Skincare Routine and Products for TeenagersYou may have already noticed: your skin’s condition changes at every age, not just because of natural ageing but also because of your lifestyle that are associated with every life-stage.
Just like how the way you dress changes with time, your skincare routine should “grow” with you too, so that you can always enjoy the best skin you can possibly have. And if you’re still hording that moisturiser that gave you good skin when you were 17, there’s a very good chance it won’t deliver the same results on you when you’re in your 40s.
Read on to learn more about the science behind your skin at every age (it’s going to be quite interesting!) and the products you can consider accordingly.
Skincare Routine and Products for Teenagers
Your Skin’s Condition in Your Teens
Our teens years are tough years. Right at around 11 to 13 years old, many of us would have noticed that our skin isn’t like before. Skincare was never something we would have considered as a child, but adolescence brings about hormonal changes that affect many areas of our body, and our skin as the largest organ of all, is definitely impacted.
The biggest change that we’d have noticed in our skin is that of increased oil production, due to hormonal changes. And this is the reason why teenagers are more susceptible to acne.
Acne is caused by inflammation of the skin by P.Acnes, a type of bacteria that thrive in the sebum our skin produces. Over-production of sebum by sebaceous glands during our teenage years give this bacteria more chances to inflame our skin, causing red, often painful, bumps that are filled with pus to appear.
Skincare Routine for Teens
The most important points to preventing acne in your teens are as follows:
- Reduce the accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, which P.Acnes feed on
- Control sebum production
- Prevent inflammation
As such, a teenager who is facing acne problems will find these skincare steps useful:
- Step 1: An oil-control cleanser
- Step 2: An exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells (to be used approximately once a week)
- Step 3: A toner for acne-prone skin that can help balance the pH of skin
- Step 4: A gentle moisturiser with mattifying benefits
- Step 5: An oil-free sunscreen
- Extra: An effective acne treatment to heal blemishes quickly
Skincare Products for Teens
Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser
Designed for people suffering from recurring pimples, this cleanser is formulated with salicylic acid, an ingredient known to be effective against acne. At the same time, the formula also contains aloe vera and chamomile, which soothes and calms inflamed skin so that you won’t have to suffer from irritation.
Note that this has a gentle exfoliation effect, so you may want to reduce your frequency of using an exfoliator if you’re already using this cleanser.
This retails for S$32. Check the link below to check for promotions.
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
COSRX is a brand that is highly sought after by those who have acne-prone skin because of the great skincare solutions they have that help soothe blemishes.
For a gentle exfoliator, consider the BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, which is infused with natural Beta Hydroxy Acid, known to help de-congest pores, reduce blackhead formation, and curb excess sebum.
This product also clarifies skin by gently removing impurities and dead skin cells so that your skin feels more purified and refreshed.
This retails for S$33. Check the link below to check for promotions.
Thayers Original Facial Toner
A gentle, organic face toner, this helps balance the pH level of skin while offering antioxidant and anti-bacgerial benefits. Besides using it as part of your morning and night regime, you can also use it anytime in the day as a skin-softening refresher.
This retails for S$23.90. Check the link below to check for promotions.
Yours Mattifying moisturiser for combination and oily skin
Suitable for those with oily skin, this gives instant hydration while offering a mattifying effect on the skin. You’ll love that it refreshes and moisturises skin without leaving behind any greasy residue.
At the same time, this moisturiser is packed with a suite of skin-loving ingredients that maintain oil balance, repair skin quickly, while preventing acne.
This retails for S$35. Check the link below to check for promotions.
Everyday Humans Rose S'll Plait SPF30 Gentle Mineral Sunscreen
This non-comodogenic (this means it won’t clog your pores) sunscreen is a mineral solution that feels lightweight on the skin.
The fragrance-free sunscreen is designed for sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin and is able to soothe while it offers sun protection.
Its formula also delivers a velvety-matte finish and is able to manage oil production. It can even be used on top of makeup – simply use a foundation sponge to press the sunscreen over your makeup.
This retails for S$39. Check the link below to check for promotions.
Kylaz Spot Off Treatment
Containing eight powerful actives that help dry blemishes, heal wounds, and have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits, this product is a go-to SOS treatment that you can use once you feel a spot coming up.
Besides clearing spots, it also helps calm skin and control oil production in order to prevent pimples from recurring.
This retails for S$19.26. Use DVJYX15 when you check out to enjoy 15% off. Note that you have to register for an account in the link below before you could use the promo code.
Skincare Routine and Products in Your 20s
Your Skin’s Condition in Your 20s
In your 20s, you may be glad that those teenage acne days are over. For some, they enjoy the best skin of their lives – they get less hormonal acne and their skin still looks plump and wrinkle-free compared to their older counterparts.
However, this doesn’t mean you don’t need a skincare routine.
Most people spend most of their 20s embarking on new adventures like entering the working world and serious relationships, as well as taking up more financial obligations.
Work life and financial obligations often mean more stress and longer hours spent seated in air-conditioned environments. At the same time, some may find that meeting more people, whether in a professional setting or in the dating scene will mean using more makeup and more frequently.
Another thing to note: our skin’s natural collagen and elastin production starts dipping significantly at around 25 years old. This is when some of us may start noticing our first signs of ageing or at least should look into preventing them from appearing.
We’d also like to think that your 20s is the best time to adopt good skincare habits so you can build a good foundation for your skin while making it easier for you to keep these habits even as you get older.
Skincare Routine for 20-Somethings
If you’re in your 20s, these are the steps you may want to consider in your skincare routine.
- Step 1: An effective makeup remover
- Step 2: A cleanser that suits your skin type
- Step 3: An essence or a hydrating toner
- Step 4: A hydrating moisturiser that effectively locks in moisture even when you’re in an air-conditioned room
- Step 5: A sunscreen that you enjoy using
- Extra: Weekly facial masks as skin-boosters
Skincare Products To Use in Your 20s
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm
When it comes to makeup removers, we’ll highly recommend that you skip makeup wipes unless you need something that’s easy to bring along while you commute or travel or just as an emergency tool to remove smudges.
Use a good cleansing oil or balm instead and we like this one from Farmacy that leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smooth.
It is infused with papaya extract that offers an exfoliating and retexturising effect on the skin, as well as sunflower and ginger root oils to remove stubborn makeup withoiut drying out the skin.
You’ll also love its refreshing scent of lime, bergamot, and orange, which can certainly calm your senses after a tiring work day.
Check the link below to check for updated prices.
Beauty Bay (S$37.75)
Sephora (S$52)
Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash
Double cleansing is an important step, so always follow up your makeup removal step with another cleanse.
This foaming cleanser helps to purify skin by getting rid of pollutants and impurities, but it also makes sure that it doesn’t strip your skin of its natural moisture, so it’ll feel comfortable and refreshed after each wash.
The product also has skin-softening ingredients to replenish your skin’s lipid layer while delivering antioxidants to it.
These attributes ensure that your skin is purified despite exposure to pollutants.
This retails for S$62. Check the link below to check for promotions.
Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream - For Combination To Oily Skin
Keeping your skin hydrated is important if you’re looking to combat the drying effects of air-conditioning and to build a strong foundation for your skin.
This hydrating essence charges your skin with moisture and strengthens your skin barrier so you can have healthier skin.
This retails for S$62. Check the link below to check for promotions.
Hada Labo Hydrating Light Cream
This lightweight cream contains four types of hyaluronic acid and squalane to give you an instant surge of hydration.
Delivering a comfortable texture that you’ll look forward to using every day, this also has the added benefit of delaying signs of ageing – something you’d want to start paying attention to as you enter your late 20s.
This retails for S$26.90. Check the link below for latest promotions.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF30
This 2-in-1 sunscreen and moisturiser is makeup-friendly and camera-friendly.
Its lightweight and hydrating texture leaves skin feeling soft and without greasiness, so it feels super comfortable on the skin. It also helps that it has a fresh desert melon scent that makes you want to keep applying it.
This retails for S$54. Check the link below for latest promotions.
Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet
This Korean face mask has an ultra-fine material that adheres snugly to skin so that it can infuse it with its active ingredients to deliver instant results.
There are several variants you can pick from, for example, Cucumber for hydration, Avocado for firming, and Pearl for brightening.
This retails for S$4 per sheet. Check the link below for latest promotion.
Skincare Routine and Products in Your 30s
Your Skin’s Condition in Your 30s
In your 30s, the rate of collagen and elastin production lowers. You’ll notice that your skin doesn’t bounce back as quickly as you did in your 30s – you can no longer get away with a few late nights or skipping your skincare routine without it being visible on your skin.
Many women may have also started family planning and some may have gone through pregnancies during this time of their life. Pregnancy and post-pregnancy hormones may increase your susceptibility to problems like hyperpigmentation, exacerbated further if you haven’t been conscientious with sun care.
Skin dullness and dark eye circles are also common problems that 30-somethings notice. No thanks to late nights and increased stress from a more extensive portfolio at work or planning major events like weddings or taking care of a newborn.
Skincare Routine for 30-Somethings
If you’re in your 30s, consider these steps in your skincare routine.
- Step 1: An effective makeup remover
- Step 2: A cleanser that suits your skin type
- Step 3: A serum that targets at first signs of ageing
- Step 4: An effective eye cream
- Step 5: An antioxidant-rich moisturiser
- Step 6: A sunscreen that you enjoy using
- Extra: A face-lifting tool
Skincare Products To Use in Your 30s
Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover
Signs of ageing tend to show up around the eye area first because the skin around our eyes is thinner, this is why you should use an eye makeup remover in order to gently remove stubborn eye makeup. This helps you avoid unnecessary tugs and rubs on your eye area, which can cause wrinkles and sagginess to occur.
This retails for S$48 and are available at the following retailers.
Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash
Suited for all skin types, this face cleanser is able to balance reducing excess oil production with protecting dry areas. The hydrating product leaves your skin feeling refreshed but not “pulled” or tight.
You’ll also love how it’s infused with Bergamot, Spearmint, and Lavender aromas to make your cleansing process more sensorial.
This retails for S$42 at the following retailers.
Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10%
Vitamin C is one of the best ingredients for anti-ageing and dullness – the latter is another common problem that people start noticing in their 20s.
This product is formulated with pure vitamin C and delivers it to your skin in a fresh manner by isolating the formula until it’s activated by you. This unique design also ensures vitamin C remains stable and potent – an important benefit because vitamin C is a volatile substance that oxidises easily.
You can mix this in your moisturiser for your day and night routine.
This retails for S$100 at the following retailers.
Florence by Mills Look Alive Eye Balm
This is a eye treatment that helps with de-puffing and reducing dark eye circles – two common problems among 30-somethings.
This has a blend of powerful peptides, vitamin B, and antioxidants to help protect the eye area from pollution while de-stressing it. The cooling tip also offers a nice, relaxing massage to the eye area.
This retails for S25. Click on the link below for update price.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream
This lightweight antioxidant-rich night cream helps your skin repair itself while you sleep and offers anti-ageing benefits.
Enriched with antioxidant-rich Super Lotus and peach leaf extract, this moisturiser nourishes skin and helps you look more refreshed and less stressed overnight.
You’ll also love the peachy scent that will certainly help you relax into a sweet slumber.
This retails for S$89 at the following retailers.
Hera Sun Mate Excellence Rosy Glow SPF50+ / PA++++
This does more than sun protection – it also defends against blue light, which is a skin-damaging light that’s emitted by electronic devices such as your laptop and mobile phone.
On top of these benefits, it offers a luminous tint, acting as a great makeup base. And if you don’t have a lot of blemishes to conceal or prefer to have a more natural look, you can even wear this on its own.
This retails for S$58 at the HERA counter at ION Orchard and the following retailers.
ReFa Carat Ray Face
This Japanese massage tool is famous and it’s not surprising why. The tool delivers microcurrent that is powered by a solar panel so there’s no battery needed.
It is specially designed with double drainage rollers that can fit the contours of the face snugly. This gives you a comfortable facial massage that helps lift and tighten skin, while reducing fine lines. You’ll also find your jawline looking sharper and your complexion more radiant over time.
This retails for S$330. Click on the link below to check for promotions.
Skincare Routine and Products in Your 40s
Your Skin’s Condition in Your 40s
By now, your skin’s renewal rate would have slowed to half of that in your early 20s. You may find acne healing slower than before and collagen breaking down faster than you can replace it.
For many – especially if you haven’t been keeping up with a good skincare routine – you’re likely to also start seeing lines a round the areas where you make the most expressions (e.g. between your brows, on your forehead, at the corners of your mouth).
With your estrogen level plummeting, you’ll also find that dryness and firmness are key concerns to look into.
On top of that, many who are genetically susceptible to pigmentation or haven’t been conscientious with sun protection, will also start seeing the appearance of pigmented spots on their face.
Skincare Routine for 40-Somethings
You’re going to find yourself trying out products with strong active ingredients and perhaps getting prescriptions from your dermatologist or aesthetic doctor. These are steps in your skincare routine you can look into.
- Step 1: A hydrating but effective makeup remover
- Step 2: A cleanser that suits your skin type
- Step 3: A vitamin C serum for day
- Step 4: A retinol serum for night
- Step 5: An effective eye cream
- Step 6: An antioxidant-rich moisturiser
- Step 7: A sunscreen that you enjoy using
- Extra: A face-lifting tool
Skincare Products To Use in Your 40s
Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
Designed to address dryness and uneven skin texture, this dual-phase cleansing milk removes dirt, oil, and makeup gently but thoroughly. Despite its effectiveness in cleansing, it is able to soothe the skin and bind moisture to skin so that your skin looks softer and healthier, while it feels hydrated and plump.
The product is formulated with a mixture of oils such as Babassu Oil and Apple Seed Oil to deliver a rich source of fatty acids to your skin – something that you will appreciate in your 40s.
This retails for S$59. Check the link below to see latest promotions.
Sunday Riley C.E.O 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
This brightening serum is formulated with a powerful form of vitamin C called THD Ascorbate, which is highly stable and oil-soluble, allowing it to stay potent for a longer time and penetrating more easily into the skin.
The hydrating product helps combat the appearance of dullness, dark spots, discolouration, while eliminating signs of ageing.
This retails for S$186. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Lixir Night Switch Retinol 1% Serum
Retinoids are the gold standard in anti-ageing and is often prescribed by dermatologists for skin renewal. However, the doctor-prescribed version can be very harsh on the skin and troublesome to get (because you can’t get it off the counter and only with a doctor’s prescription).
This is why some people have turned to over-the-counter options such as this serum from Lixir, which is milder than the prescribed ones.
This overnight product helps refine facial texture, minimise sun damage, and also target signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles. Strengthening your skin’s epidermis, it helps your skin look firmer and plumper and feel softer and smoother over time.
Note that retinol products should only be used in the night otherwise your skin can get irritated when it’s exposed to the sun.
This retails for S$63. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Institut Esthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Eye Contour
This hydrating and highly concentrated eye serum targets at signs of ageing and fatigue around the eye area. Moisturising and refreshing eye contours immediately, this product smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and brightens dark circles.
You’ll also enjoy the cooling applicator that helps de-puff skin too.
This retails for S$59.50. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Creme Moisturiser
Designed to help delay signs of ageing before they appear, this antioxidant cream is enriched with Iris and is able to strengthen the resistance of the epidermis against signs of ageing such as wrinkles, while offering a smoothening benefit.
Gentle on the skin, you can use this twice a day after your favourite serums.
This retails for S$152 and is available at the following retailers.
Clarins UV Plus 5P Anti-Pollution SPF50 PA+++
This plant-powered, invisible sunscreen blocks out skin-damaging UV rays as well as five different types of pollutants: blue light, pollen, atmospheric pollution, indoor pollution, and photo pollution.
Organic Mango Leaf is a key ingredient in this product and it helps protect skin from oxidative stress, which helps enhance the skin’s own self-defence abilities so that it’s able to prevent UV and pollution damage in the future.
You’ll also love its smart, easy-to-use design, which features a precise squeeze-tube system that is light so you can easily pop it into your bag for repplication.
This retails for S$76 for a 30ml tube and S$103 for a 50ml tube.
Foreo Bear Microcurrent Facial Toning Device
This gives your face a “workout” to help tone the muscles on your face, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The gentle massage also helps boost skin radiance and enhances the absorption of your favourite skin products.
The rechargeable device is lightweight and takes only three minute to complete the routine. You can pair it with the FOREO app on your phone to receive guidance on how to get the best result out of your massage.
This retails for S$469. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Skincare Routine and Products if You’re Over 50s
Your Skin’s Condition in 50s and Above
As estrogen continues to plummet, especially as some women enter into pre-menopause or menopause, the most common problem you’ll notice is a drop in skin elasticity and losing of fat under the skin. This causes sagging (or “crepey” skin), particularly around the neck, jawline, and cheeks.
The hormonal changes also make your skin drier than before, emphasising fine lines and wrinkles even further.
Skincare Routine for 50-Somethings and Above
Some women in their 50s start looking for in-office treatments such as lasers and injectables to give their skin a boosting effect so it looks more youthful. You can also look out for skincare products that are targeted at treating signs of ageing and boosting collagen synthesis to improve the appearance of your skin.
- Step 1: A hydrating makeup remover
- Step 2: A cleanser that suits your skin type
- Step 3: A vitamin C serum for day
- Step 4: A retinol serum for night
- Step 5: An effective eye cream
- Step 6: An antioxidant-rich moisturiser or a facial oil
- Step 7: A sunscreen that you enjoy using
- Extra: A face-lifting tool
Skincare Products To Use in Your 50s and Beyond
Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum
This high-performance vitamin C serum helps address several skincare concerns you’ll face in your 50s: fine lines and wrinkles, firmness and elasticity, pigmentation, and dullness.
Besides an ultra-stable form of vitamin C and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 – both of which are known for their anti-ageing benefits – the product also contains Lactic Acid, which can speed up cell renewal, as well as antioxidants to fight free radicals.
This retails for S$189. Check the link below for latest promotions.
Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum
This overnight serum delivers potent anti-ageing benefits by fighting wrinkles, firming skin, and supporting your skin’s natural repair process.
Formulated with several powerful anti-ageing ingredients, including retinol, ferulic acid, and niacinamide, the time-released formula builds collagen to help your skin look denser, firmer, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
This retails for S$134. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Perricone MD Essential FX ACyl-Glutathione Eyelid Lift Serum
Besides dark eye circles, this also treats deep undereye wrinkles and sagging eyelids. Formulated with Acyl-Glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, this reduces creases around the eye area and improve stubborn problems like loss of tightness and firmness and droopiness around the eyes.
You’ll love that this potent product has a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that also doubles up as a primer for your eye makeup later on.
This retails for S$160.50. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Firming Night Cream
This intensely nourishing night cream helps smoothen and regenerate skin overnight. Fortified with a patented cocktail of ingredients: Resveratrol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vegan Collagen, this product has an anti-wrinkle effect and improves firmness in skin.
It also comes with ingredients that relaxes the skin so you’re ready to fall into a satisfying slumber.
This retails for S$84. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Pai Skincare Viper's Gloss Age Confidence Facial Oil
As your skin gets drier in your 50s, you may find that only a rich cream or a facial oil can give your skin the nourishment that it craves. If you’re up for facial oils – which are great for anti-ageing – then you can consider this one from Pai Skincare.
Formulated with a mix of plant oils, as well as Squalene, this has antioxidant benefits to calm your skin while nourishing it. Created for mature skin, it also delivers a suite of anti-ageing benefits to the skin.
This retails for S$117. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
Dr. Dennis Gross Spectralite Faceware Pro
LED light therapy is a proven way to treat problems like wrinkles and acne and this device is an easy way for you to receive LED light therapy at home.
With a combination of 100 lights in red mode and 62 lights in blue mode, this allows you to customise its setting for stimulating collagen production or reducing redness – depending on what you need.
All it takes is just three minutes for the routine to be completed. The adjustable head strap that comes with it makes sure that it fits anyone.
This retails for S$709. Click on the link below to check for latest promotions.
