5 Natural Ways to Care for Your Skin in Your 20s

If you’re in your 20s, you’re probably focused on discovering your career path, exploring intense relationships, finding your true voice, and beginning to live your unique story with delicious newfound independence. Odds are the last thing on your mind right now is keeping the signs of skin aging at bay. After all, for most folks in this demographic, gorgeous glowing skin is kind of a given.

But the truth is that it’s never too early to start caring for your complexion, and the love you show your skin in your 20s will reward you big time down the road. During this stage of life, skincare is all about nourishing, preserving, and protecting the good thing you’ve already got going—as opposed to trying to fix anything or turn back the clock. Here are five easy ways to set the stage for a lifetime of natural beauty.

Exfoliation sloughs away old, dead skin cells that remain on the surface of your skin as fresh new cells come into being. And when you get rid of those dead cells, your already youthful complexion looks and feels even fresher and brighter. There’s no need for harsh chemical peels to get the job done—just add dry brushing to your daily routine. 

Dry brushing before your morning shower safely exfoliates, invigorates, and leaves every inch of skin from head to toe feeling rosy and alive. 

2. Deep Clean...But Gently

There’s a lot to be said for never sleeping with your make-up on. Going to bed with a clean face can absolutely do wonders for your skin’s health and appearance—but it really matters how you approach this evening cleanse. 

With the woes of teenage skin finally becoming a distant memory, gone are the days of excessive scrubbing and heavy duty cleansers, which were never a good thing in the first place. It’s high time for a kinder method. We love the recent double cleansing trend because it thoroughly cleans all the way down to the pores without stripping your skin of it’s natural protection.

Double cleansing taps the inherent powers of both oil and water. It begins when you spread a thin layer of a high-quality botanical cleansing oil over your face before bedtime, massage it in for a moment or two, and then wipe with a warm, wet cloth. This first step works to break down and lift away the heaviest gunk like make-up, sunscreen, pollutants, grime, and dirt.

Next, work a pure, botanical water-based cleanser (like Valentia Cleansing Milk) into a lather between your palms while your face is still damp. Using circular motions, massage the rich, fragrant lather into your skin to deeply cleanse away any remaining residues, all the way down to your pores. Finish up by patting your face dry with a soft, clean towel.

It’s vital not to let your body get too hungry or thirsty, and the same thing goes for your skin. Working in an office environment, frequent air travel, and just reaching adulthood can have a drying effect on the skin—which can make you look older than your years. In addition to drinking enough water to help keep skin hydrated, nature provides another brilliant answer. Your body makes a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid, which effectively binds to water molecules to keep all your tissues moist, supple, and healthy. Unfortunately though, our HA gets depleted by pollution, UV exposure, smoke, and just the passage of time.¹

Thankfully, smoothing on a bit of plant-based hyaluronic acid serum after cleansing helps your thirsty skin drink up all the moisture it’s craving. And our HA Serum takes hydration skincare up a serious notch by teaming this amazing substance with probiotics and prebiotic peptides, as well as nourishing protein, enzymes, and vitamins. As if that wasn’t enough great stuff, we’ve also added phytic acid to gently exfoliate. 

When you feel like your skin could use even more nutrition, you may want to include an additional serum in your daily routine. Many beauty experts often recommend serums containing vitamin C at this stage of life.

For deeper moisturizing, and to lock in your serum benefits, complete your nourishing hydration routine by smoothing on a small amount of luxurious green Organic Avocado Oil. Facial oils are also a great way to keep your 20-something skin balanced and to bring out a healthy glow.

Of all the factors that contribute to skin aging, the worst culprit by far is the sun—producing as much as 80% or more of the visible signs of aging.² Effects from the sun are cumulative. Every little bit of exposure adds up—and the damage begins to occur decades before you can see any evidence of it. This is why one of the best things you can do for your skin in your 20s (and throughout your life!) is to use daily sun protection with an SPF of at least 30.

The catch is that all sunscreens are not equivalent—and all those widely marketed chemically based varieties contain ingredients that are downright dangerous, not only to your skin but to your overall wellness. Your safest bet is to opt for a zinc oxide or mineral-based natural sunscreen that’s free of synthetic ingredients and preservatives. If you’re unsure about which sunscreens are safe and effective, check out the Environmental Working Group’s detailed guide.

Sometimes what you don’t do to your skin is every bit as powerful as all the good things you are doing. With so many popular skincare products and cosmetics out there loaded with chemical ingredients that could harm your skin and health, it’s essential to shop carefully so that only safe, natural, and preferably organic substances come in contact with your precious skin.

Here at Valentia we’re passionate about sharing only the purest and most beneficial ingredients that come straight from Mother Earth. This means there’s absolutely no place for any of the stuff you don’t want in anything we offer—all our oils, serums, and creams are completely free of phthalates, parabens, PEGs, mineral oil, formaldehyde, GMOs, synthetic preservatives and fragrances, and artificial ingredients of any kind.

A lifetime of radiant skin begins with the loving self-care you provide in your 20s. And the simple skincare routine you embrace today will help keep you looking agelessly beautiful now and well into your wisdom years.

References:

1. Simpson, R. M., Meran, S., Thomas, D., Stephens, P., Bowen, T., Steadman, R., & Phillips, A. (2009). Age-Related Changes in Pericellular Hyaluronan Organization Leads to Impaired Dermal Fibroblast to Myofibroblast Differentiation. The American Journal of Pathology, 175(5), 1915-1928. doi:10.2353/ajpath.2009.090045

2. Flament, F., Bazin, R., Rubert, Simonpietri, Piot, B., & Laquieze. (2013). Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 221.