There are some beauty habits that transcend time and age, such as sunscreen application.
Whereas other practices, ingredients and products should be adjusted depending on your age (and lifestyle factors, but we’ll get to that later).
As we grow and evolve, so does our skin. The routine that gave you soft, bouncy, dewy skin in your 20s won’t have the same effect in your 40s. The good news? With a few tweaks and adjustments, you can build a regime that will meet you where you are right now.
Related: The Great Skin Toolkit – 5 Solutions For Every Skin Dilemma
To learn more about which products to use and when, hit play on the video above to see Beauty Director Sally Hunwick in conversation with dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric and Lancôme Beauty Director Lara Srokowski.
Keep reading for your guide to the best skincare and makeup for your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond.
Related: Future Beauty & Skincare Innovations
The 20s routine
Skincare: In our 20s, less is more when it comes to skincare and beauty. “During these formative years, our skin is naturally youthful and full of collagen, but SPF, vitamin C and niacinamide will help future-proof your skin,” Dr Andric says.
Makeup: According to Srokowski, now is the time to experiment with colour (think: a Euphoria-inspired statement eye or a bright lip) and go for a natural-looking foundation to enhance your complexion. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation is much-loved by women across the globe—and for good reason too. It has a ‘second-skin effect’ and provides long-wearing, breathable coverage that will stay put—even on the busiest of dancefloors—for up to 24 hours.
The 30s routine
Skincare: By the time our 30s arrive, our natural collagen production has started to decline, which means more fine lines and wrinkles pop up. And that’s totally fine—ageing is a part of life.
Make-up: This is the decade to try out easy makeup tweaks that will elevate your look. On your way from work to dinner? Simply apply a few coats of Lancôme Hypnose Mascara to take your makeup from day to night. Apply one coat of this cult-favourite mascara for defined lashes or add a second coat for up to six times the volume.
The 40s+ routine
Skincare: When hit we hit our 40s, sebaceous glands start to slow down, causing skin to become drier than it was previously. To counteract this, Dr Andric suggests adding a hyaluronic acid serum to your routine (just quietly, hyaluronic acid is one of the most efficient hydrating ingredients known to man) and doubling down on moisture with a rich moisturiser. Try: Lancome Advanced Genifique, with hyaluronic acid capable of holding 1,000x its weight in water to hydrate and plump skin, vitamin Cg to boost radiance and bifidus prebiotic fractions to rebalance the skin microbiome.
Makeup: “Add a pop of colour,” suggests Srokowski. “Women in their 40s are usually confident in their colour choices so can totally pull off a bright red statement lip,,” she says. And for the record, lipstick is always a good idea—no matter the decade.
Brought to you by Lancôme.
