Aging might be an inevitable part of life, but it’s safe to say most of us would like to do so with confidence and grace. One of the savviest ways to achieve this? Knowing when we start getting wrinkles so that we can take preventative measures to diminish them throughout the decades.
If you’ve been asking, “At what age do we start getting wrinkles?” you might be surprised at the answer. Experts report that we begin to show the earliest signs of aging around 25.
First things first: All of us age differently and at a unique pace. Lifestyle choices, genetics, skin type, stress levels, where we were raised (hello, sunny Southern California)—all play a crucial role in the skin care cards we’re dealt. And yet, there are some commonalities throughout the years that can better prepare you for the shifts that are afoot and may rest ahead.
Here’s a general roadmap on when wrinkles develop, what affects skin aging, and the tweaks you can make to embrace change.
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Your Mid-20s
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and acts as the structural “glue” that keeps your joints creaky-free and your skin springy, clear, and luminescent.
As children, adolescents, and young adults, our bodies produce ample amounts of collagen. During our mid-20s, however, we naturally begin to produce less. In turn, wrinkles become more noticeable.
Wrinkles at this stage of the game tend towards the delicate side. They might arrive as thin wrinkles underneath your eyes or faint lines on your forehead. If you’ve been fortunate enough to spot them between career moves and dating, you’re in an optimal place: Early prevention is one of the golden tickets to healthy skin, now and in the future.
Skin Support for Twenty-Somethings
- Dodge smoking – If you picked up smoking in your freewheeling early 20s, now is the time to kick it to the curb. Smoking reduces collagen production and stymies skin regeneration. And if you think vaping is fine, think again: the nicotine in e-cigarettes dries out skin, which can contribute to the onset of wrinkles.
- Prioritize cleansing – Your 20s might be one of the most active and thrilling decades of your life, and after a late night out on the town, you might be tempted to faceplant into your pillow rather than washing your face. But environmental pollutants, like that exhaust you encounter while waiting in traffic, can lead to collagen breakdown. Makeup is also notorious for blocking pores, which decreases your body’s ability to build this oh-so-essential protein. Using a facial cleanser twice a day can help remove dirt and dead skin cells, keeping your pores squeaky clean.
- Wear sunscreen – The most important step for anti-aging prevention is regularly applying SPF. After cleansing, double up with a SPF moisturizer that can hydrate and provide sun protection. Not only should it be a daily habit, re-application is essential as well. If you are exposed to the sun’s rays often, re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours.
Your 30s
As collagen production continues to decline and your skin has been subjected to more sun exposure, toxins, and habitual facial expressions, you may begin to see additional signs of intrinsic aging (read: natural and unavoidable) and extrinsic aging (aging that is accelerated by external factors). You might begin to see more lines or premature wrinkles around your face, particularly:
- Crow’s feet (or lines around the outer edges of your eyes)
- Frown lines (or a fine line between your eyebrows)
Keeping Your Skin Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving
Do anti-aging creams work? Upleveling your skincare routine during this decade can do wonders towards maintaining the vibrancy of your skin. Specifically:
- Increase hydration – To keep your fine lines from deepening, make sure to keep your skin well-hydrated. Search for moisturizers or an eye cream with key ingredients that help seal in moisture, such as squalene and green tea extract.
- Consider formulations containing retinol – Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, can be a godsend for stopping fine lines in their tracks. It has the potential to boost collagen levels, even out skin texture, and enhance elasticity. PROVEN incorporates Granactive Retinol into our custom formulas. It’s milder than other prescription-only forms of retinoids, which can help you gain the benefits with less redness and irritation.
Your 40s
During your 40s, you may notice that those barely-there lines have become more prominent and harder to conceal. In addition to waning collagen levels, your body also starts producing less hyaluronic acid—a naturally-occuring humectant that helps skin retain moisture.
It’s also at this age that you might start seeing additional signs of aging, such as:
- Dark spots
- Skin laxity and sagging
- Wrinkles on your neck and chest
Don’t despair, though: Skincare products have come a long way in the last few decades, and can make a tremendous difference on your complexion. You can learn more about reducing dark spots in our our article on the best ingredients for dark spots.
Staying Fresh at Forty
- Practice sleep hygiene – From keeping tabs on your children to managing strides and changes in your career, your 40s are often jam-packed with responsibilities. Nonetheless, making sound sleep a priority is imperative: your skin performs the majority of its repairs while you rest.
- Don’t skip the sunscreen – Some estimates suggest that as much as 80% of skin aging—including the wrinkles that arrive with it—are due to sun exposure. While you can’t turn back the clock, you can stave off further damage by wearing an SPF daily. Ideally, use a product that contains a combination of sunscreen and hyaluronic acid, such as Proven Skincare’s Personalized Day Moisturizer.
Start your anti-aging prevention journey with PROVEN, and build a personalized day moisturizer with SPF to protect your glow.
Your 50s and Beyond
It’s inescapable that your skin will continue to change as you move into your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond. And yet, with the solid skincare habits you adopted in your previous decades, you’ll be able to glide forward—elegantly and with self-assuredness. You might not ever have baby skin again, but the key to aging gracefully is to give your skin what it needs to be healthy—at any age.
Find a Lifetime of Skin Health with PROVEN Skincare
For many of us, wrinkles are a fact of life (or will be eventually, anyway). But with effective skincare products in your arsenal, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer them.
PROVEN Skincare is the ally to have by your side. Start with a skincare quiz and we’ll match you with the products you need to shield and nourish your skin—now, and as you move forward in life. Explore our collection today to score that glowing and smooth texture you’ve been hoping to obtain.
