In your 30s too? These 5 hard-working skincare buys are worth every cent

Remember when we were little and people in their 30s seemed so.. well, old?

Hah! It's funny how we keep moving the goalposts, isn't it? These days, I feel like being in your 30s (even late, late 30s...) isn't old at all, but rather the perfect age. Old enough to have the confidence and life experiences and sense of self that comes with adulthood, yet also young enough to still love fashion and fun and all sorts of other frivolous things that give life colour. Right now, I just want to pause the clock a little and enjoy this glorious decade for all it is worth. And much as I know time isn't stopping for anyone, I am at the very least planning on hanging on to my 30s face for as long as humanly possible – without having to resorts to nip-tuck or needles (not that I am planning to, but still). If this is your philosophy too, here are five really great beauty buys to use in your 30s – that will help correct damage, keep skin youthful and slow down the ageing process. Try these now – and you will be thanking yourself later. 1. Clarins Gentle Renewing Cleansing Mousse Removing makeup every night (EVERY night – no exception) and properly cleansing your face is such an important habit to get into, and one you should never skip – no matter how late it is or how tired you are feeling. Your skin – which is, in fact, your largest organ – renews itself at night, and works hard to repair any damage done during the day (sunshine, pollution, stress etc.). The problem? If you go to bed wearing your makeup, you are only making it harder for your skin to heal itself, and making it impossible for your nighttime products to get to work.

Failing to remove makeup will, in fact, lead to all sorts of skin issues, like enlarged pores, impurities, dullness and even more wrinkles, as your skin is not able to regenerate the way it is meant to at night. As for what to cleanse with, I love love love this gorgeous new hydrating cleansing foam from Clarins. Not only does it remove all the dirt, makeup and pollution from my skin, but also leaves my skin feeling pampered, squeaky clean and gives it the loveliest glow. I love that Clarins is making eco-conscious decisions with their products, and with this collection, opted to only use recycled materials for the packaging and the most sustainable and natural ingredients – to respect the environment. The Gentle Renewing Cleansing Mousse has a citrus scent of neroli, tangerine and ylang-ylang, which make you feel like you are in a spa when using it, which, I think we can all agree, is a major bonus.

€28, Clarins.ie

2. Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Cream OK, here is the thing. If you are old enough to have watched Friends and Sex and the City when these shows were first shown on TV, it is time to start using an eye cream, my friend. Remember, the skin around our eyes is especially thin and delicate, which is why some extra TLC is needed here, where signs of ageing often first start to appear. What I love about this brand new eye cream from Lancôme, is that it has been specifically designed to target signs of fatigue around the eye area. Tired of looking tired? This will change that, trust me. Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Cream's new formula is enriched with probiotic-derived extracts for smoother youthful skin, and it glides on so perfectly, and sinks in straight away, meaning you don't have to wait to put makeup on, which I love. I also love how this cream reduces dark circles, softens the entire eye area and makes my eye area look plumper and fuller and just, well, more youthful. €54, Brown Thomas

3. Image Skincare Ageless Total Overnight Retinol Masque Our skin cells regenerate at night, so now is the time to apply products with really potent ingredients that will make you wake up looking fresh, rested and – behold – even younger than you looked going to bed. And, before you ask, it absolutely pays to invest in products that are designed for use at night, as many daytime skin products contain an SPF, which you don't need when you sleep – and that can end up clogging your pores. Tip: Look for ingredients like lactic acid, retinol, and hyaluronic acid when you invest in nighttime skincare, as these are proven to work hard at tackling ageing skin issues like wrinkles, sun damage and dry, lacklustre skin. And with all this in mind, I absolutely love the new Ageless Total Overnight Retinol Masque from Image Skincare. An example of revolutionary science meeting the proven anti-aging benefits of retinol, this breakthrough treatment masque visibly transforms my skin while I sleep. The multi-action technology continuously releases hydrating microspheres of marine collagen (collagen is great news for plumper looking skin!) to lock in moisture and delivers retinol deep into the skin to support intensive collagen remodeling. €74, Millies.ie

4. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate

In your 30s, it's time to up your skincare game by introducing a serum (and some high powered ingredients) under your regular moisturiser. And when it comes to which one to go for, I have been testing the new Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate from Shiseido lately, and can confirm it is every bit as amazing as the description says it will be. This award-winning serum is designed to rejuvenate and boost skin, working from the inside to repair, strengthen and reinforce your skin’s immunity. We are talking some high tech skincare here, where the serum targets the Langerhans cells, which function to keep skin healthy and free from harm. When using this powerful serum, you are optimising the skin’s immunity, meaning you are essentially giving it a helping hand in resisting the ageing process. I have used it morning and night, applied it onto clean, dry skin, and it honestly has worked miracles. I have never before gotten as many compliments on my skin and how glowing it looks, and honestly, it feels just as good as it looks, which I know must be a good thing!

€94.50, Space NK 5. Avène Intense Protect SPF50+ If you are yet to start using an SPF as part of your everyday skincare regime, even in winter, this should be your wakeup call: You NEED to start protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays – even on days when you don't see the sun in the sky. Nothing is more damaging and ageing for our skin than UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and the solution is just so beautifully simple: Just apply an SPF. Right now, I am loving the brand new Avène Intense Protect SPF50+ Sun Cream. It has been designed for those with sensitive skin, meaning the formula offers very high UV protection without causing irritation to the skin. Now that summer is around the corner, it is also good knowing it is both water-resistant and biodegradable, as well as being protective and non-harmful when it comes to marine life, which most other suncare formulas are not. This is a cream to keep in your handbag, in the car, at your desk etc at all times, and apply whenever needed. The formula feels super light and is not sticky, yet will give your skin all the broad-spectrum protection it needs. Enriched with a potent blend of antioxidants, Avène Intense Protect SPF50+ also shields the skin against harmful environmental aggressors, such as pollution and blue light. €22.95, Lookfantastic.ie