I'm 31 and Have Never Felt the Need for Botox Thanks to These 8 Products

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(Image credit: @court_higgs)

I'll never forget the first time I thought seriously about getting Botox. I was watching an episode of Vanderpump Rules, and a cast member admitted that she'd been having the neuromodulator injected into her face since the age of 25 to prevent the eventual formation of fine lines and wrinkles. I was 27 at the time and had never once considered it. Since I didn't have any significant concerns around skin aging yet, I just didn't see the point. Even still, I couldn't help but wonder if my lack of a Botox regimen would eventually result in a wrinkly little raisin staring back at me in the mirror. Not going to lie, I began to spiral a bit.

Well, a few minutes passed and so did my panic. I reminded myself that the show takes place in Los Angeles (where I live as well), which might be the Botox capital of the world and where starting an injectable regimen in one's early 20s is more common than starting a 401(k). A quick look in the mirror left me with another important reminder: I was completely satisfied with the way my face looked. I've always been into skincare and have gone to great lengths to protect and preserve my skin, so the fact that I wasn't yet noticing any severe crow's-feet, forehead wrinkles, or frown lines wasn't actually that surprising. On top of that, the faint lines I did already have didn't really bother me. 

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(Image credit: @court_higgs)

Fast-forward to today. I'm 31 and still don't feel like my Botox time has arrived yet. And trust me—I'm not in any way opposed to the procedure, nor do I judge anyone who partakes. If it makes you feel good about yourself and isn't financially crippling, then, by all means, go for it! It just so happens that my skincare routine seems to be doing a perfectly adequate job of keeping my skin as smooth and free of lines and wrinkles as I find necessary. I'm alright with slight indentations on my forehead or around my eyes that linger for a moment after outwardly expressing myself in this wild world. (We'll see how I feel about this in another few years as I delve deeper into my 30s, though.)

Anyway, I recently put one of those "How old do I look" filters from Instagram on my face, and it said I look 16, so we can all thank technology for the unsolicited skincare advice I'm about to share. Aside from minding my own business, fiercely protecting my energy, and drinking a gallon of water a day whenever I can, I'm certain my fine-tuned skincare routine has contributed to my glowing 31-year-old face. My mom definitely sprinkled some of her ageless magic into my DNA, but seriously, I've spent years learning what my skin wants and needs to build the most effective routine. Keep scrolling for the eight indispensable products I'm loving in my 30s that I think you will, too.

1. Hydrating Serum

When: morning and evening

How often: daily or as needed

Why I love it: For me, juicing up my dermis with varying hydrating ingredients that are able to reach different layers of my skin results in plump, firm, and elastic skin that bounces back when I tap it and glows from within. In my eyes, plump skin and youthful-looking skin are one and the same, so I'll never skrimp on the hydrating products. After all, they act as a refreshing gulp of water would inside my body.

My favorite hydrating serums:

2. Retinol

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(Image credit: @court_higgs)

When: evening only

How often: 3-4 times per week

Why I love it: So far, retinol is still the only skincare ingredient that's been studied and proven to reverse visible signs of skin aging. I haven't spoken to a single dermatologist who doesn't tout it as the ultimate product for smooth, firm, and even skin. Up to this point, I've only used cosmetic retinol as opposed to prescription-strength retinoids, but I'm satisfied with the results I've seen. I'm open to transitioning to the hard stuff if and when I ever recognize the need, but for now, I'm happy riding around with my training wheels on.

My favorite retinols:

3. Vitamin C Serum

When: morning

How often: daily

Why I love it: Antioxidants will always be part of my skincare routine to keep cell-damaging free radicals from wreaking havoc. My go-to and perhaps the most popular antioxidant right now is vitamin C because it increases collagen synthesis (hello, plump skin!), boosts luminosity, and helps to smooth out uneven tone and hyperpigmentation, which I struggle with.

My favorite vitamin C serums:

4. Moisturizer

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(Image credit: @court_higgs)

When: morning and evening

How often: daily

Why I love itLocking in all the goodness of my serums while adding in its own moisturizing factors are just a couple of reasons I'll never kick moisturizing cream out of my routine. While I'll sometimes supplement with oils to crank it up a notch, I'm committed to day and night creams that help give me more of that skin-plumping power I'm always after.

My favorite moisturizers:

5. Sunscreen

When: morning only

How often: as needed

Why I love it: In case you hadn't heard, sunscreen is a must. On days when I'll be setting foot outside, I always cap off my morning routine with a product with SPF 30 or higher to make sure my skin is protected. This is especially crucial if I've been particularly heavy-handed with retinol and other exfoliants. It also helps to keep hyperpigmentation from advancing.

My favorite sunscreens:

6. Chemical Exfoliator

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(Image credit: @court_higgs)

When: evening only

How often: 1-2 times per week

Why I love it: I've fallen into the overexfoliation trap once or twice while trying desperately to scrub and melt away dead skin and hyperpigmentation, but I've learned that the dryness and sensitivity that can result from damaging my skin's delicate acid mantle just aren't worth it. When done properly (read: in moderation), though, exfoliation is a surefire way to reveal glowy, refreshed, supple, and healthy skin. Plus, it helps to loosen and rid the surface of my face of dead cells that can clog pores and inhibit the absorption of all my carefully selected serums and creams.

My favorite chemical exfoliators:

7. Oil

When: morning or evening

How often: as needed

Why I love it: I love oils! I avoided them at all costs throughout my youth thanks to the oil-free skincare marketing craze of the '90s and early 2000s that tricked me into thinking that all oils were evil. But now, I incorporate them whenever I feel like my skin needs added moisture or when I'm removing makeup with the double-cleansing method.

My favorite oils:

8. Tools

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(Image credit: @court_higgs)

When: evening only

How often: as needed

Why I love it: There are so many wonderful skincare tools out there these days. With the recent influx of at-home LED lights, facial steamers, and the like, anyone can carry out a salon-quality facial. I'm new to tools and haven't explored the category all that deeply yet, but the few tools I do have in rotation are among my most prized possessions.

My favorite tools:

Associate Beauty Editor

Courtney Higgs is a Cancer sun, Libra rising beauty enthusiast with about six years of experience in the editorial space. She was previously Who What Wear's associate beauty editor after spending many years working on the West Coast edit team at InStyle Magazine. She graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a BA in communication studies and pivoted to editorial after spending her college years working in the legal field. Her beauty philosophy is simple: She believes there are no wrong answers and that discovering our favorite beauty products and rituals is a journey, not a sprint. When she's not geeking out over products, she can be found adventuring around L.A. with her fiancé; watching reality TV with their French bulldog, Bernie Mac; or relating way too hard to astrology memes.