Skincare

The Evening Skincare Routine You Need To Start In Your 20s

posted on July 18, 2017 | by Katina Mountanos

As a 20-something, we’re not thinking about wrinkles. Sun damage hasn’t even crossed our mind. Botox? That’s for moms who brunch (and we’d rather spend our money on, well, brunch). Even though all that seems far away, now is the time to really start nurturing our complexion – because it’s not.

I always wanted to have a good skin care routine, but thought the space was overwhelming and confusing. I didn’t know where to start, so instead, I avoided it, used a basic face wash, and called it a day. But, I’ve recently found an evening skin care routine that makes my face look like it’s permanently glowing and helps fight signs of aging. Best of all? It’s easy enough to commit to every single night.

Get clean

Sounds simple, but often this is the step that most of us skip at night. When we get home from work (or happy hour), we want to get into bed immediately. We can forget even stepping foot in the bathroom.

Before you jump into bed, think about all that’s built up on your face throughout the day – pollution, sweat, dirt (and who knows what else). A simple face wash with lukewarm water should do the trick. Remember to be gentle though! I’m definitely guilty of being too intense about scrubbing my face, which can lead to skin damage later in life.

Put on a mask

My favorite part of my evening is putting on a face mask, and cuddling up on my couch with a good book and a glass of wine. What can I say – it’s my happy place!

I think the reason I love using face masks is because you can really see and feel the difference in a short period of time. When choosing the face mask I want to use that night, I try to assess what my skin is going through (stress, hormones, dull winter days). Depending on that day’s needs, I will use the appropriate face mask. Of course, it all depends on your composition, but my current favorite is Herbivore’s Brighten – which is also a clean product.

Hydrate that skin

After all that washing and working, your skin is craving some moisture. After I remove my face mask, I usually put on an overnight heavy cream or face oil.

This step was something I had to get used to. Sometimes, a nighttime moisturizing product can feel oily or heavy on your skin. Personally, I don’t like the feeling of anything on my face (I barely even wear concealer!), so this was a big shift in my skincare routine. But once I saw how glowy my face looked when I woke up in the morning, I was hooked.

Don’t forget about eye cream

Did you know that your eyes are the biggest giveaway that you’re getting older? Until a few months ago, I didn’t either. The skin around your eyes is the most delicate on your face, and the first to get wrinkles.

A surefire way to keep your eyes looking youthful is to start using eye cream – like right now. I had always thought that eye cream was for moms, but it’s actually supposed to be used as a preventative measure. Be sure to find one that has a caffeine base, so that it removes puffiness – a 20-something’s biggest issue (hungover mornings, anyone?). My favorite eye cream is from Aveda – all you need is a tiny squeeze and you’re done!

While establishing a nighttime skin care routine takes commitment (no passing out on the couch!), it’s amazing to see what difference it makes. I’ve been constantly surprised at how bright and glowing my skin has looked since getting into this routine. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a night or two – I let myself off the hook on Saturday nights!

Do you have any other steps in your nighttime skin care routine?

Modeled by Amelia Edmonson.