Although most signs of aging probably won't kick in until your 30’s, its never too early to start getting into the habits that will help you preserve your youth as long as possible. Good skin-care habits in your 20’s are the perfect foundation for maintaining your youthful glow throughout the decades that follow. Here is what you need to know about skin-care in your 20’s:

Adopt a natural skincare regimen and stick to it
A proper skin-care routine is the foundation for healthy, glowing skin. Start with a gentle cleanser, which removes dirt, oils and impurities from pores and prevents them from getting clogged. Next, restore your skin’s natural ph balance by spritzing a hydrating toner all over your freshly cleansed face. After giving your toner a few seconds to dry, slather a dollop of moisturizer all over your face and neck, working it into your skin in a soft, circular motion. As a final step, spot treat any problem areas such as blemishes, pimples or scars. CELSUS scar cream works great for all the above-mentioned problem areas. Bonus tip: For long-term skin health, opt for clean, natural and ideally organic products made without synthetic ingredients or additives.

Treat your acne gently
Using mainstream acne products to help treat breakouts is not a good idea.   This is because acne products dry out the entire face, including areas that have no breakouts. This can actually lead to more breakouts because of the dirt and oils that get trapped underneath the dry skin cells. Instead, spot treat acne as needed. Also, as tempting as it may be, avoid popping, squeezing and touching pimples, which can lead to more acne as well as acne scars. Bonus tip: Be aware of what you are putting into your body. Certain foods such as mainstream dairy products, processed sugar and fast food can trigger acne breakouts. To limit breakouts pay close attention to what you eat and ideally focus on eating clean, organic, whole foods.

Ditch cigarettes and straws
In your 20’s you may feel like you and your skin are invincible. Although you won’t see an immediate impact, smoking can cause serious damage to your skin over time. Smoking reduces circulation and decreases oxygen in your blood, which leads to premature aging and wrinkles. The repeated motion of pursing your lips when smoking also causes fine-lines to form around your mouth. Consistent use of straws is also a culprit that contributes to lines around the mouth. Ideally ditch the cigarettes and straws, but if you must choose between the two then definitely ditch the cigarettes!

Don’t forget your neck and hands
The neck and hands are typically the first places to show signs of aging, so treat these areas as well as you treat your face. Using a lightweight, natural moisturizer with SPF daily is a wonderful way to protect these delicate areas.

Don’t skip the Sunscreen
Unprotected exposure to the sun is the #1 cause of premature aging. Many twenty-somethings skip sunscreen in favor of getting a golden glow. While that may seem harmless in your 20’s, it can really make a visible difference in your 30’s so now is the time to get religious about this habit. Look for a natural, lightweight formula containing zinc oxide and wear it every single day- rain or shine! This alone will dramatically slow down the aging process of your skin.

Get Your Beauty Sleep
Late nights working, studying or socializing are bound to happen, but try not to make it habit. Adequate sleep is imperative to your skin’s health and appearance. Deep sleep stimulates collagen production and helps skin cells repair and regenerate themselves. In addition, when you are sleep deprived your body produces more cortisol (the stress hormone), which may lead to an increase of inflammation in your body. Increased inflammation results in more acne breakouts, greater skin sensitivity and an increase in skin rashes.

Not 20?  Check out our skincare tips for Radiant Skin in Your 30's and 40's and 50's!