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Why A Skincare Routine Matters (Even If You’re 22)

Why A Skincare Routine Matters (Even If You’re 22)

Let’s paint a picture… You’re 22. Your skin is doing alright. Some hormonal breakouts maybe? Or a random pimple here and there. It’s annoying but you’ve survived worse. And you’re probably thinking… do I really need a skincare routine right now?

Short answer is YES. Long answer is also… YES! Let me unpack why for you. 

Your Skin’s Got a Memory Like an Elephant 🐘

Your skin might look fine now, but your skin remembers everything. Every late night, every Sunday that you passed out on your bed with your makeup on. Every summer day, enjoying the beach but skipping SPF because it was a little cloudy anyway. All of it gets logged. 

It doesn’t always show up straight away, that’s the trap. But five or even 10 years from now, you’ll start noticing pigmentation, weird little fine lines and unusual texture, or skin that just won’t bounce back like it used to. 

And I’m not here to create fear of ageing because I honestly believe ageing is a privilege. But looking after your skin now is equal to giving future you a head start. No panic lasers or peels and no “why didn’t I start earlier” regrets. Just skin that stays happy, strong and glowy for longer. 

You Don’t Need a Stacked Shelf of Products. You Need a System.

Please, stop dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on “trending” products and a LED helmet (Unless you want to, in which case hi, we should chat!)

What you need is this:

•    A cleanser that respects your skin (no foaming dishwashing liquid style cleansers please)
•    A hydrating moisturiser that helps your skin barrier stay strong not just sits on the surface
•    SPF 30+. Every. Single. Day. Before you step out of the house. Even while you are driving, or its raining and even if you think you don’t burn, UV rays are there to do damage
•    A serum if/when you need it. Something simple like Vitamin C or Hyaluronic Acid – it really depends on your skin

That’s it! Simple.

Prevention Is the Real Flex

I don’t know how many times I can say trust me but trust me. Trying to fix deep lines, stubborn sun damage and skin that’s lost its bounce is expensive and sooo hard. Prevention? That’s the real power move. 

Doing the bare minimum now pays off big time later. Your skin barrier stays strong. You get fewer breakouts... Makeup sits a lot better and when the ageing stuff does start (and it will it’s the circle of life right), your skin will not freak out on you. It will just keep doing its thing, because you have trained it for this. 

And Let’s Be Real, Your 20s Are a Lot

UNI, work, breakups, hormones, party all night, work all day. Crappy sleep patterns, spicy food, way too much coffee, maybe not enough water. Stress while you are trying to work out this thing called life. 

Your skin is feeling all of it. And you’re throwing on three different exfoliants, a TikTok concoction, and whatever that girl with glass skin swore by last week, your skin will get confused. It will be screaming internally. 

So don’t punish it. Give it consistency. Some TLC and just be chill with it. 

Skincare Is Not Just About Skin

Yep, we want to protect our skin and keep it healthy and happy. But it’s also about YOU. That 3–5-minute routine morning and night is sometimes the only part of the day that’s quiet. The only thing you might be doing for you amongst all the madness of your 20s. Your deep breath and reset. 

And when your skin feels good, you feel so much better. You show up different and you carry yourself different. There’s just something about glowy skin that hits different. 

What Your Starter Routine Should Look Like

We are not about gatekeeping (and we aren’t just using that word cause its trending, we mean it). Here’s what I’d start with if I was 22 again.

1.    Cleanse
AM and PM. Something gentle and non-stripping and cleanse the skin for at least 30 seconds to one minute.
2.    Optional Serum
Pick ONE that suits your skin concern. Hyaluronic acid for hydration, azelaic acid for breakouts or Vitamin C for brightening. Keep it simple. 
3.    Moisturise
Your skin needs hydration even if its oily. Keep it light.
4.    SPF 30+
Every morning. No excuses. And we are all grown now so we know if we are spending prolonged time in the sun, we should be topping up every 3-4 hours. 

When You Are Ready, Level Up

You can start adding to your routine:

•    Vitamin C after hyaluronic acid in the mornings
•    Retinol, but slowly and after 25 if texture prevention is your vibe. Use it in the PM only by swapping it out with your other serums, you don’t want to be mixing too many actives with this one. 
•    A weekly exfoliant no more than 2 times a week. Nothing harsh something simple and light on the skin barrier

Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Perfection, It’s About Progress

No one is asking or expecting you to be perfect. You’ll still sleep in your makeup sometimes. You might forget your SPF from time to time, and you will try products you saw on social media that turn your skin into a flaky mess. It’s fine. 

Skincare is like brushing your teeth. You don’t do it because they are dirty, you do it so they stay healthy.

So, whether your skin is clear right now or it’s a little chaotic, it deserves care not punishment. Just small, consistent habits that will protect your glow for a long time.

You’ve got this! 

XO Souraya 
& your glow crew

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