The Skincare Products You Should Be Using in Your 20s

Best Skincare Products For 20s

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The skin issues you deal with in your early 20s are different than what you deal with in your late 20s. This decade starts with simple concerns like blackheads and ends with worrying ones like wrinkles! Whether you’ve just taken an interest in skincare or you’ve been taking good care of your skin, know this. Whatever you do or don’t do in terms of skincare in your twenties is going to define your 30s. So trust me when I say that the skincare products you use in your 20s matter.

Personally, I have so much regret in that department because I remember using toners with alcohol, face cleansers made with SLS, and moisturizers that couldn’t be more unsuited for my skin type. I fixed those skincare mistakes later but they sure gave me a hard time. To save you from similar trouble, I’ve put together the best skincare products that I think every 20-something should use.

Consider this as a general guideline as to what type of skincare products to use in your 20s, which ones are essential, and which ones are not that important. If you’re new to skincare, don’t forget to check out our step-by-step skincare routine for your 20s for a proper daily regimen to follow.

Best Skincare Products For Your 20s

Cleanser: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser - Best Skincare Products For 20s

It all starts with a clean face. The only common ground with skincare regardless of age is cleansing. Cleansers are the ones that run out quickly because you use them the most. That can be a burden on your budget. That’s why I think this is a great cleanser for people in their 20s. It’s affordable and cost-effective. The gel texture doesn’t strip the skin because it’s made with hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

And it removes makeup as well and it works great for all skin types. Know that your cleanser needs to be tailored to your needs and suitable for your skin type. So while this one will work for most skin types, you can try more targeted options if you have concerns like acne or pores. If you want to check out what else is out there, I’ve rounded up the best cleansers to use in your 20s for each skin type and concern.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide
Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily
Size: 8 oz/ 237 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free

Toner: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

If you’re on the lookout for a daily face toner, this one targets the most common skin issue we deal with in our 20s: congestion. This is an exfoliating salicylic acid toner, which helps clear up clogged pores. It helps get rid of blackheads and calm acne. It also helps dissolve the glue that holds the dead skin cells together, resulting in healthier-looking skin.

Daily exfoliating toners can be irritating to the skin but the concentration of this one is low. Plus, it contains soothing green tea, so it’s very unlikely to irritate. Whether you’re in your early or late 20s, or you have oily skin or dry skin, this fragrance-free cult-favorite exfoliator is going to be your skincare workhorse to maintain spotless, clear skin.

Key Ingredients: 2% salicylic acid, green tea
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 4 oz/118 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, cruelty-free

Serum: Summer Fridays CC Me Serum

Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum

Face serums are incredibly versatile products you can utilize in your routine. There’s a face serum for every possible skin issue. This is a vitamin C serum. It’s an antioxidant that can help minimize skin discolorations while protecting your skin against skin damaging effects of free radicals. But the thing is this isn’t made with pure vitamin C, which tends to be irritating for the skin.

It’s made with gentler forms of it as well as other skin brighteners like niacinamide. The light, milky serum is also incredibly hydrating for the skin. You can add it into your routine to boost radiance, even out your skin tone, and guard your skin against daily stressors. If you have other skin issues you want to target with a good treatment serum, head on to our round-up of the best serums to use in your 20s.

Key Ingredients: 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, niacinamide, squalane
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

Eye Cream: Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb

Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb - Best Skincare Products For 20 year olds

Though it’s all up to you to use eye creams in your 20s, know that adding one to your skincare routine has numerous benefits. A good eye cream is practically a gentle under-eye moisturizer. And once you find a good formula, it can even help your makeup application. Think smoother concealer under the eyes.

This eye cream is one of my all-time favorites and among my top recommendations for anyone who needs eye cream! It’s incredibly moisturizing, absorbs easily, doesn’t pill or rub off, and works great under makeup. The refreshing formula plumps up the skin around the eyes without irritating it and simply leaves the eye area fresh, and more awake.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, Centella Asiatica, squalane
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 0.84 oz/ 25 ml

Moisturizer: Origins GinZing Ultra-Hydrating Energy-Boosting Cream

Origins GinZing Ultra-Hydrating Energy-Boosting Cream - Best Skincare Products For 20s

Most women in their early 20s think they have wrinkles and crow’s feet whereas it’s all because of dryness. Dry skin makes lines more visible too. That’s why hydrating the skin with a good moisturizer is key in maintaining a healthy skin barrier and preventing signs of aging. Normally, you need to choose your moisturizer based on your skin type. And more often than not, what works for dry skin barely works for oily skin.

Well, this is an amazing exception. This moisturizer, though it comes in different formulations for different skin types, is an amazing daily moisturizer you can use throughout your 20s. It smells amazing, looks great under makeup, and doesn’t pill. I’ve never experienced any breakouts with it! It packs ginseng extract and caffeine to wake up tired-looking skin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to hydrate. It absorbs super fast and does not leave any uncomfortable feel on the skin.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, niacinamide, caffeine
Skin Type: Normal, dry
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Good To Know: Vegan

Retinol: Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol

Alpha-H Vitamin A serum With 0.5% Retinol

Just like exfoliants, retinol is a multi-tasker too. It can help you deal with acne, uneven skin tone, and uneven skin texture in your 20s. But it takes time to get used to retinol. That’s why I love this formula for anyone who’s just getting started. It’s a serum but it’s a bit oil-based, so it’s incredibly moisturizing for the skin.

That also prevents retinol from drying out your skin and causing flakiness and peeling. It contains jojoba oil as well as macadamia seed oil. But the texture is super light and it doesn’t even feel like oil on your skin. Note that retinol requires some getting used to and finding a product that works for you is very important. If this isn’t your cup of tea, see the best retinol products for 20s for more retinol-based skincare.

Key Ingredients: 0.5% retinol, evening primrose oil
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 0.85 oz/ 25 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free

Sunscreen: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 - Best Skincare Products For 20s

Toners, treatments, and face masks come and go. But good sunscreen is forever. And let me just tell you that Supergoop does sunscreen like no other. Most of their sunscreens are incredibly wearable, which makes it easier for young women like yourself to establish wearing sunscreen as a habit.

They have various formulas. This particular option is invisible, meaning that it disappears into the skin and doesn’t have a prominent finish. The clear sunscreen is made with chemical SPF and also contains silicones, which makes it work like a makeup primer too. It’s so weightless that you’ll forget you’re wearing it!

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, red algae
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan

So these are the skincare products to use in your 20s. Again, this is a general guideline on what to include in a basic skincare routine. You can always branch out and add more products to your routine. There are amazing face masks for 20-somethings to address various skin issues. There are potent anti-aging creams you can use in your 20s to prevent premature signs of aging. But in the end, the most important skincare products you can invest in your twenties are a good cleanser, a daily moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Read Next: The Best Night Creams For Your 20s

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