I’ve had a comprehensive skincare routine since I started as a beauty intern at Cosmo 13 years ago, but now that I'm 35, my current routine looks entirely different from what it did when I was in my 20s. There are fewer unnecessary steps, quick fixes, and viral products, and a lot more well-researched staples (plus a little Botox and the occasional laser appointment 😉) that I use day in and day out.
Because consistency is the real secret to good skin in your 30s. The signs of aging—fine lines, dark spots, a little loss of firmness—have likely started to show up, and now is the time to invest in products that actually work instead of chasing every trend. Besides, who has time for a 10-step routine? We have jobs, kids, pets, friends, and actual lives to live. This is exactly why I'm sharing my 30-something skincare edit for you below. Consider it the ultimate no-BS guide to really good skin in your 30s, according to an editor who has tried it all.
The best skincare routine for your 30s
Step 1. Wash your face
⏰: morning and night
You've likely been washing your face for decades at this point, so this step isn't anything new. My advice is just to check in and make sure that whatever cleanser you're using is still right for your skin at this point in your life (like, the acne face wash you used in your 20s may not be good for your skin if it's gotten drier in your 30s). I would also say that basic is better here. In your 30s, I recommend using more active serums, so using a cleanser with potent ingredients like salicylic acid or other exfoliants can end up causing irritation.
At the end of the day, I'm a big believer in double cleansing, which involves using an oil-based cleanser before your regular face wash. Oil cleansers break down makeup and sunscreen more efficiently than your regular face wash alone, which is why you only need to use one in the evening. Personally, double cleansing has been a game changer for my acne-prone skin; my pores are way less clogged when I remember to do both steps. Not to mention, massaging your face with an oil at the end of the day just feels damn good.
Step 2. Use a targeted serum
⏰: morning and night
If you're in your 30s, you're going to need two specific face serums: a vitamin C one you'll use in the morning and a retinol one you'll use at night. The ingredients are what matter here. Your 30s are not the time to use buzzy ingredients that promise clearer, smoother, and brighter skin but have no research to back them up. Vitamin C and retinol are proven (via decades of clinical testing) to improve your skin's health and quality. Let's get into the specifics:
VITAMIN C SERUM FOR MORNING
Vitamin C does a ton; it's the multitasker of all multitaskers. The ingredient helps fade hyperpigmentation (including dark spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from breakouts, and even melasma) and prevent new hyperpigmentation from forming in the first place. It also has collagen-boosting benefits, a must in your 30s since this is the decade when fine lines really start to pop up on the face. It also protects skin from environmental factors that contribute to aging, like UV and pollution.
RETINOL SERUM FOR NIGHT
Retinol isn't new, but it's the GOAT for anti-aging. It's proven to stimulate collagen and elastin production and jump-start cell turnover (your skin's natural renewal process), which helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, minimize the look of pores, fade dark spots, and make skin more bouncy and firm. It's also the GOAT for treating acne, which makes it the perfect ingredient for anyone in their 30s who, like me, is trying to address signs of aging while also trying to treat and prevent hormonal acne.
In my 20s, I used retinol erratically, but in my 30s, I'm much more committed. Retinol is a long game, so you need to use it consistently for months to see the full benefits. This can be hard since retinol comes with some notoriously drying and irritating side effects, but using a high-quality formula and moisturizing a ton can help mitigate them. In my experience, if you can stick it out the first two weeks and deal with the flaking and redness, then you'll be good to go after that.
As far as the best retinol for your 30s, I like prescription-level formulas for maximum anti-aging results. I also still deal with breakouts, and Rx retinols are more effective at keeping skin clear than over-the-counter ones. Depending on your health insurance, some Rx retinols can actually be cheaper than OTC ones, too. For context, I used to use Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Retinol Cream, but my 0.01 tretinoin cream costs just $10 a tube and it lasts me two months.
Step 3. Tap on an eye cream
⏰: morning and night
A lot of experts will say eye cream is optional, but I am not one of those experts. I swear that being religious about eye cream for the last 10 years is the reason why (on most days) my eye area looks smooth and soft. My favorite kind of eye creams have collagen-boosting ingredients like growth factors and peptides to give a plumping effect, as well as a thick and creamy texture that not only nourishes but also creates the perfect crease-free canvas for under-eye concealer.
Step 4. Apply a gentle moisturizer
⏰: morning and night
No matter your skin type or concern, face moisturizer is a must. Moisturized skin is healthy skin, and healthy skin looks good. A no-brainer, see? My general moisturizer rules are as follows: non-comedogenic (even if you're not typically acne-prone, because clogged pores can happen to anyone), fragrance-free (scent, while pleasing, can be irritating in skincare), and full of humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Texture is all about personal preference. I have oily skin, so lightweight lotions are ideal for me, but if you have drier skin, something richer and more emollient will likely be better for you.
Step 5. Layer on a tinted sunscreen
⏰: morning
I'm pretty neurotic about wearing face sunscreen at this point in my life. Between the risk of skin cancer and the reality that the majority of skin aging is a result of sun exposure, I really don't get why anyone wouldn't be using it every day. Anyway, I'm also really particular about the sunscreens I use at this point in my life, too. The non-negotiables for me include formulas that have SPF 30 or more, use mineral blockers (this isn't to say chemical SPF is bad; it's just that most make my skin hot and red, so I avoid them), and have a tint. The purpose of the tint is twofold. 1. Tinted sunscreens contain iron oxides, which are said to give skin added protection from the aging effects of blue light. 2. They're makeup! Depending on the opacity of the tint, tinted sunscreens can create a subtle blurring effect or camouflage things like acne and melasma.
EXTRA STEPS AND PRODUCTS WORTH CONSIDERING
An exfoliator
I used to over-exfoliate, hoping that I could magically burn or buff all my skin issues away and wake up with clear, glowing skin. Now, after years of trial and lots of error (and chronically inflamed skin), I finally understand that low-and-slow is the way to go when it comes to exfoliation.
The type of exfoliator you should use depends on your skin type and sensitivity level, but I find that taking the combo approach with a physical and chemical exfoliator is best for me. My physical exfoliator helps unclog pores and whisk away dead skin cells to make my skin immediately smoother, while my chemical exfoliator (Skin Design London's) is good for fading dark spots and pigment thanks to glycolic acid.
Pimple patches
If you have acne, these are a must. Again, you've got options here, but I personally think the basic hydrocolloid patches are best for 30-something acne, which is usually hormonal and cystic in nature. These types of patches help angry zits heal faster, and they also inhibit picking (out of sight, out of mind).
A skincare tool or two
Skincare tools and devices are having a moment, but that doesn't mean you need to try every single one that comes across your feed. The efficacy of at-home tools varies greatly, and a lot of that depends on how often you use them, so I recommend investing in something easy to incorporate into your everyday routine.
In general, you can’t go wrong with an LED mask that utilizes a combo of red and blue lights. Simply pop it on for a few minutes a day to help reduce inflammation, improve skin tone, and help eliminate any acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
I also recommend some sort of face-massaging tool or stone. Now that I'm in my 30s, I've noticed my face looks more bloated when I wake up (especially after a few glasses of wine), and my chronic jaw clenching means my TMJ is always at a ten. A simple gua sha stone or metal roller can help with depuffing and melting away tension by running it along the contours of your face.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories across print and digital. Her recommendations and product picks were based on years of testing and researching, along with information from experts.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
