I’m 38, and my skin has changed so much over the years. I’ve always had oily, acne-prone skin, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a journey figuring out what actually works. These days, I’m a huge fan of SPF (I never skip it), acids and tretinoin, which helps with texture and acne, but I still try to keep my routine simple, affordable, and made up of non-comedogenic products that don’t clog my pores.
If your skin’s been changing too (maybe it’s not as oily as it used to be, or you’re starting to notice fine lines and uneven texture), you’re not alone. Our skin needs different things as we move through our twenties, thirties, and forties, but you don’t need a million products to keep it happy.
Here’s a guide to what really matters at each stage, based on my own experience, and what my skin needed at different ages.
This is based on my opinion, and I’ve mentioned products that I’ve either used and loved, or heard great things about. They’re all budget-friendly (£15-20 or less) from well-known and loved brands.
I’ve included product links at the very bottom.
SPF is needed always, at every age
Let’s start with the one product that never changes: SPF.
If you’re not wearing it daily yet, make this your year to start. SPF protects your skin from early ageing, pigmentation, and UV damage, and it’s genuinely the best anti-ageing product you’ll ever own.
It doesn’t have to be expensive or heavy either. There are loads of lightweight matte sunscreens now that won’t make oily skin feel greasy. Find one you love and use it every single morning, no matter the weather.
My personal favourite is Dermatica SPF 50. It doesn’t have any nasty chemicals, blends quickly (doesn’t leave a white tint), it doesn’t make my skin feel more oily and doesn’t make the oil worse; it’s not tested on animals and a tube for £16 lasts me about 6-8 weeks.
I’ve also heard good things about La Roche Posay 5, which I’ll be trying when my current Dermatica tube runs out.
TIP: make sure to cover your face, ears and neck. Then cover the backs of your hands – they are pretty much always exposed to the sun and show aging early-on.
Your 20s: balance and prevention
Skin at this age: Usually more resilient but more oily, with clogged pores, and acne.
In your twenties, it’s all about keeping your skin balanced and protecting it from future damage. You don’t need ten different serums – the simpler, the better.
3 must-haves:
1: A gentle cleanser that controls oil
Helps keep pores clear without stripping your skin.
Try: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Gel Cleanser or CeraVe’s salicylic acid cleanser, which both have good reviews.
I use Dermatica’s Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser which is £12.95 and lasts me around 10 weeks. It contains glycerin, which deeply cleans the skin but locks in moisture but great for oily, acne-prone skin. I use this twice daily.
2: A lightweight moisturiser
Hydrates without feeling heavy or greasy.
Try: CeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream or The Ordinary Natural Moisturising.
I use Malezia 5% Urea moisturiser which is perfect for acne-prone skin, and it’s fungal-acne safe. It contains lots of amazing ingredients, like capric triglyceride, glycerin and hyaluronic acids – all fantastic for holding in moisture. It’s $28, which is around £21. I buy 3 tubes every 18 months or so as it’s coming from the US, delivery charges are steep at £14.
- A breakout serum – Niacinamide or salicylic acid works wonders for blemishes and redness.
Try: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Your 30s: repair and refine
Skin at this age: Still prone to breakouts, but now you might be noticing fine lines, dullness, or uneven texture creeping in.
Your thirties are about balance and prevention. You want to keep controlling oil and supporting your barrier, but also start adding ingredients that gently boost collagen and smooth texture.
3 must-haves:
- A retinol, tretinoin or resurfacing serum – Helps smooth fine lines and keep pores clear.
Try: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum. The Ordinary also sell retinol, at different % – 0.2% and 1%. Always start low because it’s strong stuff.
I use Dermatica Tretinoin. It’s a personalised formula for my skin. In a nut-shell, it accelorates skin turnover and stimulates the production of collagen (helpful for unclogging pores) and helps skin texture. It’s £25 per month and every few months, you send them photos of your skin and they adjust your formula accordingly.
- A hydrating, barrier-supportive moisturiser – Ceramides and niacinamide are your friends here.
Try: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion.
I use Malezia 5% Urea moisturiser which is perfect for acne-prone skin, and it’s fungal-acne safe. It contains lots of amazing ingredients, like capric triglyceride, glycerin and hyaluronic acids – all fantastic for holding in moisture. It’s $28, which is around £21. I buy 3 tubes every 18 months or so as it’s coming from the US, delivery charges are steep at £14.
I also use Facetheory’s Supergel Oil-Free moisturiser. It’s very lightweight and includes niacinamide, salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid which adds moisture to your skin, regulates oil, and clears congestion. It’s £16 and as I don’t use it every day, one tube lasts me a year.
- An antioxidant serum (like Vitamin C) – Protects from pollution and brightens dull skin. Also known as L-ascorbic acid.
Try: La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum or The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside 12%.
Vitamin C serums can get expensive. A very concentrated form (L-ascorbic acid) is very unstable, and can oxidise to light/air, so it can ‘go off’ quickly.
I buy Dermatica Vitamin C, which is renewed monthly at £11.99 (or £15.50 for non-subscription).
I went through a phase of buying ridiculously expensive vitamin c from SkinCeuticals for £140 which did nothing more than my cheaper favourite.
Your 40s and upwards: renewal and nourishment
Skin at this age: Usually less oily, sometimes drier, and more prone to uneven tone and fine lines. Collagen naturally starts to slow down, so firmness becomes a focus.
In your forties, it’s about hydration, firmness, and gentle renewal. You can still use active ingredients like retinol – just choose soothing formulas and pair them with barrier-loving products.
3 must-haves:
- A retinol, tretinoin or resurfacing serum – Helps smooth fine lines and keep pores clear.
Try: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum. The Ordinary also do retinol, at different % – 0.2% and 1%. Always start low because it’s strong stuff.
I use Dermatica’s tretinoin. It’s a personalised formula for my skin. In a nut-shell, it accelorates skin turnover and stimulates the production of collagen (helpful for unclogging pores) and helps skin texture. It’s £25 per month and every few months, you send them photos of your skin and they adjust your formula accordingly.
- A nourishing moisturiser – Keeps skin soft, plump, and resilient.
Try: Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Replenishing Cream. I’ve heard great things about La Roche Posay Toleriane, and Neutrogena Hydroboost.
As I’ve mentioned, I use Malezia Urea 5%, which contains lots of amazing ingredients, like capric triglyceride, glycerin and hyaluronic acids – all fantastic for holding in moisture.
- A hydrating or peptide serum – Adds moisture and supports elasticity.
Try: Vichy Minéral 89 or The Inkey List Collagen Booster.
I use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. You can get it in different sizes starting from 30ml £48, 50ml £66 or 75ml £86. There isn’t another product that I can say has 150% improved my skin – I absolutely love this serum. I sometimes use it just on spots too, as it reduces redness and inflammation.
You know those small bottles of conditioner you get with hair dye, that are just amaaazing? This is how I look at Night Repair – it works absolute wonders.
Skincare tips you need to know
I’ve used skincare products for over 20 years, so I have some tips to share.
- Before bed, double cleanse. The first cleanse only starts to warm up all the product on your skin – the second cleanse actually gets rid of it
- To help acne, make sure everything you’re putting on your skin is clean. This includes hats, pillows, fingers, makeup brushes, towels, wash cloths. I clean my make-up brushes with ISOClean Cleanser, which is anti-bacterial and quick drying.
- To help acne, especially if you have oily skin, make sure to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. I use The Ordinary AHA BHA once a week to clear my skin, and it really does work.
- I’ve started taking collagen every morning. Collagen naturally reduces with age, but it’s responsible for skin firmness. I switch back and forth between Dermatica and Ancient+Brave – both fantastic brands and great collagen.
- This is opening a whole other story, but if you struggle with foundation (it goes flakey, crispy and patchy) then it’s skincare to look at – it’s not the foundations fault. You need a primer to apply after skincare and before foundation. I use Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Multi-Purpose Moisturiser, available on LookFantastic. It smoothes skin, creating a gorgeous base for foundation. It keeps my foundation looking good all day, even after 14 hours.
Product links:
Products I use and love:
- Dermatica personalised tretinoin formula
- Dermatica vitamin c
- Dermatica glycerin cleanser
- Malezia moisturiser 5% urea
- Facetheory Supergel oil-free moisturiser
- The Ordinary shop on Amazon
- Estee Lauder on LookFantastic – use my code and we’ll both get £10 off!
- ISOClean to clean makeup brushes on LookFantastic – use my code and we’ll both get £10 off!
- Ancient+Brave collagen – use my code and we both get £10 off!
My reviews:
Summary
I hope this has helped you figure out what the next steps are in your skincare journey. The top priorities, in my opinion, are to have clean skin, so a good cleanser is needed. SPF, and a great moisturiser I can use AM and PM. Everything else are great, but those 3 are my absolutes.
Try not to overwhelm yourself (or your bank account) into buying products. Keep it simple, and add one product to your routine at a time – then if you break out, you’ll know which is the culprit.
LAST EDITED: October 2025 | CATEGORY: Beauty Products Skincare
Hi, I’m Rachael — a blogger, digital product creator, and optimisation enthusiast. I write about beauty, tech tips, and simple ways to make life easier, sharing honest reviews and practical advice. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me running, reading thrillers, or experimenting with new skincare.
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