When you’ve got a bunch of weddings, baby showers and financial meetings with your tax officer to attend to, you know you’ve either arrived to the 30s club or you’re heading there, soon! I am the latter and I’ve already starting freaking the ‘eff out. Not because of the big 3-0, but because of what age can do to one’s skin.
But I’m not alone… The ladies of Malini’s Girl Tribe too are worried and fret about their skin’s glow, texture and quality. So, I spoke to celebrity dermatologist, Dr. Jamuna Pai and got the answers to some of the most pressing skincare questions for people in their 30s!
But before that, let’s talk about what happens to your skin when you reach your 30s?
In your 30s, you can expect your skin to lose its natural oil balance and turn dry. A dry skin always shows early signs of fine lines. The skin does not repair as fast as it did in the 20s. The rate at which the new skin cells are produced slows down and the activity of the oil glands also decreases. As a result the skin starts to look dull, patchy, dry and the fine lines and wrinkles start appearing as early as in the 30s.
Q1. What are the products I should swap out of my 20s routine?
Whichever age group, using a broad spectrum sunscreen in a must for everyone- it is non-negotiable. Irrespective of the skin type and the climatic conditions, it is imperative to protect one’s skin against the damage caused by the free radicals and the UV rays.
A woman in the 30s will need more retinol based creams, eye cream, exfoliating products than a woman in her 20s. During the 20s, a regular moisturiser would probably suffice, but as the skin tends to be dry in the next decade, maintaining the skin pH should be the prime goal. You should make a switch to a rich hydrating agent daily to help combat this dryness- unless you battle with adult acne.
Q2. What ingredient should I look for when picking my products?
It is important that your night cream has Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate and Peptides. The rest of the ingredients can depend on your existing skin condition and the problem area you want to target.
Q3. How to avoid acne and dark circles?
It may not be possible to avoid getting acne if you are prone to it, but hygiene and a regular skin cleansing routine helps to keep the oil free. Here are a few tips to avoid acne as well as dark circles. For acne:
• Do not pinch acne
• Wash your face 2-3 times in the day
• Use Salicylic acid based cleaner/face wash of you have oily skin
• Keep a clear gut
• Use clindamycin based topical cream if there is a breakout
• Seek medical intervention at the earliest, to keep the acne under control
For dark circles:
• Improper sleep exacerbates the dark circles- try to get enough sleep at night(7-8 hours)
• Drink a minimum of 2-3 litres of water daily
• Refractory errors can also add to the stress on the eyes- Get your eyes checked on a regular basis
• Use anti-glare screen protector for the desktop/laptop
• Do eye exercises on a regular basis- every one to two hours shift your gaze from the screen and close your eyes tight- to squeeze your eye muscles- to help improve the blood circulation
• Iron deficiency also adds to the darkening of the area around the eyes. Include iron supplements in your regime if required.
• Cut down on smoking- nicotine increase the free radicals-making the are around the eyes look puffy, dull and dark.
Q4. What treatments should I go for / stay away from?
Treatments during the 30s can be based on the concerns one faces. In this decade of life, as one faces issues such as fine lines, pigmentation, uneven skin tone and dry skin condition, the treatments should be aimed at reversing these.
There are various AHA/BHA peels which are done to brighten the skin, lessen the pigmented spots and acne scars, and some are just for skin rejuvenation. Hydrating and nourishing skin facials should be done on a regular basis. Laser toning, skin firming treatments are other good treatment choices to make. All of these should be done after a proper skin analysis and under medical supervision.
Q5. Can you give us an overview of what one’s skincare routine should include?
A sunscreen, moisturiser and a night repair cream have to be an integral part of the skincare regime on a daily basis. And for the working women, accessibility is the key to adaptability. Hence, I advise them to always carry the sunscreen and moisturiser in their bag, besides the makeup which they use.
The skin also needs to be exfoliated. Do it once a week or at least in 10 days. It helps remove the unwanted dead skin cells which make the skin look dull and tired. It is ideal to visit a salon to get a clean-up/ facial once a month to help hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. But if pressed for time, a mild granulated scrub when used once a week, helps lessen the accumulation of the dead skin cells.
However busy your schedule is, try and exercise as and when you can find time. Also, watch what you eat and balance it as much as possible.
Now you’re ready to conquer your 30s—and the world!
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