Age 30s-40s Goals

At this age you are in PROTECT and REPAIR mode. The focus is on supporting early collagen decline and building RADIANCE.

We start losing collagen after approximately age 25 but this loss upticks in our 30s and 40s. At this time, you want to support early collagen decline, target skin tone, maintain radiance, improve discoloration and redness.

Use products to help not only prevent collagen loss but to also help build collagen over time. In-office procedures may also be beneficial at this time. Botox can help prevent lines from forming. Epidermal/Dermal lasers/Microneedling can help build and protect your collagen matrix. 

Must Do in your 30s-40s:

  1. Vitamin C (1-2x daily as tolerated)

  2. Moisturizer (morning and night)

  3. Sunscreen/SPF (daily)

  4. Start a Retinoid 2x a week. If you cannot tolerate a retinoid but you can tolerate a peptide, it may be a nice alternative.

  5. Exfoliate with acids 2-4 times a week (glycolic acid goes deeper) 

  6. Salicylic acid for acne and reduce gunk in pores (optional) 🡪 Normal, oily or acne-prone skin (3-4x a week), Combo skin (2-3x), Dry or broken barrier (1-2x)

  7. Azelaic Acid (optional)🡪 nightly for redness

  8. Tranexamic, Alpha-Arbutin, Kojic acid (optional) 🡪 for dark spots, hyperpigmentation

**ONLY START ONE NEW PRODUCT AT A TIME. Use it 1-3 times a week at first, as tolerated. If you are not irritated, you can increase frequency. After about a week you can start adding a new product. Too many products can be irritating so if this is happening, back off acids, actives, retinoids, peptides. Give your skin a break. Increase the use of retinoids as tolerated. Start with just 1-2 times a week and rest your skin in between. Only make one change at a time to your regimen.

Product Recommendations Age 30-40’s:

Product Recommendations Age 30s-40s:

Makeup Remover/Pre-Cleanse:

  • Bioderma Micellar Water

Cleansers:

  • Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

  • Dr. Idriss  Soft Wash

Hydrating Toners for Dry Skin:

  • SK-II Mini Facial Treatment Essence

  • COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Vitamin C (1-2x daily):

Active Vitamin C - if tolerated, use in AM only, can use an inactive Vitamin C at night as well if tolerated

  • Skinceuticals C E Ferulic® with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid (gold standard)

  • Paula’s Choice C15 booster serum (15%)

  • La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C12 Serum (10%-12%)

  • Cerave Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum 

  • Timeless Skin Care Vitamin C and E Ferulic Acid Serum 10% or 20% (start at 10% and work your way up)

  • L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Concentrate

Inactive Vitamin C - if cannot tolerate active Vitamin C use this. Less potent. Can use morning and night if tolerated. If cannot tolerate two times a day, just use it in the morning.

  • Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening 

  • Dr. Loretta anti-ageing repair serum

  • Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 

  • Vanicream Vitamin C Serum

Serums for Hyperpigmentation:

  • Dr. Idriss Major Fade Hyper Serum

Serums for Redness (these contain azelaic acid but seem well tolerated with actives):

  • Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Repair Serum

  • Dr. Idriss Depuffer Roll-On

  • Dr. Idriss Left Un-Red

Serums for Hydrating:

  • Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum

  • Experiment Super Saturated

Exfoliating Acids (AHAs):

  • Please see ‘Exfoliating Acids’ section under Ingredients 101 for product recommendations. 

  • Glycolic Acids are better in your 30s-40s if tolerated, can alternate with lactic acid.

  • Lactic Acid safe in pregnancy —> Sunday Riley Good Genes (always consult with doctor before adding new ingredient during pregnancy)

Exfoliating (BHAs):

  • ALPYN 2% Pore Perfecting BHA 🡪 good a couple times a week as tolerated to clear pores

Moisturizers:

  • CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

  • Aveeno Calm+Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer

  • Dr. Idriss Active Seal (Has Vitamin C)

  • Dr. Idriss Left Un-Red Cream (great for barrier)

  • Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream

  • La Roche Posay Double Face Moisturizer (they have a version with sunscreen in it)

Sunscreen:

  • Dr. Idriss Disco Block

  • Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day

  • Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief with Probitoics + Rice

  • La Roche Posay Toleriane UV Face Moisturizer

  • Live Tinted Huegard 3-in-1Mineral Sunscreen

  • SuperGoop Sunscreen (Glow, Matte, Unseen and more)

  • Kosas Dream Beam Comfy Smooth Sunscreen SPF 40

Sample Daily Regimen

Try this regimen daily and adjust it to your needs as tolerated.

WHAT NOT TO MIX:

Vitamin C + Retinoid = OKAY but need to make sure you tolerate each on its own before you mix, careful with mixing ACTIVE vitamin C if you have sensitive skin, try inactive vitamin C at night instead.

Retinoid + Exfoliating acids = can combine with caution, if you can tolerate, prob best to exfoliate 2-3 times a week

Retinoid + Benzoyl Peroxide = Don’t combine. Benzoyl peroxide can oxidize the retinol and render in useless. Even in cleanser form. Alternate nights, benzoyl 3 nights a week and retinol other nights if needing to use benzoyl peroxide for acne

Benzoyl peroxide + Vitamin C = makes vit C ineffective, Use your vitamin C in the morning and Benzoyl peroxide at night 

Vitamin C + copper peptides = copper peptides inactivate vitamin

Azelaic Acid sometimes irritating when mixed with acids, retinoids, kojic acid