Because they give us the skin we so desperately want: smooth, clear and a wrinkle free face! This post is a skin care 101 for beginners as well as a reminder for all of us skin care veterans. I am going to talk about the TOP 3 crucial skin care products you must have in your routine to help achieve your best skin and when to start anti aging skin care!
- If you are ready to start taking care of your skin but don’t know where to start – this post is for you!
- If you are someone who doesn’t like a lot of steps in your skincare regimen – this post is for you!
- If you’re ready to invest your hard earned money into the right products to make the largest impact on your skin – this post is for you!
There is an overwhelming amount of information out there and my goal is to share information that is quick and to the point so we all can have a wrinkle free face without the filters.
1. Vitamin C
Price: $100-$200
What is it?: Vitamin C is an antioxidant.
Why do we use it?: Antioxidants protect your skin from free radical damage, sun damage and environmental pollution. Free radicals breakdown collagen. Therefore, Vitamin C stops the breakdown of our collagen.
When do we use it?: Vitamin C comes in a liquid form and should be applied daily – first thing to your face and neck after cleansing in the morning.
Vitamin C is a must have skin care product in your 30s. If you’ve hit 30 and you are wondering when to start anti aging skin care routines – the answer is now.
Vitamin C is probably the one item you are going to invest most of your money into. It is extremely unlikely to find a quality Vitamin C for under $100!
It is very difficult to bottle it in an active form and have it maintain it throughout its shelf life. (Meaning having the ability to do what it’s supposed to do every time you use it)
Which is why if you purchase your Vitamin C through a store like Sephora, multi-level marketing company, etc. it is not as expensive as the medical grade ones I’m about to list!
That product may have been an active form of Vitamin C when it was initially bottled but it is most likely that it has oxidized meaning it is no longer capable of doing anything you want it to do for your skin because OTC products are not regulated.
Please save your money from these products and spend it on a medical grade Vitamin C!
My Favorite Vitamin C products:
Skin Ceuticals C E Ferulic $166
- Good for normal and oily skin types.
Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30% $160
- Good for acne prone, sensitive, rosacea, oily or have hyperpigmentation/melasma.
2. Retinol/Retin-A
Price: $10-$100
What is it?: It is Vitamin A which comes in either a cream or gel and it affects gene expression which in turn causes enhanced collagen production, skin smoothing, evening of pigmentation, cell turnover and cell growth.
Why do we use it?: It helps to improve acne, skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles, stimulate collagen, lighten dark spots, unclog pores and blackheads.
When do we use it?: Apply at night after cleansing to your face and neck.
- This product has SOOOOO much variation – I HIGHLY suggest reading the click down to get a full understanding!! Basically a skin care 101 for beginners into understanding Vitamin A.
All the info you need on Retinol/Retin-A
Yelling it for all to hear…. Vitamin A is a one of those skin care products you must have! It is a front running product to the finish line of your wrinkle free face. Any article you read on the topic of when to start anti aging skin care will list Vitamin A as an essential first step!
You’ll hear this called Retinol, Retinoid, Retinoic Acid, Retinaldehyde, Vitamin A, Tretinoin, Tazorac, Retin-A, Differin, Revitance, Adapaline, etc.
They are all Vitamin A derivatives.
It’s known as different names because there are SO many strengths of it. The lower the strength the less collagen it produces so the higher the strength the more collagen it produces.
Literature shows that all of these biochemically do the exact same thing – it just comes down to how long it takes to see the results.
Only a pea size amount is used for the face and a pea size amount for neck.
It’s ok to mix it with your moisturizer to help it spread better! I have to do this myself.
They break down in sunlight which is why they are best used at night to make sure they don’t become inactive.
It is important to work with a medical provider so you know the frequency in which you should start using the product. The goal is to build up to daily use, but you absolutely should not start applying this way from the beginning.
You can pick up the lowest form over the counter but going into the stronger strengths does require a prescription from a medical provider.
There is definitely a purging stage with a Retinoid but it is so worth it! By purging I mean dry, flaky and what can appear as inflamed/irritated skin.
This generally lasts for 3-12 weeks but once your skin has acclimated you’ll be in love!
Just remember this product has a 4 day lag time – so if you apply it the first night and you wake up to not dry skin.
Don’t think you are fine to reapply that night again… just wait!
Be sure you see how your skin handles it after that lag time and let that be the guide if you can increase frequency.
This product is teaching your skin it needs to turnover faster which is where the flaky/dryness comes from.
Don’t let this purging stage stop you from using the product – it will pass!! Your skin will adapt!!!
If you really dislike how much you are peeling and are on the verge of stopping use because you don’t feel you can wait out the acclimation period – You should absolutely ask your medical provider for a lesser percentage!
I included this fact not as a deterrent but so you can make an informed decision with all the facts and to know all of us Retinoid users have gone through it! If I haven’t convinced you yet, this is one of those must have skin care products in your 30s!
There Are The Three Types of Vitamin A:
Retinol – LOWEST FORM by over the counter
Retinaldehyde – LOWEST FORM by prescription
Retinoid (Retin-A) – HIGHEST FORM by prescription
Retinol is the product you can find over the counter at a drug store, Sephora, department store, etc. It is the lowest form of Vitamin A you can purchase.
It’s good because using a retinol product is producing collagen, BUT there are better options.
Ultimately, if you’ve chosen to use Vitamin A your goal is to stimulate collagen and with retinol being the lowest strength – it is going to take a long time to see results, upwards to a year!!
My suggestion for a starting place:
Obagi Retivance $127
This is a medical grade line which is carried in select providers offices and is not picked up in a pharmacy; so it is on the more expensive side.
- It is a Retinaldehyde so it is stronger than all Retinols (anything OTC) but it is tolerated much better than Retinols due to its formulation. It really causes little to no irritation, dryness or flaking.
* If you are not very sensitive or have used Retinols with no problems, I HIGHLY recommend moving up into the prescription range of Retinoids *
There are several strengths of Retinoids —- All of which come in different concentrations:
(Generic name) Adapaline – Differin (Brand name)
– Lowest strength
– Good for sensitive skin or dry skin
– Comes in strengths of 0.1% or 0.3%
* You can now pick up Differin without a prescription in the strength 0.1% at most retail stores*
(Generic name) Tretinon – Retin-A (Brand name)
– Middle strength
– Most common
– Used for all but sensitive skin types
– Comes in strengths of 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%
Tazarotene known as Tazorac
– Highest strength
– Does not have generic option
– Comes in strengths 0.05% or 0.1%
*These are prescription only. You will not find a legit Retin-A online. If you do find it online, be very weary. 99.99% of the time it is not the real thing.*
***** NOTE:***** Insurance usually does not cover these products if you’re over the age of 26 because they know you’re probably using them for anti-aging purposes. To help with cost you can find online coupons (GoodRX.com) and ask to fill generic instead of name brand. Usually a tube of Retinoid is in the range of $20-$100 depending on type and strength.***
3. Sunscreen
Price: $8-$75
What is it?: A topical product that absorbs or reflects the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation to prevent sunburn and skin cancer.
Why do we use it?: To filter out UV rays and protect our skin. UV rays disrupt our cells normal growth and function, as well as break down our skin’s collagen and elastin which leads to lines and wrinkles.
When do we use it?: Sunscreen should be applied every morning and possibly more depending on your sun exposure throughout the day!
Skin Care 101 For Beginners
Let’s touch on SPF to clear up any questions. You need a minimum of SPF 30 to adequately protect your skin from UV Rays.
People are under the impression the higher the SPF the longer it lasts, and this is not true.
It purely has to do with the percentage of UV exposure and duration of time exposed.
Sunscreen only lasts two hours so to be properly protected if you are outside you should be reapplying every two hours.
My Favorite Sunscreen Products:
EltaMD UV Restore Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 $36.50
- This is hands down my FAVROITE sunscreen and personally I feel it’s one of the skin care products you must have!! It is so versatile and works with all skin types.
- It contains Squalene which restores skin’s natural moisture and suppleness.
- It works fabulously under makeup. I have had NO issues what-so-ever with make up application being affected with this product as my base.
Revision Skincare Intellishade Sunscreen $75
- It has five products in one and acts as a sunscreen, moisturizer, antioxidant, foundation and contains peptides!
- Best of all one shade matches almost everyone! It works great as a base for people who don’t like wearing makeup or for people who don’t like wearing sunscreen because it feels thick.
Intellishade doesn’t have the funky sunscreen smell and applies smoothly!
As I hope you can see, I am passionate about skin health.
Like everything in life, there’s no one-size-fits all skin care regimen but incorporating these crucial three products should significantly increase the quality of your skin.
There is so much information floating around out there, and I hope this post was able to bring you a bit of clarity and insight as to why I feel these key three are skin care products you must have!
I want you to enjoy the best possible version of your skin and I have no doubt these products will get you on your way to a smooth, clear, and wrinkle free face!
Please leave a comment if you have your own favorite products and why you love them!!!!!
- skin care 101 for beginners
- must have skin care products in your 30s
- when to start anti aging skin care