30 beauty habits you should adopt in your 30s

Turns out that once you hit your thirties there's a whole new set of beauty rules for our skin, hair, nails and well-being.  Thankfully however, your thirty-something beauty maintenance doesn't mean a whole lot more time in the bathroom, more money on your hair and a private dermatologist on speed-dial to keep it all together, far from it.  

To prove our point, we asked some of Britain's best beauty experts for the new beauty hacks you need to start thinking about in your 30s.  Easy, breezy and beautifully effective, here are the top 30.

START PAYING SERIOUS ATTENTION TO YOUR SKIN

1. Choose lighter lotions

“It is a good idea to try lighter lotions or serums in your 30s as thicker anti-ageing creams are usually not necessary and may make the skin more prone to breakouts. Using a lightweight, non-comedogenic (non-pore-blocking) product such as Olay Total Effects Featherweight SPF15 Moisturiser, which still has great UV protection and anti-ageing properties, is a great way to start," says XXX WHO IS SHE XX Dr Ginny Hubbard.

2. Up the ante with your eye cream

"The eyes are the first place to show signs of ageing, so it makes sense to up the ante with your eye-cream as you hit your thirties. Try a retinol based version, we love La Roche-Posay's Redermic Eyes Serum, £16.35, and remember wear sunglasses as often as socially acceptable," says Dr Stefanie Williams, WHO IS SHE. 

The 30 best sunglasses under £200

3. Start using oils

As we hit our thirties, skin loses its softness, hydration and springiness. All these symptoms can be helped by a good face oil, which when massaged in will also help with any puffiness (another common affliction over the age of 29). Try the fatty-acid-rich, non-greasy, suits-all-skins, Aromatherapy Associates Nourishing Facial Oil, £44.98, two to three times per week. 

4. Quench your skin

"Intelligent skincare is essential to maintain the health and vitality of the skin. As skin dryness can often increase with age; look for skincare that keeps your skin moisturised as well as combating ageing and stimulating collagen production," says Dr. Om Prawarisa, founder of OM skincare.

5. Avoid sugar 

"Balance your diet; consume more greens and less sugars and caffeine! Sugars increase the effects of ageing and can also worsen skin conditions like acne and rosacea. It activates inflammation and binds to the collagen – making the skin rough," says Dr. Om Prawarisa, founder of OM skincare.

6. Start using a fruit peel

"Skin does get duller in your 30s, so you should try to include enzymatic skin peels where possible into your routine which will slough away the often greying top layer of skin. Try pineapple enzyme, glycolic or mushroom peels as the cellular renewal process begins to slow down," says Chloe Williams at Bliss Spa.

7. Make sun cream an essential

"It is a must to use broad spectrum sunscreen every day to protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. This should be done even if you are not outside much. Try our Om Skincare Invisible Finish Primer SPF40, this moisturises and protects your skin against UVA/UVB/Pollution it also exfoliates and purifies your skin!" Dr. Om Prawarisa, founder of OM skincare.

8. Cleanse twice, daily 

"Cleansing effectively will reduce the dead skin cells on the surface and make the skin appear fresher and less dull. Also, a cleansed skin is the ideal base for anti-ageing treatments,” says Dr Ginny Hubbard.

YOUR HAIR COULD DO WITH SOME HELP TOO 

9. Keep colour simple

"Keep it simple, and avoid the often graphic colours and cuts you would have tried in your 20s.  A good outline with the cut is always mid-length or long - works well so hair can be worn up for versatility," says Sibi Bolan, creative colour director at Daniel Hersheson.

10. Lower the tone

“It really depends on if their skin tone has started to change much, which generally in your 30's isn't a lot. However you still want to keep things soft and flattering around your face. So softer tones of whatever colour you choose for your hair is a nice way to frame your face," says master colourist at Josh Wood Atelier.

Aaron Carlo

11. Try a parting

"I always think changing a parting makes a huge difference to how the hair lies, a parting more towards the middle will always make someone look younger," says TRESemmé UK hair ambassador Aaron Carlo.

12. Book in for top ups

"To maintain good condition colour wise, see if your colourist can do a 'top up' service, a colour tweak, so you aren't over colouring or over processing your hair by colouring too often," says master colourist at Josh Wood Atelier.

13. Treat your hair

"During your 30s, just as it happens during pregnancy, hair becomes slightly drier and finer hair - normally around the hairline this happens after childbirth. So, use regular treatments to strengthen the existing hair. Elasticizer by Philip Kingsley is my go to product. It's the perfect balance between protein and moisture plus it has a bond multiplier," says Sibi Bolan, Creative Colour Director at Daniel Hersheson.

AND WHAT ABOUT MAKE-UP? 

James Molloy

14. Prep your skin

"My best tip is to add on an extra five mins for skin prep day and night.  Make-up in your 30's should be a little more refined and skin focused. A mini facial steamer is a great beauty secret weapon to boost your skin care routine a few times per week," James Molloy, make-up artist. 

15. Brush your brows

"To help eyebrow re-growth, brush your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush for a couple of minutes a day," says Daxita Vaghela, our brow extension expert of choice.

16. Get lashed

"Try lash extensions with a reputable lash expert – applied in the correct way they instantly open up the eyes, often making skin appear smoother and brighter too!" says Daxita Vaghela, our brow extension expert of choice.

17. Swap powders for creams

"Trade in your powder highlighters, foundations and blushers for creamy textures, they are the easiest way to brighten and enhance your skin tone and features,"  James Molloy, make-up artist.  

EVEN NAILS CAN CHANGE

18. Feed your nails

"Nail health matters if you want manicures to shine – ensure nails are hydrated in the sun. Our vitamin E oil pen is great as it is handbag and travel friendly," Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc. 

19. Get more sensible about manicures by using a base coat

"Don’t forget to base coat your nails. I never do a mani without our best-selling Kale Base Coat, one of the proudest launches we have done," Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc.  

20. But do experiment with colour

"I am not colour loyal, I always switch my nail colour like my fashion that is why I love the brand so much. My favourite colour families at present, are bright and statement nails, with our new high performance neons and the classic nude, with Mayfair Lane and Porchester Square," Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc.

TREAT YOUR BODY KINDLY

21. Stop snacking

"Boring but true, eat three balanced meals per day without snacking. The constant spiking in insulin can wreak havoc on your skin," says expert nutritionist Eve Kalinik.

22. Drink your greens

"As we enter our thirties, the body starts to reach its toxicity limit and can't process toxins like it used too. Toxins can build up from drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, not drinking enough water, grabbing fast food on the go, stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise," says Dr Simone Laubscher PhD, nutritional doctor and formulator for WelleCo. "This results in the metabolism slowing down, and we just don't look or feel as great as we used to, even though our lifestyle may not have changed that much since our twenties." 

Despite our best intentions it can be tough to eat and drink clean, so an overall wellness tonic can support a busy life. "Try my The Super Elixir Alkalising Greens, by Welleco.com.  Two teaspoons a day taken in cool water can provide the nutrient and functional support you may be missing, helping your body combat the build-up of toxic acidity and catapulting you back into vibrant health."

23. Give up on faddy diets

"Give up the faddy diets – they don't work. By now most of us know this. Don't jump on the band wagon of the newest diets. Instead try to focus on a long term nourishing way of eating. Too little fat will cause lack lustre hair and dry skin, too little carbs will cause fatigue and not enough protein can cause muscle loss. Instead try to cut down on ageing sugar, alcohol and smoking," says Hollie Grant, founder of The Model Method.

Eve Kalinik

24. Pay attention to your posture 

"Check in with your posture – as we get older gravity takes its toll on many things. Boobs, bums and our posture.  It's so common for women to develop kyphosis (a rounding/hunching of the upper back) and even more common in those who have breastfed. Make sure you are stretching your chest often and strengthening your upper back extensors with exercises such as the Pilates move breastroke," says Hollie Grant, founder of The Model Method.

25. Actually take vitamins

"A good one to remember is “AC"E your vitamins - that means vitamin A (sweet potatoes, organic butter, liver, leafy greens), C (peppers, berries, broccoli) and E (nuts and seeds). Eating foods high in these nutrients helps to support skin health," says expert nutritionist Eve Kalinik.

26. Focus on your glutes

"Avoid a flat bottoms – bums can start to flatten especially if you are desk bound or a runner. Weak glutes are common and we often overuse our quad muscles and under use our glutes. If this is you try to bear your weight in your heels when doing exercises such as squats and lunges as this helps to activate the glutes. Or take stairs two at a time and dig in the heel of your leading leg as you elevate," says Hollie Grant, founder of The Model Method.

27. Protect your assets

"Wear a good sports bra – again gravity is a cruel mistress and it is not on our side if we want pert boobs. I still see clients arriving in their everyday bras for HIIT workouts and there's boobs flying all over the place. There are so many great ones on the market, I particularly like the Sweaty Betty Ultra Run bra, so there's no excuses!" says Hollie Grant, founder of The Model Method.​

28. Stretch your mind

"Take time to do some quiet time for the body and mind including restorative yoga, meditation and peaceful mindfulness to reactivate the body, calm the mind and destress the nervous system," says celebrity facialist and skincare exper Nichola Joss.

29. Look up

"Years of looking down at our phones and iPads can cause a lengthening of the back of the neck and from the front…..a double chin. When you're walking around town try to look up at people's faces not at your feet or phone," says Hollie Grant, founder of The Model Method.

30. Massage away tension

"Massage is key every evening to remove physical stress from the muscle tissue and detox the skin cells as well as adding vitality and radiance to the muscles and skin," says celebrity facialist and skincare expert Nichola Joss. Nichola Joss.