Skincare in your 30s: Spending just enough, but splurging a little
I grew up with horrendous acne. For over a decade, since my teens, I’d been experimenting with expensive dermatologists, painful facials, and even oral antibiotics. With trial and error (including the discovery that high-dose vitamin B12 supplements led to acne), I found out that fewer skincare products, when done right, work just as well, if not better.
Recently, I went on a beach trip with college friends. We looked back at our student years, when we’d pool our money together to split a lapad of Tanduay. But now, we were taking turns buying each other rounds of tequila shots. “I love 30s money,” somebody said, as we traipsed around, margaritas in hand (only to deal with the consequences of drinking as a 30-year-old the next morning).
And though we’re not exactly swimming in cash, what we have is more than enough. And I think skincare in your 30s reflects just that—spending just enough, but splurging on occasion.
My skin oscillates between dry and oily, and I know that’s something us combination-skin girlies can find maddening. But these are the products on my toiletries rack that work for my 30-year-old self, which are gentle yet effective enough for all skin types.
1. Hyaluronic acid has entered the chat
Hyaluronic acid personally resolved all of my acne issues and made me realize what my skin needed all along was just an extra pump of hydration. What the ingredient does is bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water. In effect, it smoothens and strengthens the skin’s elasticity. It also helps with wound healing and is great for sensitive skin.
There are all kinds of hyaluronic acid on the market, and it’s a relatively inexpensive product. My favorite accessible hyaluronic acid product is by Pure Culture, a local brand formulated in the Philippines but made in Bulgaria. Part of the Bulgarian Rose line is the Sublime Serum, a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum with 24k gold that boosts the microbiomes in the skin. And it’s only P899.
2. Toner or bust
In Japanese drugstore lore, “lotions” are actually facial toners. The first step after washing your face is to prepare your skin with these toners for the next steps in your routine. Fancl’s Moist Refine Lotion I is a good all-around option. It focuses on hydration while gently removing any leftover residue, making the rest of your routine more effective.
3. Essential moisturizer
Growing up, I thought the only way to remove acne was by drying it out—overexfoliating, swiping toner, and attempting to wash pimples off my face as roughly as possible.
Only later did I realize that moisturizer makes the skin stronger and simultaneously regulates oil production, which helps get acne under control. Everything else follows, from plumper-looking skin to fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
One ridiculously good K-beauty find is Beyond Angel Aqua Moisture Cream. It has a very slight mix of panthenol and hyaluronic acid that hydrates the skin in a way that absorbs quickly and feels hydrated without feeling sticky throughout the day.
4. Anti-aging luxuries that go a long way
While there are all kinds of accessible skincare products on the market for general maintenance, sometimes it helps to add some anti-aging ingredients into the mix for the long run.
Sisley is one such splurge I swear by. One of the most beloved skincare brands in France, their lines justify their prices through ingredients sourced entirely from nature in a process called phytocosmology, where they take the best active ingredients in plants.
The Black Rose Concentrate Radiant Youth Serum has a boost of hydration through hyaluronic acid and biosaccharide solution to stimulate collagen, while adding a little bit of micro-exfoliation with lemon extract, red vine for a more refreshed look, and einkorn wheat to give the skin a sheen of luminosity.
5. The fun of facemasks
At 30, I’ve accepted that the cheap-o drugstore face masks seem to merely simulate the sensation of relaxation. It’s still best to buy good quality facemasks to really pamper the skin.
French brand La Roche-Posay has excellent skincare products, and their Cicaplast B5 Facial Sheet Mask is one I trust. Besides being deeply hydrating, it’s great for a day after being under the sun, especially when your skin’s a little stressed.
6. Makeup remover matters
Besides putting on skincare products, taking off makeup is just as important. Many have ingredients that can sting. A good makeup remover can lift off stubborn makeup or debris without irritating the skin.
Banila Co Clean It Zero is a popular K-beauty hypoallergenic cleansing balm that does the job quickly, with a soft, sherbet-like texture that dissolves waterproof makeup or any other skincare you may have on. In under a minute, it simultaneously nourishes the skin in such a way that you don’t need to double cleanse your face. They also have a range of cleansing balms with different functions, from calming to clarifying, firming to brightening. It comes in big and small travel sizes, too.
7. Sunscreen, taken seriously
Now that I’m finally 30, I think I’ve found the simplest solution. Japanese brand Bioré has a sunscreen called the Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+ PA++++. It’s lightweight, affordable, and quick to absorb, so it’s perfect for being on the go, without a ghostly finish or stickiness.
Skincare at 30 is still a work in progress
Admittedly, I don’t have a steady retinol routine yet. My skin is sensitive, and there’s much to learn. But for now, I stick to the basics.
Besides topical foundations, I’ve found natural supplements help. There seem to be slight skin benefits in hydrolyzed collagen. But I’m sure about zinc—an immune system support supplement—which helps me fall asleep and makes me wake up with brighter, clearer skin every time.
I used to look down on skincare and find it unnecessary. But now at 30, it’s something I’ve come to look forward to as a treat at both the beginning and end of the day.
After years of learning about skincare through harsh facials and expensive experimentation, turning 30 hasn’t been about doing or spending more at all. Inadvertently, it’s been a learning process that’s led to slowing down, doing less, and from there, intentionally choosing what works best.
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