I drafted this post a while ago and forgot about it until I received an email from reader Wanie who asked me a similar question extracted below:-
…As i’m approaching 24 this year… I’ve been thinking to change my skincare products to anti aging products. So what do you think? can I use anti aging products at 24? …
Incidentally, Iamtheanonymous asked on MWS cafe day a similar question. So I dug up this post from my draft archives 🙂
Do you think there is an age or a barrier when you absolutely MUST switch from regular skincare to anti-aging skincare?
I’m not an expert, but I don’t think so and I told Wanie so too! My reasons are below.
Many skincare brands tell us that we should start using anti-aging products as a “preventive” measure so we should start our regime in our 20’s. Others say you can do so in your 30’s.
Personally, I feel that your skincare regime should follow your skin concerns, not age. If you have been looking after your skin from young, applying sunblock and using a proper skincare regime, signs of aging don’t show up that quickly. Similarly, if your lifestyle doesn’t accelerate skin aging e.g. smoking, excessive drinking (alcohol), regular late nights etc your skin will remain supple and young looking for longer; or simply, if you have good genes.
Signs of aging include fine lines and winkles, sagging skin and dry and tired skin. Sometimes its nothing to do with lifestyle but might even be genetic.
Our skins aren’t all made equal. If it were, skincare companies would go bankrupt 😛 Because we are different, we have different concerns for our skin. So, someone who is battling acne would hardly be overly concerned with anti-aging products – all they want is to clear up their acne! Ditto someone with hyperpigmentation or dull skin. What they’d want is to brighten up their skin.
So, I say that when you should start using anti-aging products is when you feel the need and even then, perhaps only those in their late 20’s or early 30’s and up. In your early 20’s you are practically still in the bloom of youth so you might only want to be using the minimum of products to keep your skin moisturized or to treat any problems you might be facing then.
Here’s a personal anecdote. When I was younger, I dabbled in anti-aging skincare that promised to firm up skin and smooth away wrinkles as a “preventative measure”. I saw no results. However, when I gave that same product to my mum, the results were amazing and visible which prompted me to believe that the product works; just not on my younger skin. Perhaps I could return to them now 😛
I’d like to think that anti-aging products are good to use when you start discovering problems related to aging skin. Otherwise, you’d never see any results and you’d wonder why you ever bothered!
But these are my thoughts and they may not be yours so how about sharing yours? 🙂
Paris B
eve says
January 29, 2011 at 9:59 pmparisb, i was reading ur post about the kiehl’s midnight concentrate and Estee ANR .. n i am getting confused , LOL . i totally agree wif u on the using skincare depending on ur skin concerns thing . bcoz i m only on my early 20s and this cny i have been working my ass off so no time to stock up on vichy aqua gel , now my skin is so so dry n i actually see a line on my forehead ! jus like 2 days without moisturizers !! (i mean i did apply a type of serum i brought from a salon but stil it is so so dry i have itchiness nw, like sensitive bcoz its too dry ) okok enuf of sorrows bout my skin . but wat i really wanted to ask is this , i have combinations skin , normally my tzine area will have small breakouts , so i m afraid of using too rich products .. but nw due to the massive workload n nights out partyiing =( my skin looks like shit .. so which one shud i use ? if i wanted smthing like totally hydrating and keeps aging at bay ..currently using
a) haba lado lotion
b) vichy thermal gel
i wanted to purchase the serums u mention but dunno which to buy . need ur help . LOl thanks !
ParisB says
January 29, 2011 at 10:39 pmHi I’m not sure if you read this post as well which might address your questions https://www.mywomenstuff.com/2011/01/05/save-and-splurge-night-repair-anti-aging-serums-and-a-recipe-for-glowing-skin/
In a nutshell I find they both work the same way and even better together. But on their own I think they perform a similar function and they both work well to keep my skin looking better than if I don’t use anything at all. So either works fine in my view 🙂
Marissa says
December 24, 2011 at 7:42 amThanks for sharing!! I was having a dilemma about this topic too!! So glad that I wasn’t alone! 😀
But I still have a question! If you will please indulge me with an answer, I will be forever grateful!
I read from somewhere that after we turn 20, our skin will start to lose about 60% of its elasticity and begin to sag, especially we Asians. Scary~~
Anyway, I know for a fact that our eyes will start to age first. So, my question is which of the ageing concern should be addressed first? The sagging or ageing around the eyes? Or both?? 😀
Any product recommendation? 😀
Thanks in advance~
Paris B says
December 26, 2011 at 5:22 pmI’m not sure about the stats pertaining to loss of skin elasticity but a lot has to do with lifestyle and genetics as well. From what I know (not an expert), Asians don’t lose collagen and skin elasticity that quickly and whilst topical skincare can help, a lot has to do with diet and lifestyle too. I personally would just deal with whichever problem you feel troubles you the most. For some people who are still battling acne, that would be their primary concern. As for the eye area, sagging skin isn’t as noticeable as lines and puffiness but I would say, address whichever your primary concern is. For products I’ve tried you can check out reviews on skincare in general here.
Marissa says
December 26, 2011 at 10:20 pmThank You!! I really appreciate your reply! 😀
Nur says
March 18, 2012 at 1:56 amHi!
i’m 18 this year and i asked this Palmer’s promoter to give me a moisturizer….
and she gave me
‘Palmer’s renewal night cream’
She said it’ll help cover the holes on my face….but then on the way home i realize it stated that its a anti-ageing cream too…which has retinol and stuff….
I am not sure if she thought i was old(because i look rather matured and i have lines under my eyes…genes) or was sure of my age and thought that my skin would be okay for this product….so i wanted to ask you if you think that the product would be okay for my skin?
Do reply!
Thanks!!
Renelle says
August 19, 2012 at 9:05 pmThis is an interesting topic to share.. For me i was start using sunblock wt high spf since i was in 14 years old and moisturizer since my 11. I was an athelete and always exposed to uv ray and sun.. That time i also asking to myselft if it is a need to wear sunblock wt high spf at my age?.. Luckily i continued using it for almost 3years..that’s nothing much changing on my face but maitaining the moisture..i started confident until i totally ignored my sunblock..i only using moisturizer but not regular..sometimes im lazy using any skin care on my face..this is happened when i was 23 years old.. Until suddenly i checked on my face i saw some dark spot, i think that was aging skin because i stopped my sunblock and moisturizer.. I was like crazy that time thinking how to recovery my skin back specially in my nose..i look like a clown wt dark pigmentation nose.. Luckily i noticed it early as it started.. I went to the mall looking back my sunblock.. But the sunblock nothing much can do..it just helped me prevent from become worst..i go for anr estee serum and this is amazing.. My dark spot become fade and it vanish less than 3 months.. I felt really sorry for my careless for last a few years.. If i really taking a good care i still have my clear skin..now im coming 29 and i still have my good skin but only some on my eye area start showing fine line and crow feet..and i started regular using anr eye cream with a hope it will repair my skin..now im taking regular aerobic exercise that i already left for 6years ago. And i tried to continue my health diet which also i stopped about a year ago.. Because before this i ate a lot of vege and fruit that’s why my skin look perfect.. Because of my careless my skin become dull and need to change back my lifestyle.. I over experimenting my skin then this is what i got!!.. Hv to spend more $$..so my advice is prevention is better than cure.. Sunblock is a MUST!! And can be using in all age. Moisturizer also important.. Enough sleep, exercise and health diet also can affect..