Beauty Basics: Great Skin for Life

Forget what you’ve heard about great skin. A radiant glow isn’t the exclusive right of those with good genes, nor is it locked in a jar of pricey wrinkle cream. In reality, beautiful skin is a full-body experience-one that anyone can cultivate.

In other words, it expresses what’s going on in your body, and it needs support from the inside out.

With that in mind, we’ve created a holistic, decade-by-decade skin-care guide featuring advice on what to eat, which supplements to take, and how to spot a moisturizer that suits you.

The Decade: 20s



The Skin You’re In


Your skin is probably at its peak vitality, with good texture, a nice luster, and few discolorations. Many in their twenties have combination or oily skin, but “while you may still have acne outbreaks left over from adolescence, on the whole your skin is typically low-maintenance,” says Leslie Lucchina, M.D., a dermatologist based in Boston.

Essential Steps

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Twice a day, use a skin-type-appropriate gentle cleanser and toner, followed by a light moisturizer.

+ Protect your skin every day with a sunblock containing broad-spectrum protection (shielding against both UVA and UVB rays), either in your moisturizer or as an added step.

+ For occasional breakouts, opt for a gentle acne fighter, such as a product with 1 to 2 percent salicylic acid. Harsher treatments, like benzoyl peroxide, can wreak havoc on sensitive skin.

Thinking Ahead


“I call this the decade of awareness,” says dermatologist Neal B. Schultz, M.D. “It’s important to understand that long-term issues like sun damage have already begun, and that more damage is coming down the pike.” You’ll be doing yourself a big favor if you don’t smoke, adds Lucchina. In addition to the obvious health risks, smoking causes free-radical formation and damages collagen and elastic tissue, she notes — a combination you’ll regret later.

Try This


Holistic nutritionist Lisa Petty, author of “Living Beauty”, advises upping your intake of essential fatty acids (like omega-3s, found in flax, walnuts, and wild salmon) to balance oil production and promote clear skin. Vitamins A and B6, taken in a multivitamin or B complex, can help. Opt for hormone-free meat and dairy, since hormones can exacerbate acne.