Skin by Decade: Your 20s Routine | Save 15%

Your 20s routine: protect early, and start the retinol habit

Save at least €50 when you buy the four products together. Chosen by Professor Caitriona Ryan and Professor Nicola Ralph, Consultant Dermatologists and co founders of the Institute of Dermatologists.

Most of the visible ageing that shows up later starts with the sun, long before a single line appears. In your 20s, the routine that matters is simple: clean skin, light hydration, a daily SPF and a retinol introduced early, while skin is resilient and easy to train.

What is included

1. EltaMD Oil-in-Gel Cleanser

Massaged onto dry skin, the gel turns into a silky oil that lifts water resistant sunscreen, long wear makeup, pollution and excess oil. Add water and it rinses away as a light milk, leaving the skin barrier intact. Meadowfoam seed oil, vitamin E and turmeric root extract keep skin comfortable. Fragrance free and non comedogenic.

2. EltaMD AM Restore

A lightweight, oil free moisturiser with hyaluronic acid. It hydrates without heaviness, helps refine the look of skin texture and tone, and sits well under sunscreen. Fragrance free and non comedogenic.

3. Clinical Skin Retinol + Peptide Refining Serum

Pure retinol paired with bakuchiol, a gentler plant based retinol alternative, plus Palmitoyl Tripeptide 38 to support the skin's structure. Niacinamide and allantoin keep skin calm, so you get the renewal of a retinoid with less of the redness and flaking that make most people give up.

4. EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 (Untinted or Tinted)

A lightweight mineral based sunscreen with 9% zinc oxide and niacinamide. Oil free and non comedogenic, so it suits skin prone to redness and breakouts. Available untinted or with a sheer universal tint.

Why this routine in your 20s

Collagen begins to decline gradually from your mid 20s, and UV exposure speeds that up. A daily SPF is the single most effective step for keeping skin healthy long term.

Starting a gentle retinol now means your skin learns to tolerate it before you need it most. It also helps with uneven texture and marks left behind by old breakouts.

How to use

Morning

1. Cleanse with the Oil-in-Gel Cleanser.
2. Apply AM Restore.
3. Finish with UV Clear SPF 46, applied generously.

Evening

1. Cleanse with the Oil-in-Gel Cleanser to remove sunscreen and makeup.
2. Apply the Retinol + Peptide Refining Serum.
3. Follow with a small amount of AM Restore if skin feels dry.

New to retinol? Start every 2 to 3 nights and build up to nightly as your skin adjusts. Always wear SPF the next morning.

Frequently asked questions

Who chose these products?

Professor Caitriona Ryan and Professor Nicola Ralph, Consultant Dermatologists and co founders of the Institute of Dermatologists.

I have never used retinol. Is this suitable?

Yes. Start every 2 to 3 nights and build up to nightly as your skin adjusts. Some mild dryness at the start is normal.

Can I use it if I am pregnant or planning a pregnancy?

The retinol serum is not suitable during pregnancy, while breastfeeding or if you are planning a pregnancy. The Pregnancy Bundle is designed for this stage.

Tinted or untinted?

The routine is the same. The tinted SPF has a sheer universal tint, a good option on days you skip foundation.

Looking for a different stage?

Browse the full Skin by Decade range, from teens to 80s.