10 Tips for Your Anti-Aging Skincare Routine

As time goes by, your skin undergoes many changes—it becomes drier and less elastic, which eventually causes fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. This process can be different for everyone, but it’s possible to notice signs of aging as early as your 20s. That’s why it’s never too early (or too late) to begin incorporating anti-aging ingredients—like niacinamide, retinol, and hyaluronic acid—into your daily routine. An anti-aging skincare routine can help promote radiant, youthful-looking skin at any age, but with so many products to choose from, it can be tough to nail down the best routine for your needs.

If you need some help getting started with your anti-aging skincare routine, we’ve got you covered. Read on for a breakdown of everything you should know about building an anti-aging regimen—including our best anti-aging skincare products and tips to help you care for aging skin in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond.

What Are the First Signs of Aging?

The first visible signs of skin aging (usually fine lines and wrinkles) tend to show up in your 30s. However, as mentioned above, early signs of aging can vary from person to person. How fast your skin ages depends on several factors, such as genetics, stress, environment, and lifestyle. Here are some of the most common signs of skin aging to look out for.

• Fine lines and wrinkles: These are perhaps the most well-known signs of aging. You may notice lines and creases in your face becoming more pronounced as you age, especially in your 40s. Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process. They’re caused by everyday facial movements and a loss of elasticity over time. There are several environmental factors that may cause or worsen fine lines and wrinkles, including sun damage, pollution, and smoking.
• Dark spots (a.k.a. age spots, sun spots, or solar lentigines): As you age, you may notice small, flat dark spots on areas most exposed to the sun, like your face, shoulders, hands, and arms. Dark spots are typically caused by sun damage. They tend to be more common in people over 50, but younger people can also develop them after prolonged periods of unprotected sun exposure.
• Rough, dry skin texture: Your skin can become drier and rougher-feeling with age as the skin barrier weakens and is less able to hold onto moisture. That’s why keeping your skin hydrated is such an important part of any anti-aging routine (more on that ahead).
• Dullness and uneven skin tone: Mature skin can lack radiance and may have an uneven skin tone. This is often caused by structural changes to the skin over time (such as the thinning of skin layers), but may also be the result of sun damage.

What Are Key Ingredients in an Anti-Aging Skincare Routine?

When building your anti-aging skincare routine, consider these popular anti-aging skincare ingredients to help you address common concerns.

Retinol

Some might argue that retinol is the holy grail of anti-aging ingredients. According to Harvard Health, this vitamin A derivative can help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Products containing retinol are available over the counter or by prescription.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that, when applied topically, can help protect your skin from damaging free radicals (which are caused by environmental factors like UV radiation and air pollution). This ingredient can also help brighten the skin and minimize visible signs of aging, like fine lines.

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)

AHAs (like glycolic acid and lactic acid) are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells from your skin’s surface. They can help smooth and refine your skin’s surface and promote fresher, more youthful-looking skin. Harvard Health reports that, over time, regular use of AHAs may help improve the appearance of fine lines, skin discoloration, and blotchiness.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s naturally found in your skin’s sebum (oil). According to the Cleveland Clinic, vitamin E can soften your skin and help it retain moisture.

Collagen

Collagen is a naturally-occurring protein that helps keep your skin elastic and resilient. However, as you age, collagen levels gradually decline, resulting in skin sagging and other signs of aging. Many anti-aging skincare products are infused with collagen to help give the skin a plumper, more youthful look.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 found in many anti-aging skincare products aimed at brightening the skin’s appearance and reducing the look of dark spots. According to the Cleveland Clinic, niacinamide can also be beneficial for calming the skin and may help reduce the look of large pores.

10 Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Tips

Try adding these 10 anti-aging skincare routine tips to your daily regimen to help address visible signs of aging and promote a fresh, radiant-looking complexion.

1. Use a gentle cleanser

Regardless of your age, daily cleansing is a must—and the best face care for aging skin starts with choosing the right gentle cleanser. Try to avoid using harsh cleansers, which can irritate your skin and disrupt its natural barrier. As skin matures, it loses moisture more easily, resulting in skin that looks and feels dry. A gentle, nourishing cleanser can help replenish skin’s moisture without leaving it feeling tight or stripped after use.

2. Exfoliate regularly

Exfoliation offers a plethora of benefits for your skin—it helps remove dead skin cell buildup, helps keep your pores clear, and promotes fresh, glowy-looking skin. It may also help prep your skin to better absorb the rest of your skincare products for aging skin. Keep scrolling to discover one of our favorite exfoliating products for any anti-aging routine.

L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliant Peel

Inspired by professional-grade peels, this potent yet gentle peel can be used up to four times a week to visibly fade all types of dark spots and help renew your skin texture. After just one week (of four uses), you’ll have results on par with an in-office peel.

3. Apply a targeted facial serum

Once you’ve cleansed and/or exfoliated your skin, apply a face serum. These formulas are great for addressing any specific aging concerns you may have. Find the right serum for your needs from this list of anti-aging formulas below:

L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Midnight Serum

As you age, skin cell regeneration slows down, causing a decrease in your skin’s overall radiance. With continued use over time, this luxurious serum helps your skin appear smoother, firmer, and more radiant. For best results, pat the serum onto clean skin morning and night.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum

This targeted antioxidant serum blends pure vitamin C with vitamin E to help boost the look of radiance and skin brightness. It also helps neutralize free radicals that can lead to visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and dark spots. Apply it to clean skin in the morning and evening before layering on moisturizer.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Years of environmental damage (especially from the sun’s harmful UV rays) can leave mature skin looking dull, dry, and textured. This hyaluronic acid serum helps replenish the skin’s protective barrier, plumps the skin’s appearance, and supports moisture retention. With continued use, you’ll notice a healthier-looking, hydrated complexion with more glow and bounce, and less visible fine lines and wrinkles. Apply it onto clean skin morning and night before moisturizing.

L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum

Dark spots are a common sign of skin aging that many people experience. Whether you’re trying to fade post-acne marks or sun-induced discoloration, reach for this niacinamide serum. The brightening formula helps visibly fade all kinds of dark spots and instantly reveals more luminous and fresher-looking skin. Apply three to four drops onto clean skin and follow up with a moisturizer.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol

This anti-aging night serum is formulated with soothing ingredients, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, to help balance out the drying effects of retinol. With consistent use, it reduces the look of wrinkles, smooths skin texture, and boosts radiance. Apply two to three drops onto clean, dry skin and build your way up to daily usage once your skin can tolerate it.

4. Use an eye cream for under-eye concerns

The delicate skin under your eyes needs attention, too, regardless of your age. Look for a nourishing eye cream formula that can help address visible signs of aging around your eyes, such as dark circles and under-eye bags. Morning and night, use your ring finger to massage your chosen formula gently around the eye area until it’s thoroughly absorbed.

One great option to consider is the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Midnight Eye Opener. This patented antioxidant and vitamin E formula improves the appearance of eight signs of aging—including crow’s feet, wrinkles, and sagging lids—for visibly lifted, younger-looking eyes.

5. Moisturize regularly

Mature skin tends to be dry, which means a rich, deeply hydrating moisturizer is usually the way to go. Here are a few anti-aging moisturizers to consider:

L’Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler Day/Night Cream

This collagen-infused moisturizer provides a daily dose of intense hydration and helps visibly smooth wrinkles. It layers well under makeup and leaves your skin with a non-greasy finish that’s perfect for any skin type.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer

Formulated with three of our top skincare routine ingredients—pro-retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid—this formula improves the look of wrinkles, brightens skin’s appearance, and promotes firmer-feeling skin in just one week. Plus, it also comes in a fragrance-free version.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer for Mature, Dull Skin

If you have dry, mature skin, you can also try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer for Mature, Dull Skin. Infused with imperial peony extracts and LHA (lipohydroxy acid), this lightweight cream helps bring back the skin’s natural rosy look that can diminish with age.

6. Try a facial oil

Another sign of aging skin is when natural oil production starts to decrease, which can affect your skin’s ability to retain moisture. That’s where a facial oil can help. Facial oils are often applied as the sixth step in your anti-aging routine, after moisturizer, but this can vary depending on the formula you choose. To learn more, head to our guide on how to layer your skincare products.

7. Use sunscreen every day

According to the Cleveland Clinic, damage from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can contribute to premature signs of aging, like wrinkling, sagging, and age spots. Always remember to apply a product with broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and reapply it at least every two hours for ongoing sun protection.

One of our top sunscreen recommendations is the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion, which features broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection against UVA and UVB rays. The lightweight formula is suitable for all skin types and won’t leave visible residue on any skin tone. Apply it every morning after moisturizer and before makeup.

8. Remove makeup gently

Let’s skip to the end of the day: Before you’re ready to get some beauty sleep, you’ll need to remove your makeup. To avoid the clogged pores that snoozing in makeup can bring, reach for a makeup wipe, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes. Gently wipe the towelette all over your face to remove makeup and other impurities before heading to bed.

9. Reach for an anti-aging cream at night

Sleep gives your body time to refresh and renew itself. Take advantage of that time by applying a wrinkle-fighting night cream as the final step in your evening routine. One of our favorites is the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream, Antioxidants, which has a nourishing, soufflè-like texture that works to help repair the skin barrier up to 1.5X faster while you sleep. With consistent use over time, expect visibly fewer wrinkles, firmer skin, and improved radiance.

Or, take some time to browse the L’Oréal Paris Wrinkle Expert moisturizer line, which has products formulated for every age group. These anti-wrinkle face creams can help visibly reduce signs of aging, including sagging skin, dryness, and wrinkles.

10. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase

While we’re on the subject of beauty sleep, consider how your bedtime rituals can also impact your anti-aging skincare routine. Sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase can make a difference for your skin because the soft, slinky material is typically gentler than cotton or polyester. It won’t tug or rub on the skin, which can worsen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, per the Sleep Foundation.

An Anti-Aging Skincare Routine for Your 20s

Maintaining an effective anti-aging routine means that you’ll likely have to make some adjustments with each passing decade. Certain steps will stay the same—like cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen—but your skin concerns and the formulas you use to target them will likely change over time.

Follow these age-tailored steps to help create a solid anti-aging skincare routine for your 20s.

Step 1: Cleanse

Every skincare routine should start with a cleanser. Cleansing is essential at any age—it helps remove dirt, excess oil, and makeup and creates a clean canvas for the rest of your skincare products.

Step 2: Spot treat and target skin concerns

Use a spot treatment or facial serum to help address specific skin concerns you may have, such as dullness, enlarged pores, or dark spots. Niacinamide serum can be a great option for your 20s—this ingredient can help fade dark spots and is often well-tolerated by most skin types.

Step 3: Use eye cream

Since the skin around your eyes is so delicate (and, therefore, may show signs of aging sooner), it can be a good idea to start using an eye cream (or serum) in your 20s. Try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum to your under-eyes with the roller ball applicator and use your ring finger to gently tap it in. This eye serum includes hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump, and caffeine to reduce the appearance of under-eye bags, puffiness, and dark circles.

Step 4: Moisturize

All skin types should moisturize after cleansing with a hydrating formula that won’t clog your pores. Generally speaking, it’s not a good idea to skip moisturizer, and that goes for skincare in your 20s. If you avoid moisturizer with the notion that your skin is already “oily enough,” it may backfire—drying out your skin may actually cause your skin to overcompensate by producing even more oil.

Step 5: Apply sunscreen

Sunscreen should always be applied as the last step of your daytime skincare routine, after moisturizer and before makeup. The aforementioned L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion has a lightweight texture that serves as a great primer for makeup in your 20s and beyond.

An Anti-Aging Skincare Routine for Your 30s

The skincare routine you follow in your 20s probably won’t look much different once you reach your 30s. Here’s an easy, anti-aging skincare routine to try in your 30s.

Step 1: Cleanse

Your cleanser of choice can usually stay the same as you reach your 30s—just make sure to continue washing your face twice a day (and after sweating) to help prevent clogged pores.

Step 2: Exfoliate

The National Library of Medicine reports that skin cell turnover slows down as you age, which can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells. To help address this, use an exfoliating serum or toner to help remove dead skin cells and banish a dull, lackluster complexion. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 5% Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner is a chemical exfoliant that contains glycolic acid to visibly smooth your skin’s texture and reveal glowing skin. At night, apply some to your palms and gently pat it onto your skin before applying moisturizer.

Step 3: Moisturize

A moisturizer with retinol can help decrease the appearance of fine lines and improve the look of uneven skin tone and texture. Try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Pressed Night Moisturizer with Retinol + Niacinamide to promote hydrated, healthy-looking skin in your 30s. This formula helps address signs of aging while counteracting the potential drying effects of retinol with soothing ingredients like glycerin. Apply one pump of the moisturizer to your face, and one pump to your neck and décolleté.

Step 4: Apply eye cream

Eye cream continues to be important in your 30s, so make sure you’re applying it correctly. Focus on applying it from under your eyes all the way to your temples, and tap in any excess product with your fingers.

Step 5: Apply sunscreen

Sunscreen should be a staple in your routine by now, but if it isn’t, there’s no time like the present to start wearing it. Apply it every day—even on cloudy days and when staying indoors.

An Anti-Aging Skincare Routine for Your 40s and Beyond

You may notice your skin getting drier in your 40s, so an anti-aging skincare routine after 40 is all about replenishing moisture with hydrating, nourishing formulas. Here’s one example of how a routine in your 40s and beyond might look.

Step 1: Cleanse

If you’re not already using a hydrating cream cleanser, now is probably the time to start. The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Nourishing Cream Cleanser gently exfoliates and nourishes skin while removing all traces of makeup and impurities for skin that looks smoother, brighter, and more refined.

Step 2: Use a hydrating serum

To help keep your skin as nourished as possible, try adding a hydrating serum to your anti-aging skincare routine. Look for formulas with hyaluronic acid, a humectant ingredient that helps plump and hydrate your skin. You’ll find hyaluronic acid in many of the serums we mentioned above.

Step 3: Apply eye cream

Eye cream is an important part of any skincare routine for mature skin. These formulas moisturize and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet wrinkles. In your 40s, you can typically start applying eye cream as part of both your morning and nighttime routines (if you aren’t already doing so).

Step 4: Moisturize

As we mentioned before, moisturizer is essential in any anti-aging skincare routine. Reach for a rich-textured cream, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream, Antioxidants we mentioned earlier—especially during the winter when skin tends to be drier.

Step 5: Apply sunscreen

Sunscreen is non-negotiable in your 40s and beyond. This essential product will help you avoid the aging effects of sun damage, which include skin discoloration, wrinkles, and loose, sagging skin.

Next Up: How Does Collagen Benefit Your Skin?

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris