In your 20's

How your skin works

Skin should be settling down by now and behaving reasonably normally. However, those with relatively high oil production may still have spots and/or shiny skin, likewise blackheads and whiteheads (particularly if you live in a polluted environment).

As regards fine lines and wrinkles, your face should still be silky-smooth, although if you have fair skin and do not use adequate sun protection, you may see the beginnings of sun spots and crows’ feet.

Those who smoke or who over-indulge in alcohol may see the beginnings of broken blood vessels, bags around their eyes, and a dull, unhealthy-looking, spotty complexion. . Body-wise, you may still experience spotty outbreaks on your back, or skin pimpling and rough patches on the backs of arms and legs.

Lifestyle and it's effects

Our skin is often a reflection on the way we live. In our 20’s our skin is working at it’s peak to keep it plump and firm.  However, in our 20s,  lifestyle often plays a big part on how our skin looks and feels. 

Drinking alcohol, smoking, late nights, starting a career and exposure to the sun with minimal protection are all key factors that will determine how your skin looks and feels.  Now is the time to start looking for more serious products to help retain that radiant, youthful glow. Skin Any damage cannot always be reversed so NOW is an important time to protect for the future. Ageing skin looses its "peachy" texture and youthful tone, so replenishment and protection is key. Why not introduce a serum under your daily moisturiser. Serums give the skin an added boost by absorbing quickly into the skin.

Pura Naturals' have created two age-specific serums.  Our Aloe Retinol Facial Serum is the perfect way to start protecting your skin in your 20's.  Amongst many other active anti-ageing ingredients, it contains beta-cartene, retinol, argan oil, renowned for it's anti-ageing benefits, amd arnica oils, which is also renowned for reducing dark circles under the eyes. Perfect!!  Click here if you want to take a look ....

Recommended skincare routine

The core products you should be using  to help look after your skin is:

• a cleanser - remove with a soft muslin cloth or flannel to gently exfoliate your skin gently; 
• an alcohol-free skin tonic, 
• a light daily moisturiser,
• slightly richer night cream
• facial oil and mask. 

And don't forget your body!  Use a body lotion on your body every day and a body scrub every few days.  And don't forget .... stay protected in the sun!!

Whatever your skin type may be, start exfoliating very gently.  This will remove the top, dead layer of skin cells on your face (and body). 

Looking after your skin properly in your 20's will ensure
 healthy skin well into maturer years

In the mornings, soak a soft muslin cloth or a fine-towelling flannel in warm water, wring it out and buff your face gently.  This will remove any cleanser from the night before . Follow with a sweep of alcohol-free tonic (or pure aloe vera gel) and a dab of daily moisturiser. Useful ingredients in both skin tonics and moisturisers include antioxidants to protect against free-radical damage and essential fatty acids to help keep skin smooth.  

If you use he contraceptive pill, you may find you get brown stains on your upper face, cheeks or upper lip. These pigmented patches occur because the hormones in the pill, as with pregnancy, increase the production of melanin, the tanning pigment.  Sunbathing helps to increase this pigmentation and although, you can’t completely prevent this condition, known medically as melasma or chloasma, you can lessen the effect by using a sunscreen at all times, even on cloudy days (SPF 15-20) and try to stay out of the sun whenever possible.  UVA can pass through glass, so apply sunscreen even when you are in the car or behind a window.

If you smoke, try to stop now for your skin’s sake.  Apart from discoloured teeth, facial lines, bags under your eyes and saggy skin, you’ll get a yellowish tinge to your skin.

Ingredients to avoid

Avoid products that contain benzoyl peroxide as they dry the skin and strip it of it's natural oils: the skin’s immediate response will be to produce more oil so people then use more aggressive products to combat this, creating a viscous cycle. Look for ranges with gentle purifiers such as witch hazel, rosemary and eucalyptus.

Tips on problem skin

For skin scarred from acne, chicken pox or surgery, a daily massage with rosehip seed oil really helps, but the older the scar, the longer it takes to fade. You should see some improvement after three to four weeks’ with regular use.

Wrinkles can begin to appear in your early 20’s, but that is usually due to environmental factors at a young age.  At any age, it is important to take care of your skin inside and out. This means eating well and exercising to keep your heart fit and healthy. 

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it will function at an optimal level when your body has what it needs to create strong, water-tight cells. 

Topically, make sure you use a good quality moisturiser daily both in the morning and the evening.  This will reinforce and restore resilience to the top layer of skin. If you are seeing wrinkles appear early on, you may be suffering from genetic ageing. If this is the case, look for products that contain glycolic acid to exfoliate and beta-carotene, a carotenoid and retinol precursor, to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without irritation.

If you suffer from acne then you need to take the relevant steps to help banish acne (see our post on "Problem Skin" for more information). 

Our "Bare Essentials" Skin Care range offers alcohol-free products so are gentle on the skin whilst our Honey Skin Care range offers a rich night cream.

If you start looking after your skin now you will reep the benefits when you get older.

Tanya xx