditions since the 1970’s. The most popular retinoid is called Retinol. Retinol is a topical form of Vitamin A that can be applied directly to the skin and works to reduce wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen and stimulating the production of new blood vessels in the skin. It also improves skin color, fades age spots, and softens rough patches of skin.

That said, when you’re in your twenties, your skin is already producing enough collagen and you’ll have plenty of new blood vessels feeding your young skin with an array of nutrients. Using skincare products with retinol in them could actually be harmful in your twenties. Be sure to check with a doctor about a prescription retinol if you believe that this could be beneficial for your skin.

• Serums

Facial serums can be added to your skincare routine to address specific skin concerns. These are skincare products that are formulated to contain high doses of certain ingredients, such as Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, Vitamin E, and more. Serums can be absorbed into the skin rapidly because they have a lighter skin care formula. Facial serums are used as an anti-aging treatment to target fine lines and wrinkles, increase firmness, reduce dryness, fade age spots, and so on.

While you are in your twenties, you should use serums sparingly because your skin is able to hold its shape and avoid dark spots with moisturizer and sunscreen alone. And even in your thirties and forties, serums are not for everyone, and overuse can be detrimental for your skin. A great serum can leave your skin feeling moisturized and hydrated, but using one too often can weaken the skin barrier and cause irritation.

• Chemical Exfoliants

The last major category of anti-aging treatments is chemical exfoliants. Two common ingredients in skin care products are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). These are chemical exfoliants that help to remove the dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin.

It is recommended to use products with an overall AHA level of less than ten percent. Most daily products, such as anti-aging skincare, contain lower AHA concentrations. But, highly concentrated products, such as glycolic acid peels, should be used less often to reduce the risk of side effects.

What You Should be Doing in Your Twenties

Now that we’ve covered the various types of anti-aging treatment, the question still stands: should you be using anti-aging products in your twenties? There are some specific pros and cons to consider, but ultimately, it depends on what anti-aging treatment you’re looking to try!

The most positive benefit to getting a headstart on anti-aging in your twenties is to start implementing preventative measures. The three best things you can be doing for your skin in your twenties is to (i) diligently apply your sunscreen (ii) avoid smoking and (iii) keep up a regular skincare regime that includes moisturizing daily!

Using other anti-aging skincare products in your twenties is probably unnecessary for normal skin and as discussed, could even be harmful. Most serums and creams provide anti-aging benefits by increasing cell turnover or repairing collagen breakdown. But, in your twenties, your body is able to fully repair itself. Using these products in your twenties might even irritate your skin or make it more sensitive to the sun causing even more damage.

There are many considerations when deciding if and when to start adding anti-aging treatments into your skincare routine. While you might feel like you need to get a headstart on using these products, preventative measures will be more beneficial in the long run.