What's the Best Facial for Your Age?

Everyone has different skin challenges, and often they evolve with age. Women in their 20s may experience concerns like acne, for instance, while women in their 30s and older might focus on the visible signs of aging. Factors like hormonal changes, accumulated sun exposure, and lifestyle choices can all contribute to the way skin changes over time.

Getting a facial by a licensed esthetician or dermatologist can help you target your specific skin concerns. While there are no hard-and-fast rules, here are some general guidelines on the best types of facials for women based on their age, as recommended by pros.

Best Facial in Your 20s

Fresh into adulthood, women in their 20s mainly struggle with acne, scarring left behind by blemishes, uneven skin tone, and rosacea (a common disorder that results in acne-like bumps and redness in the central part of the face), explains Connie Yang, MD , a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. While it's possible to notice some early signs of aging even in your 20s, this decade is usually focused more on preventing sagginess, says Dr. Yang.

Salon Facial: HydraFacial

The HydraFacial involves a special machine that uses a multistep process to deeply cleanse, exfoliate, extract, and hydrate, which can improve the skin's overall appearance. Serums and boosters can target specific concerns, making the HydraFacial a versatile treatment. It's especially beneficial for people with acne, says Yang, which is why she recommends it for women in their 20s.

One study found that people with acne who received six HydraFacial treatments experienced an overall improvement in the appearance of their skin.

"It gently clears out the pores and refreshes the skin," says Yang.

Home Facial: LED Masks

LED face masks can be worn in the comfort of your own home to boost your skin-care routine. These popular devices use different LED wavelengths to provide benefits such as killing acne-causing bacteria and increasing collagen production.

"Your 20s are the perfect time to start using LED masks, which can address redness, improve uneven skin tone, and boost collagen," says Yang, adding that they work best when used long-term.

Best Facial in Your 30s

Your 30s are generally when the early signs of aging begin, says Jody Alpert Levine, MD, FAAD , a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. "Women in their 30s often feel as though their skin looks dull," she says, adding that concerns can include fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (dark patches or spots), and a loss of elasticity and firmness.

Salon Facial: Chemical Peel

To add glow to the skin, Dr. Levine recommends chemical peels , which often contain high concentrations of acids and other ingredients to resurface the skin. "They remove the top layer of the skin, often the one that looks dull, to reveal a brighter, fresher face," she explains. Chemical peels help restore a youthful appearance and can benefit people with acne, acne scars, melasma (dark spots), sun damage, and more.

Chemical peels should be done by a professional. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician for recommendations for specific kinds of chemical peels based on your skin type and concerns.

Home Facial: Over-the-Counter Exfoliants

While exfoliation is often included in most salon or spa facials, Levine recommends exfoliating your skin at home as well. Over-the-counter (OTC) exfoliants are less potent but can still promote cell turnover and remove layers of dead skin, she says. Look for products that contain alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic and lactic acids.

Add exfoliation to your skin-care routine up to three times a week (or less if you have sensitive skin) for optimal results.

Best Facial in Your 40s

When you're in your 40s, you can expect some age-related skin concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, and discoloration, to start to crop up, says Rachel Lozina , a licensed esthetician in Oyster Bay, New York.

Salon Facial: Photofacial

While some skin changes occur due to factors outside of our control, such as genetics and environment, many of them can also be chalked up to sun exposure. This type of premature aging is known as photoaging, and it's caused by exposure to ultraviolet light.

One way to combat this is through regular photofacials, also known as intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments, Lozina says. An IPL photofacial is a noninvasive cosmetic procedure that uses light therapy to improve your skin's overall appearance. Studies have shown that this type of facial can improve signs of aging particularly around the eye area.

Home Facial: Antioxidant and Retinoid Creams and Serums

So, what should you be using in between your photofacial appointments? According to Melissa Wilson , a Denver-based esthetician, this is the prime time to start incorporating products that contain antioxidants and retinoids into your skin-care routine.

Look for creams and serums that contain vitamin C, which studies suggest may help with anti-aging and anti-pigmentation and protect your skin from sun damage.

Those that contain vitamin A derivatives, such as prescription-strength retinoids or OTC retinols, can help increase skin firmness and reduce fine lines.

Best Facial in Your 50s

"Women in their 50s tend to be more concerned about advanced signs of aging, including deeper wrinkles, age spots, dry skin, and thinning, sagging skin," says Levine.

Salon Facial: Ultherapy

To combat the loss of skin firmness in your 50s, Levine recommends a noninvasive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved treatment called Ultherapy. "It uses ultrasound energy (similar to a pregnancy ultrasound) to lift and tighten the skin as well as stimulate collagen production," she explains.

Research has shown that various ultrasound therapies can improve sagging skin without any considerable side effects. What's more, the results are long-lasting.

Home Facial: Collagen-Stimulating Creams and Serums

Your personal skin-care regimen should include anti-aging skin-care products at this age, Levine says. She recommends looking for creams and serums that contain ingredients such as retinol, peptides, and ceramides, which can stimulate collagen. It also helps to moisturize every day in your 50s, notes the American Academy of Dermatology.

Best Facial in Your 60s+

Visible signs of aging often become more noticeable as you move through your 60s and beyond. "At this age, skin concerns include sagging skin, discoloration, dullness, and unevenness," Lozina explains.

Salon Facial: Microneedling

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure performed in a dermatologist's office that targets the skin concerns unique to women in their 60s, says Lozina.

It involves the use of FDA-authorized devices or instruments that contain dozens of needles that are "stamped" into the skin, creating tiny punctures. This allows your dermatologist to infuse serums deeper into the skin. It also stimulates collagen production.

Researchers consider microneedling a safe anti-aging procedure because it can reverse the effects of photoaging, increase skin thickness, and reduce skin wrinkling.

Options like radio frequency microneedling, where the needles target deeper into the skin tissue, can be particularly helpful for aging skin.

Home Facial: Deep Moisturizers and Sheet Masks

By the time you're in your 60s, you likely have a full-fledged skin-care routine tailored to your skin type, concerns, and any conditions you might have. "The one thing I would add at this age is anything with moisture," Lozina says. "The extra hydration will help with skin texture." She recommends alpha hydroxy acid creams, as well as sheet masks, to increase skin hydration.

The Takeaway

Regular facials can be a great tool for maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin at any age. Establishing an anti-aging skin-care routine early on can help stave off age-related concerns like wrinkles, dullness, and discoloration. Caring for your skin's changing needs at home in between facial appointments can help complement spa treatments and extend their benefits.

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