The Best Anti-Aging Products to Use in Your 20s

Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. "If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin," says dermatologist Michael Somenek.

"Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA," Somenek tells us. "The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate." Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek as well as aesthetician Joshua Ross and dermatologist Audrey Kunin to find out more.

Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.

Our Top Picks

• Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
• Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
• Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream

Sunscreen

"We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important," Ross says. "The majority of your sun damage won't start to appear until you're in your 30s, so don't wait until you see it surface or you'll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily."

Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen

This invisible sunscreen with SPF 30 has botanical extracts meant to protect the skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It's clean and fine to use under makeup.

Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don't have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is great to have on hand.

Vitamin C Serum

"A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine," Ross says. "It's a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin." He adds that it's a great way to counteract the effects of the sun's harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum

Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn't have to deal with any irritation.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum

This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it's a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.

Peptides

Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. "The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier," he says. "Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings."

Kunin agrees. "Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen," she says. She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream

This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it's incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.

Derma E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Moisturizer

This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. "Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The 'signals' they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin," explains Somenek.

At-Home Peel Pads

Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. "Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous," Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.

"The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are a good choice."

Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad

A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads

These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They're easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.

Emollient Night Cream

"In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier," Ross says. "I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen."

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme

"The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil," says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

What to Look for in Anti-Aging Products for Your 20s

• Ingredients: Look for ingredients that help fight wrinkles, stimulate collagen production, and improve skin tone, such as hyaluronic acid and retinol. In addition to its anti-aging properties, vitamin C brightens and evens out skin tone, while niacinamide firms skin and reduces the appearance of large pores—though they should be used at separate times to avoid canceling each other's effectiveness.
• SPF: Although sunscreen is vital at any age, it is important to start using it consistently in your 20s to prevent sun damage from aging your skin. Stay ahead of the curve with a good quality zinc-based sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 in addition to a daily moisturizer.
• Hydration: Because your skin becomes drier in your 20s, a good moisturizer is key to keeping skin well-hydrated and nourished. Ceramides and peptides help protect and restore the skin barrier. A night cream should also become a part of your skincare routine in your 20s.
• Exfoliation: Exfoliation supports skin cell turnover for fresher, brighter-looking skin. At-home peel pads are one easy way to gently exfoliate and remove oils and impurities. Look for products that have AHA or BHA.