Avoiding Botox: Skincare In My 20s

Time to be honest—I historically have not the best at properly taking care of my skin. Sure, I use the basic products like make-up remover, facial cleanser and moisturizer. However, I have recently realized that if I want to age more gracefully, now—at age twenty-two—is the time to start utilizing a better beauty regime both in the morning and at night.

In my research of products and figuring out the best treatment for me, I stumbled upon a Refinery29 article that really resonated with me. The article goes through skincare products for every age and for the early 20s it read: “your early 20s are kind of like facial bootcamp: It's the time to build up the proper discipline and habits that will help you age gracefully — without going totally overboard and causing your face to become a red, irritated mess.” Thus, I have decided to commit to facial bootcamp and do my future face a favor.

Mary Kate Donahue, 2019.

Because I hope to prevent future sun-damage, wrinkles and fine lines, I have now settled on the following regime of skincare products. One thing to note—I am not a huge beauty-junkie, in the sense that I find drugstore products to do the trick just fine. Some of my friends use products from Glossier, Ulta or Sephora, but at this point in my life, I am content using more basic brands in an effort to be more budget-friendly. In addition to the routine below, I will occasionally supplement with a mud mask, clay mask or sheet mask every week or so.

Morning

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner

• ArtNaturals Vitamin C Serum (using jade roller to help it absorb into skin)

• ArtNaturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum (using jade roller to help it absorb into skin)

• SPF 30

• Jergens All-Purpose Face Cream

Night

• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (especially if I had make-up on)

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner

• ArtNaturals Retinol Serum (using jade roller to help it absorb into skin)

• Jergens All-Purpose Face Cream

• ***On Sunday nights, I also use a microneedling tool with the retinol serum

Mary Kate Donahue, 2019.

What are your favorite skincare products or go-to beauty regime? Here’s the hoping that this newfound diligence and preventative measures at age twenty-two will help me look radiant when I am sixty-two.

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References

The Skin-Care Products You Should Try Before You're 30. (2018, October 23). Retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com.