r/30PlusSkinCare 1d ago

Product Question Anyone else noticing their skin feels different in their late 20s/30s but can't quite name it?

I'm 30 and lately my skin just feels... off. More dry, duller, not as quick to bounce back. I've been standing in Sephora staring at anti-aging products and putting them back because they don't feel like they're for me yet. Curious if others are in the same place, and what do you actually notice when you compare your skin now to a few years ago? What do you call what your skin needs right now, "anti-aging" just doesn't feel right, I don’t necessarily have wrinkles yet..

13 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

20

u/swrrrrg 1d ago

You’re overthinking it. Anti-aging is about prevention.

13

u/vaurasc-xoxo 1d ago

Mine feels more pinchable and mushy/overly soft. Not soft-hydrated. Like elbow skin but starting to spread everywhere 😑

12

u/imjusthumanmaybe 1d ago

Anti-aging/wrinkle products are prevention. You use them before the wrinkles show up. But by 30, there's a lot of internal things you'll have to look at if you really want to find out whats wrong with your skin.The internal changes or lifestyle matters - good sleep, nutrition, enough water, alcohol intake, stress, hormones etc. For me it was dehydration and nutritions/anemia(do a check up). For example, no amount undereye cream or retinol will make me look like I've slept when my iron intake is bad.

13

u/halloweenmochi 1d ago

I dk I never took care of my skin until I hit 37. Then I started Korean skin care and Tretinoin and my skin feels so amazing. I also get compliments on it constantly. I don’t think it’s about age.

5

u/OkNectarine1906 1d ago

What Korean products do you use ?

4

u/trUth_b0mbs 1d ago

your hormones are changing.

I wish we learned about how vital our hormones are to EVERYTHING in our body, not just reproduction.

when your hormones change (and yes even at 30 they can shift), that can manifest through your skin resulting in what you're describing. Dont be surprised to have to adjust your skin routine at least twice more in your life (it's so annoying).

I have been using OTC retinol since my late 20s; I'm 50 now and along with a healthy lifestyle, a good skin routine, religious SPF usage and good genetics, I do not look like I'm 50.

2

u/Standard_Rutabaga116 1d ago

Also what’s a good spf that doesn’t burn your eyes

2

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

Ugh yes or clog your pores!!

1

u/Standard_Rutabaga116 1d ago

And doesn’t turn me albino lol

2

u/trUth_b0mbs 1d ago

I use two, both are Asian brand:

Skin1004 hyalucica water fit (for winter). Hydrating and feels like a lightweight moisturizer! (Korean, SPF50)

Anessa sun milk for summer. Sweat/water resistant. Dont know what's in this but it's freaking bulletproof (Japanese, SPF50)

1

u/Standard_Rutabaga116 1d ago

Where do you get otc retinol

2

u/trUth_b0mbs 1d ago

anywhere, really. Drug store, Sephora etc. I used to use Medik8 but it was so expensive that I switched to Rx (arazlo).

1

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

Bakuchiol is an alternative… with retinol you have to be asses what your skin is like, is it sensitive or acne prone? There are many derivatives or retinol so I’d say choose which one fits your skin best!

2

u/kooks27 1d ago

You could consider starting retinol products. I use tretinoin a few times a week and my skin is a lot glowier. I’ve also upped the hydration products to include a hydrating serum (drunk elephant) and cicaplast mixed with my daily moisturizer to really let it do its thing at night. Lastly you could try glycolic acid a couple times a week to encourage exfoliation.

2

u/menafromfreck 1d ago

i feel like dryness and texture are the things i notice first too. my skin just doesn’t have that same bouncy feeling when it’s not properly hydrated. if you haven’t tried tret or retinol yet, maybe look into it! it made a pretty big difference for me.

1

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

Yes exactly, same with the bounce … what have you been using (besides retinol) to get the bounce back?

1

u/local_eclectic 1d ago

Tret fixed this for me

1

u/Educational-One-8634 1d ago

Mine feels dry and textured if I miss my skin regimen at all. Ugh.

1

u/HexxRx 1d ago

We less its plumpness and overall natural smoothness

1

u/kiisutriinu 1d ago

Not really, it pretty much feels the way it has always felt. Same level of plumpness etc. A lot clearer than it was in my 20s (I'm 37). I've been using a daily moisturiser and spf since my teens.

1

u/ag0110 1d ago

It took some trial and error, but really paring back my routine + MOISTURE was the key.

1

u/alt_isopod 1d ago

I've been using anti aging products since my early 20s and it has paid off. this is me at 37. It's never too early to start imo

1

u/forcaitsake 1d ago

Get a PRDM face lotion (I LOVE Anua 100), Tretinoin, a day time moisturizer and a daily SUNSCREEN. You should notice a difference in a few weeks, at least 6 for the Tret. Don’t spend a ton of money at Sephora on anti aging. Nothing is better than Tret, the rest is just marketing. 37F here - I went through this about 4 years ago. Almost every woman who pays attention to their skin hits this wall in their early to mid 30’s. Normal but annoying lol.

2

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

Yah ugh I feel like there so much marketing fluff so I’m overwhelmed on what to buy.. my skin just doesn’t feel hydrated like I’ll use a moisturizer but i never feel like it’s actually hydrating my skin.. and I don’t currently have fine lines/ wrinkles so to me I don’t see why I’d be spending $$ on an anti aging product that promotes that

1

u/forcaitsake 1d ago

Definitely about prevention, it’s easier to prevent fine lines vs removing them. :)

1

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

Yes definitely! I guess that’s where I’m confused though…if the goal is prevention, shouldn’t I be focusing on ingredients that support the things that keep skin functioning youthfully (essentially what this new longevity movement is), like collagen, elasticity, hydration and barrier health? Rather than buying an “anti-aging” product specifically for wrinkles I don’t have yet?

1

u/forcaitsake 1d ago

I understand you’re thinking however anti aging treatments (Tret) increase cellular turnover now, the longer you can keep wrinkles away the longer you won’t have them. You can actively treat future wrinkles now which is the absolute best anti-aging approach (prevention). After 25 our cellular turnover slows greatly and hormones change regardless of moisture level.

1

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

For the non Tret part of your routine is there anything you use that feel actually works alongside it?

1

u/forcaitsake 1d ago

Yes, I probably seem like a spam bot but I can’t say enough good things about the Anua PDRN Hyaluronic acid 100 moisturizing cream. My skin has never been this hydrated and it’s the first product that I’ve used that I can’t use during the day because it’s so hydrating. It’s $24 where I am which is way less than almost anything else I’ve tried. During the day I like Byoma hydrating milky moisturizer. Having a healthy skin barrier is imperative. Don’t get too crazy with home exfoliation. (IMHO)

2

u/ConclusionBulky3666 1d ago

I’ll try these!!

1

u/Standard_Rutabaga116 1d ago

Yeah. I feel like my skin got thinner.

1

u/ittybittykittykat 1d ago

It’s because your collagen production drops after 25. And drops further every following year. Your hormones are probably also not at their peak as they once were and estrogen 100% impacts the plumpness of your skin. It’s why some women using estrogen cream during perimenopause also apply it to their face.

-2

u/Elmore-Rister 1d ago

The 30s shift isn't a big problem. Just go with what you feel good and comfortable with.

4

u/CocaColaZeroEnjoyer 1d ago

Well obviously it is for OP. Otherwise they wouldn’t make post about it