Obviously 40 is the new 30 and all that, and we’re sure you’ll be looking and feeling 22 when you hit the big 3-0 (sunscreen awareness for the win!). But that particular numerical milestone will always hold a certain significance when it comes to beauty. Before we’re in our thirties, most of us aspire to polish up our makeup game, figure out which hairstyle is actually our best look, and finally shake off tired insecurities for good. At the same time, turning 30 has a way of suddenly making wrinkles and gray hairs pop up somewhere on your to-worry-about radar. So for all of you approaching this imaginary-yet-important beauty deadline (and even those of us a few years beyond it), we offer 30 gems of hard-earned beauty wisdom that’ll carry you into your prime years, so you can look and feel more gorgeous than ever.
1. Skin care isn’t just about your face.
Repeat this commandment after us: Thy shalt not neglect thy neck. Or the backs of your hands. Or your decolletage. Without daily broad-spectrum sun protection and adequate moisture, these zones can quickly start to look weathered before their time. “When it comes to skin care, your face ends at your nipples,” says makeup artist Fiona Stiles. “Don’t stop at your jawline, and don’t stop at your neck. Keep. On. Going. Down. You’ll be grateful you did when your neck and decolletage age as gracefully as your face.”
2. The most boring hair product is the most important.
Part of becoming a successful grown-up is solidifying healthy daily habits, however minor and boring they may seem to be. For hair, that means applying a heat-protective product any time a blow-dryer or other hot tool gets near it. Doing this has no real instant-gratification effect on your style, thus why everyone is always tempted to skip it. But we guarantee that doing so will hold you back from the gorgeous shampoo-commercial hair of your dreams. Alwaysuse protection! And the right blow-dryer (see #28).
3. Don’t fear foundation.
Foundation will become more useful and less optional as you get older. “Foundation is constantly vilified, but I think it’s the best thing ever,” says beauty writer Kate Erickson. “Modern foundations are actually lighter in coverage than some tinted moisturizers. People don’t think I wear makeup, but I am a very proud foundation lover.” Refer to our ultimate foundation guide for tips on finding your match. If you’ve just been dabbling in applying a little here and there using your fingers, try experimenting with one of the many amazing makeup sponges now available (here’s our full breakdown of which makeup sponge is best for you). This will help you masterfully conceal the different kinds of skin issues that arise as time passes—and just generally look more polished. “Using a dampened Beauty Blender is the best trick for foundation that never looks blotchy,” says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose.
4. Bedtime is when all the beauty happens.
By now you’ve learned that smooshing your face into your pillow with a full face of makeup on can mean paying the price later (in pimples, pink eyes, and other fun ways). But what’s even worse is that you’re missing out on applying targeted skin care before the best loooong, restful stretch of time when it can deeply penetrate, without adverse effects from sun exposure. Bedtime is prime time for deep moisturizing, fighting future lines (see #11), plus treating your lips, cuticles, heels, and other problem areas. So pull on your big-girl pants along with those PJ pants and get the job done. Your skin will thank you over time. “If you’re not diligent about night moisturizer and eye cream by age 30, you’ll have serious catching up to do,” Stiles says.
5. Lack of sleep leads to things even less cute than dark circles.
Speaking of sleep, eventually we all come face-to-face with the fact that we’re not in college anymore, and that these days, regularly pulling all-nighters tends to leave us looking more than just sleepy-eyed. “Studies show that sleep deprivation makes your skin dehydrated and tired-looking,” points out Los Angeles dermatologist Jessica Wu. “Aim for seven to nine hours of beauty sleep per night.”
6. But for nights when the sleep didn’t happen so much…
This is the one trick every busy girl-about-town needs in her morning-after arsenal: After concealing your under-eye circles, add a dab of highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes. There’s no better trick we’ve found for looking instantly awake and alert. In a pinch, light-colored eyeshadow works too. Ooh, and check out a the gorgeous runway twist on this trick that we saw at the Stella McCartney show recently, using pale-silver eyeliner.
7. Think of lush brows as an Instagram filter for your face.
Among a full brow’s many, well-documented magical effects: ample, filled-in arches have a way of making you look younger. We credit their soft texture—which softens your features in turn—and the way they divert attention from fine lines. “I gave my mom an Anastasia brow pencil a few months ago and it’s so youth-enhancing,” observes Glamour beauty assistant Caroline Solomon. And unlike other features, brows can continue to look 20 years old forever—provided you learn how to fill them in believably. Luckily, we have tips for that.
