The Best Skincare Regimen for Your 30s: Expert Advice, Key Ingredients, and Must-Have Products
By Kelly McCabe, Freelance Writer and Toronto Beauty Insider
Your Saturn return has come to an end, hello thirties! Gone are the days of sleeping in makeup and skipping SPF. Your skin needs (and deserves) more TLC than it did in your twenties. While the first signs of fine lines and subtle texture changes may be making an appearance, the good news is that by now, you might be looking to streamline your routine after years of trial and error.
Here are the standouts that I love the most for my acne-prone, almost 30 skin, with expert advice from stand-out founders in the clean-beauty industry. Think of these as a jumping-off point, as everyone's skin and skincare journey is unique.
MEET THE EXPERTS:
Neada Deters is the founder and CEO of LESSE, a sustainable and organic skincare brand formulated with Canadian-grown ingredients. With a background as a beauty editor and formal training in art history and theory, she brings a thoughtful, design-driven lens to everything she creates. Neada also writes about exploration and design on her Substack, Source Archive. Her own experiences with highly sensitive skin and cystic acne continue to shape her philosophy of simplicity, efficacy, and care in skincare.
Athena Hewitt, a master esthetician with two decades of study and training, is the founder of Monastery. The brand evolved from her realization that many products were exacerbating the very conditions her clients sought to treat. Today, Athena channels that expertise into creating formulas that heal and restore the skin. Known for her effortlessly cool style, she’s often spotted sporting the Deep Red LED Mask in everyday settings (proof that skin health can look chic, too).
Nadine Artemis is the founder of Living Libations, a botanical-based beauty and wellness brand celebrated by Vogue, The New York Times, and Hollywood Reporter. A lifelong aromacologist, she famously recreated Nina Ricci’s L’Air du Temps at a school science fair using natural botanicals, sparking her journey into plant-powered skincare. She is also the author of Holistic Dental Care and Renegade Beauty, where she shares her philosophy of aligning nature’s intelligence with radiant health.
SKINCARE FOR YOUR SATURN RETURN
Strengthening the Skin Barrier
Living Libations Rose Best Skin Ever
Support a healthy skin barrier by swapping out traditional makeup wipes for a gentle cleansing oil. Unlike harsh removers that can strip and irritate, cleansing oils dissolve dirt and makeup while deeply cleaning and nourishing your skin. The result? A fresh, balanced complexion without compromising your barrier.
Nadine Artemis, founder of Living Libations, emphasizes this approach: “The best thing you can do to repair your skin barrier is to stop using synthetic cosmetics that damage it in the first place. Ditch the squeaky-clean sudsy soaps, the stripping toners, extreme exfoliators, and microbiome-busting moisturizers that leave the skin exposed, dry, flaky, itchy, red, and pallid”.
One of our favourites is Living Libations Rose Best Skin Ever. This multitasking oil is equal parts cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer. “Living Libations [Best Skin Ever - Rose] offers a big bouquet of rose regaled botanical serums to bedew the skin for a smooth, soft complexion,” shares founder Nadine. Infused with replenishing rose otto and a blend of botanicals, this three-in-one cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer rehydrates and reinvigorates the skin after a long day.
Best Skin Ever - Rose is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, acne-prone, and mature.
Hydrate + Clean
Foaming cleansers are one of my favourite ways to wash my face. They’re light, airy, and especially gentle on sensitive skin. This one is a standout for combination skin, formulated with natural BHA, bamboo extract, and azelaic acid to retexturize and refresh.
With a skin-friendly, pH-balanced formula, it lifts away dirt, sweat, makeup, and excess sebum without leaving skin tight or stripped.
Maintaining Radiance
This vibrant elixir is a cult-favourite at Health Hut, and for good reason. Extremely lightweight and gentle enough for sensitive skin, this post-wash treatment is 100% organic and works on a cellular level with powerful vitamins, essential antioxidants, and active botanicals.
This formula goes even further with seaweed, which helps alleviate inflammation, treat acne, stimulate collagen production, and fade hyperpigmentation. Calendula is a soothing powerhouse that strengthens the skin barrier while calming common skin conditions.
“High-quality, antioxidant-rich ingredients are imperative for your 30s. I recommend incorporating natural forms of Vitamin C—that are safer for more sensitive skin, such as Australian Kakadu Plum and Acerola Cherry,” says Neada Deters, founder of LESSE.
Find aceola cherry, one of the wordl's richest natural sources of vitamin C, in the Ritual Serum.
Kakadu plum can be found in LESSE's thick and rich Essential Moisturizer.
Smooth Fine Lines
Monastery Rei Gentle Retinol Cream
“I love the idea of starting with a mild retinol in your 30s so your skin has time to adjust” suggests Athena from Monastery, “then, when you hit your 40s, you can bump up the strength without the shock factor.”
Athena formulated Rei, a potent yet gentle exfoliant with 2% retinol, for exactly this reason, to renew the skin, fade pigmentation, boost collagen, and soften fine lines. Rei is enriched with fungi-derived beta-glucan, which strengthens the skin barrier, accelerates moisture retention, and helps calm inflammation.
This ultra-hydrating retinol is suitable for all skin types, delivering powerful results.
Note: retinol should be avoided if pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive.
Your 30s are all about playing the long game with your skin. Think less about chasing quick fixes and more about creating sustainable habits.
Moisturize + Plump
Susanne Kaufmann Nourishing Day Cream
Susanne Kaufmann’s line draws on the healing power of Alpine botanicals, blending centuries of spa heritage with a deep reverence for nature. Her Nourishing Day Cream is specially formulated to strengthen the skin barrier, deeply moisturize, protect against dryness, and visibly smooth early signs of fine lines—making it an ideal choice for dry or sensitive skin.
It’s lightweight, yet has a deeply effective combination of ingredients like tomato and schisandra fruit extracts, Alpine rose extract and hyaluronic acid to replenish moisture from within, enhance elasticity, and deliver a naturally plumped appearance.
This cream is non-comedogenic, antioxidant-rich and brimming with essential fatty acids.
Protect, Hydrate, Nourish
Monastery Attar Floral Repair Concentrate
Thick like honey with a gorgeous amber hue, thanks to hazelnut and rosehip oils blended with rare floral waxes, this luxurious balm is deeply nourishing and intensely repairing.
Designed as the final step in your routine, it locks in moisture while delivering powerful skin-repairing benefits. Rose absolute wax delivers a potent blend of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids that calm irritation, and address visible signs of aging.
Two types of jasmine wax provide antioxidant protection against environmental stressors while natural benzoic acid helps inhibit bacteria on the skin. Hazelnut oil, rich in vitamin E, deeply hydrates and offers antibacterial benefits ideal for acne-prone skin.
Keeping Breakouts at Bay
Living Libations Zippity Dew Dab Ozonated Beauty Balm
Small but mighty, this targeted spot-treatment is a powerful yet gentle solution for blemish-prone skin. It has a gorgeous, balmy texture and is nutrient-rich to help purify pores, minimize the appearance of scars and spots, and restore a healthy, radiant glow.
I use it just as a small spot treatment on angry breakouts and/or small stubborn pimples. Infused with fresh ozone, it supercharges a blend of botanical essences that work to clarify, calm, and rebalance the skin.
Protect Against Sun Damage
Suntegrity SPF Mineral Sunscreen
Suntegrity's non-greasy mineral sunscreen SPF 30 provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection to help prevent sun damage and premature aging.
Infused with antioxidant-rich botanicals, it doubles as a hydrating daily moisturizer and triples as a smoothing makeup primer, delivering hydration, protection, and a flawless base in one easy step.
I love that it also reduces the appearance of redness and is suitable for all skin types. This sunscreen is a must-have for everyday sun protection and radiant skin health.
Your 30s are all about playing the long game with your skin. By protecting and strengthening your skin barrier, prioritizing hydration, and committing to a consistent, simple routine, you build the foundation for lasting results and healthy, radiant skin at 30.
Think less about chasing quick fixes and more about creating sustainable habits. Embrace the best skin care routine for your 30s that works for you, because the choices you make in your 30s will keep your skin healthy for years to come.
A well-rounded 30s skincare routine should include:
- Cleanser (gentle, non-stripping)
- Antioxidant serum (like vitamin C)
- Moisturizer (with peptides or ceramides)
- Broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30+ (daily, no exceptions)
- Night treatment (like retinol or exfoliating acids)
- Eye cream (optional, for puffiness or fine lines)
Top ingredients to support your skin in your 30s include:
- Retinol or Natural Retinol Alternatives (boosts collagen, smooths fine lines)
- Vitamin C (brightens, protects from free radicals)
- Hyaluronic Acid (deep hydration)
- Niacinamide (evens tone, minimizes pores)
- Peptides (supports firmness and elasticity)
Yes, your 30s are a great time to introduce retinol. It supports collagen production, smoothes texture, and reduces fine lines. Start with a low-strength formula or natural retinol alternative and increase usage gradually.
Yes. Daily sunscreen is the single most effective skincare step you can take to keep your skin healthy. It protects against sun damage, premature aging, and skin cancer—even on cloudy days or when indoors near windows.
To address fine lines, dullness, and dryness:
- Use retinol at night, or natural retinol alternatives morning or night
- Incorporate vitamin C in the morning
- Stay consistent with sunscreen
- Keep skin deeply hydrated
- Add a weekly exfoliating treatment (AHA or enzyme-based)
Yes, adult acne is common in your 30s due to stress, hormones, or product buildup. Treat it with:
- Niacinamide (reduces inflammation)
- Non-comedogenic moisturizers
Avoid harsh stripping cleansers that damage your skin barrier.
Choose products based on your current skin needs:
- Dry skin: Look for hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and creamy cleansers
- Oily skin: Lightweight gel moisturizers, niacinamide, and BHA exfoliants
- Sensitive skin: Fragrance-free formulas, calming ingredients like aloe or centella
Always patch test new active ingredients.
While not essential for everyone, a targeted eye cream can help with puffiness, dehydration, and early fine lines. Look for caffeine, peptides, or hyaluronic acid if you notice changes in your under-eye area.
2–3 times per week is ideal. Use a gentle chemical exfoliant (like glycolic acid) to remove dead skin cells and boost glow without irritating your skin.
Not at all! Your 30s are a pivotal time to build a skincare routine that prevents deeper wrinkles, maintains elasticity, and supports long-term skin health. Starting now can make a noticeable difference in the years to come.
COMPLIMENTARY PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS
Need help finding the right cleanser for your skin concern? Book a complimentary 1:1 Private Consultation with an HH team member for personalized recommendations.
