Skincare in your 30s

So you’re 30, flirty and thriving, congratulations. But what does it mean for your skin? Well, just as your 30s bring a host of new life changes, the same is also true for your skin. Basically, your skin is probably starting to ask for a little bit more attention than it did in your carefree 20s, and by now you probably have a pretty clear idea of what your skin needs and what it can tolerate. This means that all that hard work you were hopefully doing laying the groundwork for your skincare routine in your 20s will now start to pay off as you piece together a more curated repertoire.

This decade is all about refinement, small tweaks here and there to your routine that will help you maintain that glow, keep your skin bouncy, and delay the inevitable march of time (or at the very least, slow it down a little). If fine lines, unexpected dryness and the occasional breakout are starting to creep up on you, don’t panic. We’ve put together an ultimate guide for what is in and what is out when it comes to skincare in your 30s, so you can conquer these years with ease and finesse, at least when it comes to your skin.

Exfoliation

Remember when our skin would just miraculously shed itself and reveal glowing, new skin underneath without an iota of help? Yeah, well, we hate to break it to you but those days are probably over. Now, our cell turnover rate will have begun to slow down, meaning that dullness, congestion and those little weird dry patches may have started to creep in. The solution? Have a good exfoliation at hand. And not a harsh, gritty one that feels like you are applying a literal handheld power sander to your face. No no, we are talking about the elite kind of exfoliation; the chemical kind.

Chemical exfoliants like AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acids) gently dissolve dead skin cells, unclog pores, and make your complexion glow as if you have just returned from a spa retreat, even if you haven’t left the comfort of your couch. By incorporating some form of chemical exfoliant into your routine once or twice a week depending on your skins tolerance, you will step up your skin game drastically. The AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is an easy way to do this, it will slough away dead skin cells while keeping your skin hydrated and smooth. Use it a few times a week to maintain radiance and clarity.

Vitamin C

Now more than ever is the time to up your vitamin C game. If you haven’t already, well first of all, what are you doing? This powerhouse antioxidant is unrivalled when it comes to morning skincare. It works to brighten, even out skin tone, and help shield your skin from all the environmental nonsense it will encounter during the day from UV rays (you still need sunscreen), pollution, blue light, and even your boss’s stress-enducing emails. Vitamin C and the products it's featured in will help you through it all. It’s especially important in your 30s because it’s great for tackling early signs of sun damage. Because let’s be real, when we were growing up most of us weren’t exactly sunscreen saints in our teens. And it’s not our fault. We weren’t as well educated on the impact this would have on our skin in later years as our Gen Z pals are. But it’s not too late, for best results, apply your Vitamin C product of choice in the morning before your moisturiser and SPF, and watch as your skin starts looking fresher and more radiant than ever.

Murad has a number of vitamin C products so it’s really up to you how you choose to incorporate it. If you want to use it in a morning cleanser, then the Essential C Cleanser is your best friend. If toner is more your thing, the Essential-C Toner is packed with Vitamin C goodness, refreshing and prepping your skin while delivering an antioxidant boost. If you like a good old-fashioned morning serum, then the fan-favourite Vita-C Glycolic Serum will serve you well. And if you’re after a two-in-one then why not include it in your sunscreen with the Essential C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

Hydration

In your 20s, you could probably get away with forgetting to moisturise and still wake up looking fine. In your 30s? You may not be as lucky. Your skin’s ability to retain moisture starts to decline, and without proper hydration, you could end up looking more tired than you actually are (and let’s face it, you’re probably already tired). A good moisturiser can help keep your skin plump, dewy, and soft, which is basically, the goal for all of us.

If your skin needs serious hydration, the Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Cream locks in moisture and supports your skin barrier, making it a must-have in your routine. For an added boost of glow, try the new oil range. From retinol to cellular hydration there is an oil that will keep you looking like a living breathing disco ball, no matter your skin concerns.

SPF

You should already be well versed on why sunscreen is a non-negotiable for any age and any stage, but if you’re behind the eight ball on this one, here is our obligatory speel. If there’s one thing you should be religiously applying every single morning, it’s sunscreen. UV exposure is responsible for a whopping 80% of visible skin aging, and while you might not see the effects yet, your future self will thank you for slathering on SPF daily. Think of it as the best anti-aging investment you can make… no fancy serum can undo sun damage as effectively as simply preventing it in the first place.

All the Murad sunscreens are elite, and that’s not just us being biased, they genuinely are fantastic sunscreens. But if we had to choose only one, the City Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is perfect for protecting against UV rays, pollution, and blue light exposure while keeping your skin hydrated and glowy.

If you are experiencing breakouts

For some of us, breakouts will become a thing of the past by our late teenage years. But it is also completely normal to experience these later on in life. It’s rude, but it is manageable. Whether it’s hormonal fluctuations, stress, or environmental factors, your 30s can bring an unexpected resurgence of blemishes. The key to managing them? A good clarifying routine with ingredients that target breakouts without stripping your skin.

The Clarifying Cleanser is your go-to for keeping breakouts at bay. It deeply cleanses without overdrying, making it ideal for daily use and it contains acne arch nemesis, salicylic acid. Basically, having a clean face is the first step to avoiding breakouts, and preventing current ones from worsening, so it's usually the first port of call when it comes to stopping acne in its tracks. You can also incorporate targeted treatments like the Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment which will help to soothe acne, and prevent scarring.

Nighttime - repair and replenishment routine

Your 30s are the decade to take your nighttime routine seriously. This is when your skin does all its heavy lifting; repairing damage, regenerating cells, and prepping for the next day. A good night cream or mask can make all the difference in waking up and looking refreshed (even if you only got five hours of sleep).

The Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Serum works overnight to strengthen and restore your skin barrier, leaving you with a fresh, hydrated complexion by morning. Having a healthy skin barrier will also mean you are getting more out of the other products in your routine, so it's a well-worth investment if you are a heavy spender when it comes to your complexion.

Get your mask on

It’s skincare and self-care in one place, what more could you possibly ask for? There’s nothing quite like a good face mask to make you feel like you have your life together (even if you’re currently drinking wine in a bathrobe). Face masks give your skin an extra boost of targeted care, whether you need hydration, brightening, or a deep cleanse.

The Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Mask is a luxurious, deeply hydrating treatment that helps soothe and strengthen your skin barrier.

If we’ve lost you, here is a cheat sheet

If you feel a bit overwhelmed with information, here it is all in one place:

Morning:

Cleanse – Clarifying Cleanser for blemish-prone skin or a gentle option for hydration.
Tone – Essential-C Toner for an antioxidant boost.
Treat – Apply a Vitamin C serum for brightening.
Moisturise – Apply a moisturiser for hydration and protection.
SPF – City Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 50 to protect against UV and pollution.

Evening:

Double Cleanse – Remove makeup and impurities.
Exfoliate – AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 2-3 times a week.
Treat – Serums for hydration and repair.
Moisturise – Use a good night cream for overnight nourishment.
Mask (Optional) – Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Mask for an extra skin boost.
Oil (Optional) - Lock in all that goodness with a hydrating oil.

Your skin, but better

No matter what society tells you, your 30s are actually a formative decade which is where you really find out who you are, what you want, and where you are going. Your skin and the products you put on it are no exception; refining what works, ditching what doesn’t, and giving your skin the TLC it deserves. With the right mix of hydration, exfoliation, antioxidants, and SPF, you can keep your skin glowing and youthful for years to come. Plus, taking care of your skin is a great excuse for some self-care. So light that candle, slap on a face mask, and bask in the glow of good decisions (both skincare and life-related).