7 Essential Beauty Habits to Start in your 20s

7 Essential Beauty Habits

essential beauty habits

with SkinCare by Alana

If you are anything like me, you’re a planner. You like to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared. And like anything else, the best way to diminish pesky signs of aging is to prevent them. And I want to share some of my favorite & essential beauty habits for doing just that with you!

Now, if you’re in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s or beyond, don’t fret! It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin, and all of the below intel will only serve to boost both the health and appearance of your skin.

So, are you ready to incorporate these essential beauty habits? Let’s go!

Essential #1: SPF is Your Best Friend!

I know, I know. As an esthetician I have heard every excuse in the book, from “its greasy” to “my foundation has SPF, isn’t that enough?”. I know it may seem like an extra extravagance, but sun damage accounts for 80-90% when it comes to early signs of aging. Not to mention: skin cancer!

Wear a trusted sunscreen on both your face and body every. single. day. And be sure to reapply throughout the day!

My favorite for AM SPF application: Image Skincare’s Prevention+ Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturizer SPF 50. This formula works beautifully across all skin types, delivers moisture and hydration, and is infused with plan stem cells and antioxidants to protect from aging and free radical damage! Bonus points for it’s delicious apple scent.

My favorite for touchups: I have fallen head over heels for La Bella Donna’s Translucent Sun Protection SPF 50, which comes in a pre-loaded powder brush to deliver easy SPF application without disrupting your makeup.

7 essential beauty habits

Essential #2: Drink More Water!

This one is the BEST because it’s absolutely FREE. Many of the superficial lines you see on your face are the direct result of dehydration, and can be corrected by simply drinking plenty of H2O.

Other beverages, such as coffee and alcohol, can have a dehydrating effect on the skin, so drink in moderation. And of course, the sugar found in soda can wreak havoc on your complexion.

Get your 8 glasses of water each day to maintain supple, plump, and healthy skin. Bonus: your waistline might even thank you for this tip! 😉

Essential #3: Catch 8 Hours of Sleep Whenever Possible!

I know you’re young and now is the time to have fun. But I cannot stress how important sleep is for your skin health. Your skin does most of it’s healing while you rest, meaning, if you aren’t sleeping, your skin isn’t healing.

Dark circles, dull skin, breakouts, uneven skin tone, and even wrinkles can all be the consequence of poor sleep habits, so set a bed time and try to get adequate sleep each and every night!

Adding in a PM specific product is a great way to boost your beauty sleep.

7 essential beauty habits

Essential #4: You Need to Cleanse Both AM & PM.

To all my fellow busy-ladies who are exhausted at the end of the day, I am talking to you! It can be tempting to go to bed with that full face of makeup on. Especially if you fall into the lucky category of people who seldom experience a breakout.

But leaving on your makeup also means leaving on dirt, oil, and free radicals that have collected on your skin throughout the day. Which puts your skin at risk for accelerated aging and infection, in addition to breakouts.

I recommend cleansing once in the AM (get the oils and pillow gunk off your face) and twice at night for truly effective cleansing.

If it helps add any extra motivation: cleansing does so much more than just remove debris from your skin. It actually preps your skin for better product absorption, which means you will get more bang for your buck with the serums and moisturizers you paid good money for!

Essential #5: You ARE NOT too Young for Eye Cream.

I started wearing eye cream at 23, and in my mid-thirties, my eyes are definitely thanking me for it! I operate on the philosophy that if you are old enough to vote, you are old enough to wear eye cream, so get on it!

7 essential beauty habits

Essential #6: You Need to Hydrate Your Skin.

I am SO happy to report that more and more twenty-somethings are investing in moisturizers for their skin. YES, you need to be moisturizing. YES, even if you have oily skin.

Keeping your skin hydrated not only keeps it healthy, but will help to keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. My personal favorite moisturizer is, of course, my Alana Mitchell Daily Vitamin C Moisturizer.

Essential #7: Exfoliate.

This is one I am super gung-ho about! Invest in a good exfoliating product for your skin. So many people view exfoliation as an added luxury, and I am here to tell you that it should be a part of your daily, or weekly, skincare regimen.

Exfoliation works to remove dead skin cells, revealing the healthy skin underneath and encouraging cellular turnover. This will not only keep your skin looking amazing, it will boost skin health and allow your products to absorb much more effectively.

My biggest tip when it comes to exfoliation is to always follow the directions. If you want to exfoliate daily, get a product designed for daily exfoliation. If a product tells you to use it twice a week, use it twice a week and no more (unless instructed to do so by a skincare professional).

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, so follow instructions for optimal results!

Skincare is about so much more than simply looking good. It is about skin health. And of course, when your skin is healthy, it tends to translate into a gorgeous glow!

I’m curious, what are some of the practices you put into play in your 20’s? Do you deem them essentials? Share in the comments below!
All photos provided by SkinCare by Alana  essential beauty habits

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