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Skin Care Through The Ages, Skin Care Tips and Trends, Skin Regimes

How To Take Care Of Your Skin In Your Twenties

Dr Alek Nikolic Reveals The Best Skin Care Regime For Your Twenties

At this age, your goal is to preserve and protect. In your 20s, many of the skin issues you see come from carefree living: partying on weekends, drinking too much, pulling all-nighters and basking in the sun without sunscreen. 

Please do not get me wrong as honestly I envy your youth and the ability to be so carefree but if you follow this fairly simple skin care regime you will reap the benefits in your thirties and forties and beyond. Your skin is glowing and full of that youthful glow so my skin care advice is aimed at keeping it in tip top condition.

Some of you might have some lingering acne from the teen years as well and excessive exposure to the sun or unprotected exposure (even in small quantities) unfortunately comes at a cost. Fine lines can start to creep up in the second half of your 20s and one could even start noticing pigmentation marks.

To stave them off and counteract the UV damage it’s important to start a consistent skin care routine that involves a good SPF. I am a strong believer in a factor 30 or higher (face, neck, hands, arms and chest) that contains reflective minerals such as zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.

The 20’s Ideal Skin Care Regimen:

Your first step is to find out what skin type you are as this determines the type of skin products required specific for your skin to get the best results possible. Check how to find your skin type here:

Recognising Your Skin Type
Step 1: Cleanser

Use a gentle foaming cleanser that will remove makeup and excess oil, but won’t dry out your skin.

Dr Alek Nikolic recommends:

Sensitive Skin: SKINCEUTICALS GENTLE CLEANSER

Oily and Acne Prone Skin: EXUVIANCE CLARIFYING FACIAL CLEANSER Or DERMAQUEST DERMACLEAR BHA CLEANSER

Combination Skin: DERMAQUEST C INFUSION CLEANSER Or SKINCEUTICALS SIMPLY CLEAN Or EXUVIANCE PURIFYING CLEANSING GEL

Normal Skin: DERMACEUTIC ADVANCED CLEANSER Or DERMAQUEST ESSENTIAL DAILY CLEANSER

Dry Skin: DERMAQUEST ESSENTIAL DAILY CLEANSER Or SKINCEUTICALS SIMPLY CLEAN

Step 2: Moisturiser

For day, use a light moisturiser that contains sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and this is something you cannot skip — EVER. Look for a product that contains either zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.

Dr Alek Nikolic recommends:

Sensitive Skin: EXUVIANCE MULTI-PROTECTIVE DAY CREME SPF20

Oily and Acne Prone Skin: NEOSTRATA SHEER HYDRATION SPF 35 or EXUVIANCE SHEER REFINING FLUID SPF35

Combination Skin: EXUVIANCE ESSENTIAL DAILY DEFENSE CRÈME SPF20

Normal Skin: EXUVIANCE ESSENTIAL DAILY DEFENSE CRÈME SPF20 or NEOSTRATA DAYTIME PROTECTION CREAM SPF 23 10 PHA

Dry Skin: EXUVIANCE MULTI-PROTECTIVE DAY CREME SPF20 or NEOSTRATA ULTRA DAYTIME SMOOTHING CREAM SPF 20

For Stubborn Early Pigmentation Marks: NEOSTRATA SKIN BRIGHTENER SPF25
Step 3:

If you get mild breakouts (not serious acne — your dermatologist should recommend the ideal treatment for that), use a spot treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. And whatever you do, don’t pick — it can lead to long-lasting scars.
Dr Alek Nikolic recommends:

DERMAQUEST DERMACLEAR SPOT TREATMENT

NEOSTRATA SPOT TREATMENT GEL

Step 4:

If you are one to stay up all hours of the night and the skin is going through undue stress then my suggestion is to also add an antioxidant to counteract the damage from environmental factors. Apply a serum at night that contains pomegranate extract, vitamin C, Ferulic acid or grape seed extract. Antioxidants eliminate damaging free radicals responsible for most of what we perceive as skin aging, including fine lines, pigment changes and textural irregularity. Read more on anti-oxidants here: How Antioxidants Work and Adding Anti-Oxidants To Your Skin Care Regime
Dr Alek Nikolic recommends:

EXUVIANCE ANTIOXIDANT SERUM PERFECT 10

NEOSTRATA SKIN ACTIVE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SERUM

DERMAQUEST NOURISHING PEPTIDE CREAM

SKINCEUTICALS RESVERATROL B E

SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC

SKINCEUTICALS PHLORETIN CF

Step 5:

At night, cleanse and spot treat any breakouts (again with a treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide), and follow with a basic light night moisturiser.

Dr Alek Nikolic recommends:

Sensitive Skin: EXUVIANCE Sheer Daily Protector SPF 50

Oily and Acne Prone Skin: EXUVIANCE NIGHT RENEWAL HYDRAGEL

Combination Skin: EXUVIANCE NIGHT RENEWAL HYDRAGEL

Normal Skin: DERMACEUTIC LIGHT CEUTIC

Dry Skin: NEOSTRATA BIONIC FACE CREAM or EXUVIANCE AGE REVERSE NIGHT LIFT

Other night time moisturisers to consider:

EXUVIANCE EVENING RESTORATIVE COMPLEX

EXUVIANCE AGE REVERSE NIGHT LIFT

DERMACEUTIC LIGHT CEUTIC

DERMACEUTIC REGEN CEUTIC

Dr Alek Nikolic’s Tip:

Retinol is a vital ingredient to super charge your skin and take its rejuvenating capabilities to another level. This is not a must have but rather a nice to have and one I can highly recommend. See the benefits of retinol: Which Strength of Retinol Do I Need? And SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 Uses and Treatment Guidelines.

Recommended Retinol Products:

Step 6:

It is okay to introduce eye creams and other anti-aging products as long as they are not too harsh. If it doesn’t make your skin look better or if the product is irritating, skip it.

Dr Alek Nikolic recommends:

EXUVIANCE HYDRATING EYE COMPLEX

NEOSTRATA EYE CREAM

NEOSTRATA BIONIC EYE CREAM PLUS

OBAGI PRO C EYE BRIGHTENER EYE SERUM

To make it as easy as possible I have placed the above steps in a table format that can be copied and pasted for quick reference:

20’s Skin Care Quick Reference Guide

Step Oily Skin Combination Skin Dry/Very Dry
Cleanser
A.M. and P.M.
Tip: Avoid bar soaps!

·        EXUVIANCE CLARIFYING FACIAL CLEANSER Or

·        DERMAQUEST DERMACLEAR BHA CLEANSER

Tip: A gentle, effective cleanser can balance both dry and oily areas.

·        DERMAQUEST C INFUSION CLEANSER Or

·        SKINCEUTICALS SIMPLY CLEAN Or

·        EXUVIANCE PURIFYING CLEANSING GEL

Tip: Avoid drying or greasy formulas.

·        DERMAQUEST ESSENTIAL DAILY CLEANSER Or

·        SKINCEUTICALS SIMPLY CLEAN

Moisturise
A.M.
Tip: Use an ultra-light formula.

·        NEOSTRATA SHEER HYDRATION SPF 35 or

·        EXUVIANCE SHEER REFINING FLUID SPF35

Tip: Apply moisturiser all over!

·        EXUVIANCE ESSENTIAL DAILY DEFENSE CRÈME SPF20

Tip: Use a more emollient
formula with additional anti-irritants to soothe skin.
·        EXUVIANCE MULTI-PROTECTIVE DAY CREME SPF20 or·        NEOSTRATA ULTRA DAYTIME SMOOTHING CREAM SPF 20
Anti-Oxidant

P.M.

·        EXUVIANCE ANTIOXIDANT SERUM PERFECT 10

·        NEOSTRATA SKIN ACTIVE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SERUM

·        DERMAQUEST NOURISHING PEPTIDE CREAM

·        SKINCEUTICALS RESVERATROL B E

·        SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC

·        SKINCEUTICALS PHLORETIN CF

·        EXUVIANCE ANTIOXIDANT SERUM PERFECT 10

·        NEOSTRATA SKIN ACTIVE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SERUM

·        DERMAQUEST NOURISHING PEPTIDE CREAM

·        SKINCEUTICALS RESVERATROL B E

·        SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC

·        SKINCEUTICALS PHLORETIN CF

·        EXUVIANCE ANTIOXIDANT SERUM PERFECT 10

·        NEOSTRATA SKIN ACTIVE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SERUM

·        DERMAQUEST NOURISHING PEPTIDE CREAM

·        SKINCEUTICALS RESVERATROL B E

·        SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC

·        SKINCEUTICALS PHLORETIN CF

Moisturise
P.M.
·        EXUVIANCE NIGHT RENEWAL HYDRAGEL

 

·        EXUVIANCE NIGHT RENEWAL HYDRAGEL

 

·        NEOSTRATA BIONIC FACE CREAM or

·        EXUVIANCE AGE REVERSE NIGHT LIFT

I hope you found the article informative and helpful in starting an effective skin care regime in your twenties.

Please feel free to send me any comments or questions you may have regarding your skin concerns or skin care regimes.

Kind regards

Dr Alek Nikolic

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About Dr Alek Nikolic

Dr Alek Nikolic was born in South Africa and received his MBBCh (Wits) in 1992 and in 2000 he received his MBA (UCT). He has been in private practice for 24 years and is the owner of Aesthetic Facial Enhancement, which has offices in Cape Town. Dr Nikolic specialises in aesthetic medicine and is at the forefront of the latest developments in his field. He is very driven and has lectured extensively and has performed live demonstrations throughout South Africa and Internationally including Bangkok, Rome, Paris, Monte Carlo, Prague, and Warsaw. Dr Nikolic’s focus is on skin care, skin ingredients and cosmetic dermatology treatments such as lasers, chemical peels, Botox, and Dermal Fillers. He has performed over 20 000 procedures to date and as such is responsible for training numerous medical practitioners both in South Africa and internationally. Dr Nikolic is one of the founding members of the South African Allergan Medical Aesthetic Academy and chaired its inaugural launch in 2012. The Allergan Academy provides essential training to keep up with the latest technology in aesthetics. Dr Nikolic holds the advisory position of Allergan Local Country Mentor in Facial Aesthetics and is the Allergan Advanced Botox and Dermal Filler Trainer. He is Vice President of the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine Society of South Africa (AAMSSA) and is an Associate Member of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS).

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2 thoughts on “How To Take Care Of Your Skin In Your Twenties

  1. kelly says:

    thank you dr alek, great information – will pass on to my friends

    1. Dr Alek Nikolic says:

      Thanks Kelly I appreciate that. kind regards Dr Alek Nikolic

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