What you need to start, stop and continue doing in your 20s, 30s and 40s.

Image via Thinkstock

Wouldn’t it be grand if we could jump in a time machine and replay our 20s all over again? Without the pimples, idiot exes or stress about what we’re going to do with the rest of our lives.

What would you change?

I’d like to wipe out all the times I went to the beach with no, or haphazardly applied sunscreen, and listen to my friends and dump that jerk.

But since we can’t make like Cher and Turn Back Time (sorry, you’ll only get that reference if you grew up in the 90s) here are a few suggestions for getting the best skin possible in your 20s, 30s, and 40s. And ok, I’ve thrown in some life advice for good measure too.

What you need to start doing in your 20s.

Start dealing with your skin issues now.

In theory you should have great skin in your 20s, but in practice we all know that’s not always the case. Whether you have pesky pimples, overly dry or oily skin, or are starting to see signs of ageing, NOW is the time to address them.

Now is also a good time to start using an eye cream. Look for one that contains antioxidants and retinol, which will help to slow down the loss of collagen and wrinkles.

Stick to a routine.

Again, in theory if you set up a good routine now, chances are you’re more likely to stick with it. Although the future me also wants to tell you that if you choose to have babies, sticking to that 17-product routine you set in your 20s will be whittled down to one or two – mostly involving makeup remover wipes and dry shampoo. Make sure you’re exfoliating once or twice a week, and I know you will, but try to limit the amount of times you sleep in your makeup.

Start wearing an SPF every day.
You’ll hear me bang on quite a bit about sunscreen over the next few paragraphs and that’s because wearing sunscreen daily is one of the best things you can do for your skin.  Applying a high SPF factor sunscreen on cleansed skin under your moisturiser is the most effective place in your routine to apply sunscreen.

What you need to stop doing in your 20s.

• Dating an idiot.
• Studying or working in a job you hate.
• Not paying back your credit card (every month).
• Leaving the house without sunscreen on.

 What you need to start doing in your 30s.

Exfoliate more.

This depends entirely on your skin type, but if you didn’t regularly exfoliate in your 20s, now is the time to up the skin turnover ante. The best time to exfoliate is at night because overnight the skin goes into repair mode. So removing dead skin cells in the PM means your skin has time to renew. Regular cleansing and exfoliating ensures the skin has enough moisture to properly function. Always go for a gentle exfoliator by avoiding harsh granular scrubs.

Drink more water.

I know, drinking more water is one of those tedious things that everyone tells you to do, and by now you’re probably bored of h20. But stick with it, because when the skin is properly hydrated - internally with water and externally with a good moisturiser - that’s what makes skin plump. Add lemon or lime to your water for flavour and an extra alkalizing boost.

Eat better.

Ironically, at a time in your life when you’re at your busiest it’s the most important that you eat a healthy diet. While you could get away with two-minute noodles and last night’s Pad Thai in your 20s, now is the time to pay better attention to your diet because your skin will thank you for it. Eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, fibre and not too much sugar or salt will help your skin glow.

What you need to stop doing in your 30s.

• Contiki Tours.
• Spending everything you earn.
• Sleeping in your makeup.
• Socially smoking.
• Obliging negative people.
• Leaving the house without sunscreen on.

What you need to start doing in your 40s.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

This is where another zinger ingredient comes in: Hyaluronic acid. It’s naturally occurring in the body, and as we age, it starts to deplete, which makes our skin saggy. Hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times its weight in water, so it’s one of the keys to making the skin look dewy and youthful again.

Save your skin.

Yes, I’m talking about sunscreen again. Even if you lathered yourself with Reef Oil as a youngster, there is no excuse not to make up for it now. There are so many types out there you can no longer say you don’t like the ‘feel’ of them.

What you need to stop doing in your 40s.

• Ignore dark sun spots.
• Wear the same makeup that you did in your 20s and 30s.
• Leave the house without sunscreen on.