Beauty alert:

 Stay Young!

Apart from ushering you into adulthood and bringing you more freedom, your 20s are also the years when your skin gets out of the awkward acne-riddled teenage phase. The skin glows in all its glory and is supple, soft and line-free. This is primarily due to high levels of collagen, the naturally occurring protein that is responsible for the firm and youthful appearance of skin. However, over time, your skin matures and loses its elasticity under the harsh influence of the sun, environmental pollution and stress.

THE SCULPTED LOOK
Young and normal healthy skin has a fantastic outer layer that is bright, even and unblemished. Components like collagen (firmness), elastin (elasticity and rebound) and GAGs (glycosaminiglycans that provide hydration) all contribute to the health and physical appearance of your skin. They’re also responsible for your skin’s sculpted look, which is necessary for it to look young. Your skin will look sculpted when it is:
FIRM AND NOT SAGGY
RADIANT
PLUMP AND YOUTHFUL

CAUSE AND EFFECT
After the age of 20, a person produces one per cent less collagen in the skin with each passing year. As a result, your skin becomes thinner with age. There is also diminished functioning of the sweat and oil glands, less elastin production, and less GAG formation. Wrinkle formation, as a result of intrinsic ageing, is inevitable, though it will be imperceptible at first. But, when combined with external factors like sun exposure, pollution, poor diet and smoking, the exaggerated loss of collagen, elastin and GAGs start showing up as an uneven and dull complexion, and thin saggy skin with deep wrinkles.

START NOW!
As clichéd as it sounds, prevention is (always) better than cure! And it is also key to minimising those uninvited lines on your face. So start taking care of your skin before all the changes take place. Though each person ages differently, here are a few signs to look out for in your mid to late 20s.
DARK SPOTS
PIGMENTATION ON THE CHEEKS
FINE LINES AROUND THE EYES

And here are a few products to add to your skin-care routine that will help you retain that 20s glow:

1. A broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF 35. Use this 365 days a year to protect your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays.
2. Use a moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated and supple. Choose one that contains a humectant like glycerine, which will restore and enhance the moisture content in your skin.
3. Avoid soaps and use mild facial cleansers instead. Soaps dry out skin, stripping it of its essential oils.
4. For toned skin, use products with collagen boosters, retinol and peptides. Retinol is easily one of the most effective anti-ageing ingredients. It can improve skin texture, and lighten dark spots and freckles, as it helps skin cells regenerate more rapidly. But what has made retinol and retin-A crucial in anti-ageing and skincare is their power to enhance the retention of collagen.