It’s so easy not to think about wrinkles when you’re young with healthy, glowing skin. Wrinkle prevention might not even be on your radar until you’re in your 40s or older. However, knowing how to prevent wrinkles, known as ‘prejuvenation,’ should start long before the first signs of crow’s feet.
Fortunately, a great skincare routine is natural prejuvenation at its finest.
The small, proactive steps you take to clean and protect your skin every day can help you prevent wrinkles later in life.
But to be as effective as you want, first, you must understand why wrinkles happen and how your routine may need to change over the years.
Factors That Cause Wrinkles
Wrinkles form for many reasons—some we can control, and others, unfortunately, we can’t. The most common causes include:
- Sun exposure — UV rays break down collagen and elastin, two proteins that keep your skin firm and smooth, and inhibit their production. Plus, damaged skin can thicken to prevent further damage, leading to uneven skin tone and rougher texture.
- Facial expressions — We would never tell anybody to quit smiling. However, consistent facial movements can lead to more permanent wrinkles over time. Natural aging can show the beautiful lines of a happy life, but if you’re worried about wrinkles, try not to frown, squint, or raise your eyebrows so much.
- Loss of collagen — Starting in your 20s, your skin slowly produces less collagen each year. This alone won’t be evident on your face for quite some time, but boosting collagen production is a great prejuvenation practice early on.
- Dehydration and dryness — Lack of moisture, both inside and out, can make fine lines more noticeable.
- Smoking — Not to be too blunt, but smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your body. Without even getting into the damaging ways it affects your health, it also causes wrinkles. The toxins in cigarettes break down your skin’s proteins and constrict blood vessels, leading to sagging and wrinkles. And the repetitive puckering needed to do it causes “smoker’s lines” around your mouth and lips.
- Lifestyle habits — Poor sleep, high stress, and even your diet can all affect how your skin ages.
The good news? Knowing the causes means you also know how to prevent wrinkles by taking steps to prevent or delay them, starting today.
How To Prevent Wrinkles in Your 20s
Your 20s are the foundation years for your skin. Even if you’re not seeing any signs of aging yet, prejuvenation now will pay off later. Here’s what to focus on:
- SPF every day, no exceptions. Sunscreen is your #1 anti-aging product. Look for broad-spectrum protection with at least SPF 30, and put it on clean skin every morning. (Reapply if you will be outside and/or sweating!) Remember, wrinkle-causing UV rays do penetrate glass. So, even if you don’t step outside once, you could be getting more exposure than you think, even in your home or office.
- Hydrate inside and out. Drink plenty of water and use a moisturizer with powerful ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, to keep skin plump and smooth.
- Start a gentle skincare routine. Cleanse and moisturize twice a day and exfoliate weekly. Consider adding serums with antioxidants like Vitamin C to fight free radicals and promote collagen production.
- Avoid tanning beds and limit sun exposure. A little glow isn’t worth the long-term damage. If you’re not a fan of fair skin or want a fresh-from-vacation look without the sunburn, stick to bronzers and self-tanning products.
Remember, the skin on your face is not the only place where you age. Protect and moisturize your whole body, and take as good care of your neck, décolletage, and hands as your face.
Now is also a great time to build habits that will help you maintain your skin and health throughout your life. Eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly. And don’t forget, beauty sleep is real — your skin repairs itself while you rest!
How To Prevent Wrinkles in Your 30s
Your 30s are when collagen loss starts to become more noticeable. You may begin to see faint lines around your eyes or on your forehead, especially after long days or not enough sleep.
To stay ahead of deeper wrinkles:
- Level up your skincare. Add retinol and peptides to encourage skin cell turnover and boost collagen production.
- Keep moisturizing. Skin can get drier in your 30s, so reach for richer creams and higher hyaluronic acid concentrations if needed.
- Protect your eye area. The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and often shows signs of aging first. Use a hydrating eye cream and sunglasses when outside.
- Avoid smoking and watch your alcohol intake. These habits accelerate aging by drying out your skin and reducing blood flow. Best prevention: never pick up a cigarette and keep a healthy relationship with alcohol. If you’re a smoker or consistent drinker now, though (no shame!), it’s never too late to cut back or quit. Your skin will thank you.
If you haven’t already, this might also be the time to consider non-invasive MedSpa treatments to support your skincare goals (more on that below!).
Popular Prejuvenation Treatments at the MedSpa
For clients in their 20s and 30s, we’re seeing more people take a thoughtful, proactive approach to wrinkle prevention—not overdoing it, but investing in their skin’s long-term health.
A few popular options include:
- Preventative (baby) Botox — Small, precise doses can soften expression lines before they become deep wrinkles.
- Microchannelling — Boosts collagen and elastin production naturally, helping to improve texture and tone.
- Chemical peels — Light peels remove dead skin cells and encourage fresh, healthy skin to surface.
- HydraFacials — These treatments deeply cleanse, hydrate, and protect the skin in one relaxing session.
- LED light therapy — Helps calm inflammation and supports collagen development over time.
These treatments don’t require downtime and are a gentle way to help your skin stay smooth, clear, and youthful. Many of these can also help if you struggle with acne or have scars.
A consultation can help you determine what’s right for your skin type and goals.
How To Maintain Youthful Skin in Your 40s and Beyond
If you already see a few wrinkles, don’t worry — prevention still works. The goal now is to preserve the progress you’ve made and support your skin through its natural changes.
- Maintain or expand your SPF and skincare routine. Consistency is key at every age. As your skin starts to thin, consider switching out some of your products for more potent formulas. And it’s more important than ever to use gentle, skin-protecting cleansers and moisturizers that include ceramides.
- Be gentle. Avoid tugging at your skin when cleansing, exfoliating, or applying products. Your skin becomes more vulnerable to damage as it matures, so don’t overdo it.
- Consider deeper treatments if needed. In your 40s and beyond, treatments like dermal fillers, Sublime Skin Tightening, and other laser treatments, or stronger chemical peels can help replenish volume and smooth deeper lines if they concern you.
- Focus on full-body wellness. Diet, exercise, hydration, and stress management all play a significant role in how your skin looks and feels.
Every stage of life brings something beautiful. Taking care of your skin is a way of taking care of you.
Start Your Prejuvenation Journey Today
Prejuvenation isn’t about stopping time—it’s about working with your skin, not against it.
The earlier you start taking care of it, the better your results will be. Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, or beyond, wrinkle prevention is completely doable with small, consistent steps.
And if you’re curious about which treatments are right for your skin, we’re always happy to help. Book a free consultation and let’s create a plan that works for you.
