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By the time we hit our mid-to-late 20s, we’ve usually dabbled in enough skincare to have a routine — or at least a drawer full of moisturisers, serums, and masks. But even with all that effort, many women still feel like they’re guessing. The truth? You might be making some common skin mistakes without even realising it.
Here are 5 of the most frequent missteps women over 25 make — and how to actually fix them.
1. Treating Your Skin Like It’s Still 18
Your teenage skin and your grown-up skin? Not the same thing.
When you’re younger, your skin regenerates faster, tolerates more, and often overproduces oil. But as we age — even starting from our mid-20s — cell turnover slows, collagen production decreases, and hydration dips. The result? Products that used to work can suddenly feel ineffective or even cause irritation.
What to do instead:
Audit your routine once or twice a year. If you’re still using harsh scrubs or oil-stripping cleansers, it’s time to graduate to gentler, skin-supportive ingredients. Introduce antioxidants (like vitamin C), hydrating serums (like hyaluronic acid), and light exfoliants (like lactic acid or PHAs) that respect your barrier but still deliver results.
2. Skipping SPF on Cloudy Days (or Indoors)
This one’s a classic — and the damage can creep in quietly.
Even when it’s overcast or you’re working from your laptop all day, UV and HEV (blue light) from screens can still affect your skin. And it’s not just about sunburn. Long-term exposure leads to fine lines, pigmentation, and skin laxity.
What to do instead:
Get into the habit of wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every single day, no matter the weather or your plans. Bonus points if it contains ingredients like niacinamide to also support your skin barrier. Apply it generously — studies show most people only use 25–50% of the amount they should for full protection.
3. Treating Breakouts with Teen Tactics
Still reaching for harsh spot treatments and drying toners when you break out? It could be making things worse.
Adult acne is different. It’s often hormonal, inflammation-driven, and tied to things like stress, sleep, and even gut health. Using drying products might reduce oil short-term, but it also weakens your skin barrier — leading to more sensitivity, redness, and yes… more breakouts.
What to do instead:
Swap in gentle, non-comedogenic products with calming ingredients (like azelaic acid, niacinamide, or zinc). Use a hydrating moisturiser even when breaking out — because dehydrated skin overproduces oil to compensate. And if breakouts persist, speak to a professional — you don’t have to solve it alone.
4. Chopping and Changing Products Too Often
In the age of TikTok hauls and miracle-before-afters, it’s tempting to jump from product to product chasing results. But skin thrives on consistency — not chaos.
What to do instead:
Introduce one new product at a time and give it 4–6 weeks before evaluating its effect (that’s one full skin cycle). Keep a simple baseline routine in place (cleanse, hydrate, SPF), and resist the urge to overhaul everything after one breakout or dry patch.
If your skin reacts badly, pause everything and go back to basics — fragrance-free, barrier-supporting products — before slowly reintroducing actives.
5. Ignoring What Your Skin Is Telling You
Tightness after cleansing? Flaky patches after exfoliating? Redness that doesn’t go away? These aren’t just quirks — they’re communication.
Your skin is constantly giving you feedback. The challenge is learning to interpret it correctly. Sometimes dry skin isn’t dry (lacking oil), it’s dehydrated (lacking water). Sometimes a new serum that “tingles” is actually just irritating your barrier.
How to fix it:
Start journaling your skin — even casually. Take weekly photos, jot down how it feels, note product changes or lifestyle shifts (like sleep or stress). This can reveal patterns and help you make smarter choices. And if something feels off? Don’t wait. Get expert eyes on it.
The Bottom Line
By 25, your skin has different needs — and it’s okay to not have it all figured out.
You don’t need 20 products. You don’t need to panic-buy every new launch. But you do need good information, consistent care, and a little support from people who understand skin at every stage.
Want Personalised Advice? Start With a Free Skin Consultation
If this post felt like a checklist of “yep, I do that” — don’t worry. Most of us have. But a one-to-one skin consultation can help you make sense of it all. No pressure. Just expert insights tailored to your face, your lifestyle, and your goals.
