Age 21, want to stop future wrinkles - help!

Noctu

Hi guys,
I've just turned 21 :beer: ..... Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit, but I've heard a few people tell me to start moisturising/using skin cream on my face now, so that I don't get many wrinkles when I'm older.

So, my question is.. Should I be using face cream now? Can anyone recommend any (cheap)?

Any other beauty routines you wish you'd started at 21 to stop X from happening?

aurora_borealis_2

Cheap stuff is fine.

Use handcream!!

skylight

I started with the cheap pink moisturiser of Olay. End of 20's started on an eye cream and upgraded the Olay and now early 30's my skin has changed again and use Boots No7 - love this stuff.

You do not need day AND night cream at your age, but whatever you get should include a SPF (although this is not a substitute for sun screen).

To look after your skin, moistursing is not enough. Make sure you clean it well and remove all traces of daily make-up. I hate soap (although there is nothing wrong with it!) and I use No7 cleanser (I use all No7 stuff - take advantage of their in-stor vouchers and get gift vouchers via pigsback/surveys etc)

To find one to suit your skin is trial and error. What works for one may not work for you.

Vashti

Yes you should start now.

Use something like an own brand moisturiser and eye gel (Asda is great) stay out of the sun (or ALWAYS use factor 30) and don't smoke.

I read somewhere a lot of damage is already done to the skin by the age of 18. Not sure if that is true, but I used to lie in the sun from an early age and only noticed the damage in my late thirties.

Take it from someone who looks like a walnut at 45 and wishes she had the benefit of hindsight.

filigree_2

If you smoke, give up - it has been proved that smoking ages your skin faster. It also gives you wrinkles around your mouth from dragging on the cigarette.

speranza

I'm 23, but people guess my age at 18/19, whereas a lot of my friends who used sunbeds when we were in our teens look a few years older than they are already. I didn't use them because I'm *so* pale and my mum wouldn't let me - glad she didn't now! I don't smoke and try to drink a lot of water as well, but don't always manage the 2l/day. I also use the Dermalogica range of products, which are quite expensive, but brilliant and last ages - but there are perfectly fine cheaper products.

momisa

I've been using Clinique for a few years now but when I was your age I just used supermarket own brands or Boots. Definately nothing expensive as I didn't have the pennies. That said, I don't have the pennies now but I went mad when in Canada and paid substantially less over there a few years ago.

Try to get into the habit of cleanse, tone and moisturising twice a day if you can. Remember to apply on your neck and chest too and don't forget your hands.

Up until a few days ago I was using a deep clay mask (from Boots) once a month. I used some gift vouchers for a facial and was informed that I should try to use a pack each week so headed off to my local Lush store and picked a gentle pack with avocado etc in it which I'll use most weeks and still use my clay mask once a month. Which reminds me you may want to check other boards on here to see if there are some home recipes!!

Justie

don't smoke or spend too long around smokers, always wear an SPF of above 15 on your face, neck and decolletage, cleanse your skin before bed especially if you've had make up on and use a light moisturiser. You don't need to spend lots on skin stuff yet but if you're going to spend money then I would spend it on the cleanser (personal fave Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish). Nivea moisturisers always come out well in tests, Boots own brands are usually good but anything will do. Don't get anything too rich or you're likely to come out in spots. Whatever you use try to use the same thing for a month before deciding if it suits you as sometimes it takes a while for the skin to adjust. And then don't be a slave - you may find that in summer you need something different to winter and in a few years time you will need to make some adjustments as your skin gets older so don't presume that what you do now will be the same as what you do when you're 30.

Oh and enjoy life! Some wrinkles add to your face rather than take away

belfastgirl23

You'll probably need to experiment a bit to find a moisturiser that suits you. Some are very heavy and overperfumed for my own taste. I like nivea myself but will use no 7 or even Lidl moisturiser in a push. Keep an eye out for BOGOFs etc. It's also worth asking around to see if friends have anything lying around that they're not using, just for the sake of trying it out.

Def should go for an spf of 15 and over for day cream though.

I think what you need also does change seasonally - I def move to a lighter moisturiser in the summer.

margaretclare

Protect your skin against sun and against smoking (being around smokers, as others have said).

I'm 71 now, went to work in Saudi in my late 50s and never had a wrinkle until I went there!

Any moisturiser will do (try BodyShop) but do protect against sun and smoking - those two are the biggest killers as regards your skin.

Margaret

racer256

Use creams with anitoxidants such as Vitamin C or Vitamin E. These kill freeradials (can cause cancer in your body) and can cause wrinkles. Antioxidants protect skin against Pollution and smoking etc.

Don't go overboard with the SPF, your skin can become resistant to the SPF and the more you use the higher SPF you'll need. A moisturiser with a SPF of 10 is fine. Even better use a foundation with it in.