Anti-aging | 19 June, 2025

When should I start using anti-aging skincare?

As we get older, our skin changes and we start to see visible signs of aging. These changes are natural. However, there are ways to take control and soften the process. 

Introducing an anti-aging skincare routine can nurture and protect your skin, leaving it vibrant and healthy. The earlier you understand how your skin changes, the more effectively you can care for it. 

This guide helps you decide when to start a preventative, anti-aging skincare routine, and gives insights into ingredients that will help your skin as you age. 

What are the signs of aging skin?

Our skin changes in subtle ways over time. While these signs won't apply to everyone, you may find that as you get older, you notice some of these indicators of aging skin: 

• Fine lines and wrinkles are often pronounced in areas that experience more facial movement, such as between the brows, mouth and forehead. They also appear where the skin is thinner around the eyes, referred to as crow's feet.    
• Loss of skin firmness and elasticity 
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
• Dry skin
• Uneven skin tone and texture

These signs often appear in your early 30s and can be easy to miss if you’re not looking closely. Fine lines, especially around your eyes and mouth, form as your skin loses elasticity. You might also notice your skin feels drier or takes longer to bounce back after a late night or a stressful week.

As you reach your 40s, dark spots, also called age spots or sunspots, may appear due to sun exposure over the years. The even glow of your early 20s might give way to patchy texture or dullness, and your pores may also look more prominent as collagen levels dip.

These changes signal that your skin is evolving and may need targeted care to maintain strength and radiance.

What causes aging skin?

Your skin changes for many reasons, some of which are within your control (extrinsic) and others that aren’t (intrinsic).

Intrinsic causes

• Collagen production: Collagen is a protein in your skin made up of amino acids that help maintain firmness. As we age, collagen production naturally slows and existing collagen becomes brittle, which leads to lines on the skin. 
• Elastin production: Elastin is a "stretchy" protein that's key to maintaining skin health and appearance. It keeps skin taut. Like collagen, elastin production slows over time. 
• Genes: If your parents developed fine lines early or experienced age spots in their 40s, you might too. Your genetic makeup determines how quickly your skin loses collagen and how well it retains moisture over time.

Extrinsic causes

• Sun exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun break down collagen fibers in your skin, leading to wrinkles, discoloration, and rougher texture. Exposure to the sun accounts for as much as 80% of visible aging on the skin, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
• Pollution: When pollutants in the atmosphere touch the skin, the skin barrier is weakened. A weakened barrier can be a key cause of premature signs of aging, including hyperpigmentation.
• Smoking: Smoking restricts blood flow to the skin and decreases oxygen and nutrients. It also breaks down collagen and elastin fibers, leading to deeper wrinkles.

When should you start an anti-aging skincare routine?

You might wonder if 20 is too early for an anti-aging skincare routine – even if you’re aware of the natural slowdown in collagen and elastin production that begins in your 20s. 

Ideally, start an anti-aging skincare routine in your mid-to-late 20s or early 30s. This is before the signs of aging become etched into your skin. This doesn’t mean you need a heavy-duty wrinkle cream at 25. Instead, begin using products that support your skin’s natural functions.

Look for light, hydrating moisturizers and antioxidants like a vitamin C serum to support your skin's collagen production. But most importantly, get into the habit of using sunscreen from your mid-20s. Dermatologists recommend applying SPF to prevent lasting damage. 

By your 30s, start adding more targeted ingredients that promote collagen production and skin renewal. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and boosts cell turnover, as well as collagen production and elasticity. Introducing retinol can help make skin tone appear more even and improve the appearance of fine lines. 

Peptide-based products are another ideal addition to your regimen in your 30s. These short chains of amino acids serve as building blocks for collagen and elastin. They send signals to your skin to repair itself, which can help prevent sagging and fine lines, and improve your skin’s firmness and elasticity.

The earlier you address the root causes of aging, such as collagen breakdown and sun damage, the easier it is to manage them. Even a simple shift, such as applying a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ every day, can significantly delay the appearance of fine lines and discoloration. 

By laying the foundations early, your skin will be ready for when you intensify your efforts and focus on more targeted anti-aging treatments from ZO®. 

What are the best anti-aging skincare ingredients?

Your anti-aging routine doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should be consistent and purposeful. Focus on ingredients backed by research and proven to help skin stay firm, hydrated, and protected.

In addition to retinol, vitamin C and peptides, try incorporating hyaluronic acid into your routine. This humectant attracts water to your skin, plumping up fine lines. Look for serums that list it near the top of the ingredient list and apply to damp skin to lock in moisture. 

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and a versatile ingredient that addresses multiple skin concerns. It strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, reduces redness and inflammation, minimizes pores, and helps fade hyperpigmentation and age spots. As a bonus, niacinamide also regulates oil production, making it suitable for a wide range of skin types.

Start slowly when introducing active ingredients, especially retinoids like retinol. Use a gentle cleanser and don’t skip moisturizer – this helps support the skin barrier and reduces irritation.

Is it ever too late to introduce an anti-aging regimen?

It’s never too late to start taking better care of your skin. Whether you’re 25 or 65, your skin can benefit from targeted ingredients and consistent care. You may not erase deep wrinkles or restore lost elasticity completely, but you can improve hydration, smooth texture, and reduce pigmentation by using the right products and habits.

Introduce anti-aging products with ZO®

If you want to introduce clinically proven products that can address the visible signs and key triggers of aging, choose ZO®. Begin by using our regimen finder tool, so we can match you to the best products for your skin. 

We're also here to answer your questions and offer tips and advice about our products. Get in touch, and we'll talk about ingredients that can help target the signs of aging.