With the constant introduction of new beauty innovations and skincare trends, deciphering which products suit you best can often feel overwhelming.

The challenge intensifies when considering that skincare routines and products aren’t universally effective across different age brackets.

Fortunately, Georgina Tang, a 62-year-old celebrated beauty expert and the creator of the skincare line YNNY, has provided clear guidance on the perfect skincare practices for each stage of life.

“Stepping into a store or browsing online for the right products can leave you feeling utterly confused,” Tang shared with the Daily Mail.

“There’s an overwhelming buzz about the latest ‘essential’ or ‘miracle’ ingredients, leading some women to overdo it and harm their skin barrier, while others become so discouraged they abandon their skincare altogether,” she noted.

Tang emphasized the importance of evolving your beauty regimen alongside the natural changes in your skin as you age.

From collagen production levels to the appearance of fine lines and a host of other signs, the skin goes through its own process of aging, much like any other organ. 

And while moisturizers and cleansers may have once seemed like simple bathroom staples, Tang said there is a lot more to consider as the years pass.

Georgina Tang explained that those in their 20s have resilient skin with efficient cell turnover and robust collagen production (stock image)

In your 20s

Tang explained that when you’re in your 20s, skin is resilient with efficient cell turnover and robust collagen production.

Your priority should be protection and the establishment of good habits – not an aggressive regimen.

‘A basic cleanse, tone and moisturize is genuinely all that is needed at this stage,’ Tang said.

‘I would advise to use a natural or organic cleanser – a good-quality soap bar or liquid – and to avoid any alcohol-based products as these will strip the skin’s natural oils. 

‘That will compromise the barrier and can trigger excess oil production. Instead opt for a light moisturizer, which will be more than sufficient.’

Tang said that exfoliation should be introduced carefully in your 20s, as dead skin cells shed naturally every 28 to 30 days, and accumulation can lead to a dull, uneven and sometimes flaky complexion.

She suggested using an exfoliating face mask every week to keep the process on track without over-stripping.

For those with oily skin, Tang recommended using lavender water as a toner. She said it has for centuries been used for its natural antiseptic properties as well as its ability to non-aggressively regulate sebum.

She also suggested using face masks containing sandalwood powder two to three times a week.

‘Sandalwood powder contains alpha-santalol, which has proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties – making it brilliant for 20s skin that’s still managing breakouts,’ she explained. 

‘It also acts as a mild astringent to tighten pores and absorb excess sebum, so it’s genuinely earning its place in that mask.’

For those in their early 20s choosing a moisturizer, Tang recommended something oil-free or with a very light formulation.

But once you hit the age of 25, Tang said collagen production begins to slow.

‘Applying a collagen-boosting product before your moisturizer is worth adding to your routine [at that point],’ she said. ‘Then opt for a richer moisturizer or an oil-based serum.’

Regardless, the expert advised everyone should avoid alcohol-based cleansers, harsh synthetic surfactants and heavy creams.

In your 30s

Tang explained that when you reach your 30s, the first visible signs of aging begin to show, such as fine lines, a slight loss of luminosity or the beginnings of an uneven skin texture.

Collagen continues to decline, so she said this would be the ideal time to adapt a more targeted approach to skincare.

‘In your 30s, you still cleanse, tone and moisturize,’ Tang explained. ‘But a collagen booster should now be a standard part of your routine.

‘Move from a light moisturizer to a richer face cream or, better still, an oil-based anti-aging serum that provides deeper moisturization and starts actively working to delay the visible signs of aging.’

She added that face masks should be used two to three times a week at this stage while a daily broad-spectrum SPF is a must regardless of weather, as UV exposure is the single greatest accelerant of external skin aging.

‘What you do in your 30s is the single biggest predictor of what your skin looks like in your 50s,’ Tang stressed. ‘Consistency matters more than any individual product.’

In your 40s

Tang revealed that your 40s is when cumulative sun damage becomes more visible, oil production begins to slow and the skin barrier requires more active support. 

And it’s during this time that you should really pay attention to the ingredients in your skincare products.

‘You want to use a collagen booster, an oil-based anti-aging serum and if your skin is very dry, use a richer face cream on top of the oil based serum,’ Tang said.

‘But the ingredients inside those products carry much more weight now. Hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, vitamin C for brightness and collagen stimulation, and niacinamide – vitamin B3 – for barrier strengthening.’

This is also the decade to consider alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, Tang suggested, explaining that glycolic acid and the milder lactic acid both improve skin tone, boost hydration and help address scarring or uneven pigmentation.

Tang, multi-award-winning beauty expert and founder of skincare brand YNNY, broke down the exact skincare regimen she believes is best for every decade of adult life

For those with sensitive or dry skin, Tang recommended colloidal oatmeal – finely milled oats – as an alternative exfoliating ingredient that delivers renewal without the risk of irritation or microtears.

‘Combining AHAs with colloidal oatmeal in a mask is a particularly effective approach,’ she said.

‘You get the brightening and renewal of the acid alongside the soothing and barrier-supportive properties of the oatmeal. It works for most skin types, including sensitive ones.’

Tang added that it is vital to stay away from over-exfoliating, heavy fragrance, combining too many strong actives at once and over-laying too many products when you’re in your 40s.

‘There’s no magic number, but the rule I follow is a maximum of two to three actives per routine step, and only one potent active per session,’ she said. 

‘If you’re using a retinoid at night (not every night), that’s your hero – it doesn’t need a strong acid or high-strength vitamin C alongside it.’

She also named some combinations those in their 40s should avoid: Stay away from ‘retinoids with AHAs or BHAs,’ and stop ‘stacking multiple exfoliants in the same routine.

‘In your 40s the real danger isn’t just irritation – it’s slowly damaging your skin barrier over time, which makes dehydration and sensitivity worse, not better,’ Tang told the Daily Mail. ‘Less, done consistently, always wins.’

In your 50s 

The 50s bring hormonal changes that will have a direct and often dramatic consequence on the skin, Tang warned.

She explained that declining estrogen levels will reduce the skin’s natural oil production – accelerating moisture loss and causing a reduction in firmness and volume. 

Age spots also become more common, she said, adding that this is the decade where women see the steepest rate of visible aging signs.

A skincare routine at this age needs to be rich, intensive and consistent, according to Tang.

Tang warned that the 50s bring hormonal changes that can have direct and often dramatic consequences on the skin

Focus on peptides (which will stimulate collagen synthesis) and retinol (introduced gradually at night) to encourage cell turnover and help rebuild collagen. 

Tang also said SPF – minimum factor 30, ideally higher – must be worn daily without exception.

Avoid harsh physical scrubs, high-strength acids without tolerance established and strongly fragranced formulations.

In your 60s and beyond

Tang explained that skin in the 60s and beyond is thinner, drier and considerably more sensitive than in previous decades, while collagen fragmentation is measurable and structural changes in the dermis are evident.

The approach for skincare during these decades should be one of sustained, gentle nourishment rather than aggressive correction, she said.

‘The skin does not need more products at this stage,’ the beauty expert stressed. ‘It needs the right products, used every single day without fail.’

The skincare expert advised using a gentle, non-stripping cleanser, a hydrating toner and a rich moisturizer containing ceramides, peptides and hyaluronic acid.

She added that an oil-based serum with a high concentration of actives should remain the cornerstone of any effective anti-aging effort. 

Retinol, if already established in the routine, can continue at a well-tolerated strength and exfoliation should be mild – a low-strength AHA or a colloidal oatmeal mask once or twice a week – as a way to maintain radiance without aggravating sensitivity.

She added that SPF protection remains essential, as UV damage does not pause with age and unprotected skin at this stage is significantly more vulnerable to both accelerated aging and pigmentation.

‘Great skin in your 60s and beyond is entirely achievable,’ Tang said. ‘The key is understanding what the skin needs now, not what it needed 20 years ago.’