skin care 30s woman

Googling ‘best skin care routine for 30s’? Same.

I don’t know about you, but I love a good list that tells me what rules to follow and which products to buy.

This is one of those lists. 

Only, you won’t see seventy million products on it.

This is because the idea that you need more (or more expensive) skincare products with every birthday that passes is a myth.

Rather than buying skin care based on what you “should” be using at “your age”, choosing products for your individual skin type and concerns is the most efficient and cost-effective way to see a change in your skin.

That goes for any age group.

But today, we're talking about skin care in your 30s.

So, let's understand the most common skin concerns people experience in their 30s to help narrow down your search.

Recap: Skin in Your 30s.

According to Alpha-H's Clinical Training and Education Manager LeeAnne Leslie, your 30s is when the first visible signs of premature ageing start feeling more noticeable.

“By the time we reach our 30s, our skin has been exposed to a significant amount of external stress."

The result? Signs of premature ageing like fine lines, uneven skin tone and texture, and hyperpigmentation.

LeeAnne says you also might have noticed your 30s skin is looking duller than it did in your 20s.

“This is because the rate of skin turnover decreases as we age, causing a build-up of dead skin cells on the surface and contributing to a lacklustre appearance.”

So that’s the why behind 30s skincare, but... 

What should I put on my face, you ask?

Spoiler: The answer isn’t more products or an eight-step routine. 

Instead, let's focus on implementing a consistent regimen of a few key products clinically-proven to target those skin concerns.

Keep scrolling for a quick and easy 30s skincare routine to manage uneven skin tone, dullness and signs of premature ageing.

Step 1. Face Cleanser(s).

alpha h melting moment cleaning balm plum

Everyone, at any age, should be cleansing with the best cleanser for their skin!

Whether it’s a cleansing balm, oil cleanser, cream cleanser or foam cleanser, not properly washing your face is one of the biggest - and most common - skincare mistakes you could be making.

That said, cleansing balms like Melting Moment Cleansing Balm Plum are especially great for 30s skin and beyond because:

  • Skin can become drier with age thanks to a loss of collagen, hyaluronic acid and lipids/oils within the skin barrier.
  • They remove sunscreen, excess oil, makeup (including long-wear makeup and mascara!) and general grime from the day.
  • Crucially, a balm cleanser does this without disrupting the skin’s delicate pH levels, or leaving skin stripped, tight or dry.
  • Adds moisture back into the skin, and leaves skin feeling soft and clean, and looking radiant.

How to use a cleansing balm in your routine:

Take a good 30-60 seconds to massage a grape-sized amount of cleansing balm over dry skin.

Feel free to gently take the product down over the neck and décolletage, and around the eye area to melt away even the most stubborn long-wearing eye makeup.

Rinse off using warm water or a damp cotton cloth. Repeat, or follow with your second cleanser of choice.

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser is a cream cleanser normal, sensitive and dry skin-havers will love.

Got oily, combo or acne-prone skin? Triple Action Cleanser is up your alley.

Pro tip: You can leave a lush layer of balm on for up to 10 minutes as a deeply hydrating mask, because who doesn't love a multi-tasking product?

Step 2. Chemical Exfoliation.

alpha h liquid gold

If you’re not already using a liquid exfoliant in your 30s skincare routine, don’t stress.

But also, start tonight.

Exfoliating with a chemical exfoliant like Alpha-H Liquid Gold will legitimately transform your skin in so many ways.

Big call, but we stand by it!

Specifically for skin care in your 30s, face exfoliation will:

  • Help with the look of fine lines and wrinkles, dullness and hyperpigmentation.
  • Speed up your skin’s renewal process, which actually slows down as we age. Fun.
  • Prompt your skin to produce more of its own collagen and hyaluronic acid for a plumper, fresher skin appearance.
  • Smooth uneven skin texture and refine the look of pores.
  • Give you an instant overnight radiance and the clinical cumulative long-term results.

The proof is in the before and after photos!

Exhibit A: Alpha-H customer Sitara's eight-week trial results.

alpha h liquid gold before and after results

How to use a chemical exfoliant in your routine:

Start by exfoliating one night a week, avoiding any irritated areas.

Pay attention to how your skin looks and feels, and work your way up to three nights a week.

Apply five drops of Liquid Gold to a cotton pad and gently swipe over clean, dry skin.

Pro tip: Leave on, and for best results, do not follow with a moisturiser.

That said, if you’re prone to dry, sensitive or reactive skin, or you just want to go to bed feeling like a glazed doughnut...

This next step is for you.

Step 3. The Best Face Oil (In Our Humble Opinion).

alpha h golden haze face oil

Face oils are often misunderstood. 

They make me oily! Face oils give me pimples! They’re a waste of money!

This is true of some, but not Alpha-H Golden Haze Face Oil.

When paired with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) exfoliant like Liquid Gold, this fast-absorbing, non-sticky oil formula:

  • Helps to relieve dry, dehydrated skin.
  • Calms and soothes the complexion.
  • Makes skin feel more comfy when layered over a liquid exfoliant like Liquid Gold.
  • Gives skin a plump, bouncy, hydrated look and feel.

How to use a face oil in your routine:

Apply a few drops of your oil over the face, neck and decolletage as the last step of your nighttime skincare routine.

Pro tip: Alternate your exfoliation and face oil nights, or layer the face oil over the top of your liquid exfoliant once it has dried.

And there you have it!

A quick and easy three-step skincare routine for your 30s! (Or any age.)

alpha-h juicy glow trio

P.S. For a limited time only, you can try this glowy skin routine and SAVE $42 with our Juicy Glow Trio.

This skincare set comes with:

Alpha-H’s Melting Moment Cleansing Balm Plum 90g, Liquid Gold 30ml and Golden Haze Face Oil 25ml.

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alpha-h cleanse and glow trio

Looking for a double cleanser and exfoliant routine?

Try our best sellers and SAVE $16 with the Cleanse & Glow Trio.

This skincare set comes with:

Melting Moment Cleansing Balm Plum 90g, Balancing Cleanser 30ml and Liquid Gold 30ml.

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Love our original cleansing balm? 

Stock up on a full-size Melting Moment Cleansing Balm and get your hands on a full-size plum before it sells out with the Limited Edition Cleansing Balm Duo.

(And SAVE $20. Win.)

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