The Decade: 30s
The Skin You're In
"The major issue of your thirties is texture," says Schultz. Since dead skin cells don't turn over as rapidly as they did in your twenties, your face may look dull and uneven. You might also experience some brown blotchiness (caused by hormone fluctuations from pregnancy or birth-control pills), as well as early sunspots. Due to work and family stress, some thirtysomethings still have acne, as stress can release hormones that cause breakouts.

Essential Steps
+ Continue to cleanse, tone, and moisturize, using sunscreen during the day.

+ To improve skin tone and speed cell turnover, use a gentle chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid or an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), advises Welch. They're easier on the skin than physical exfoliants (like crushed seeds). Either switch your basic products to ones that contain them, or do a weekly AHA or glycolic mask or peel.

+ Consider using a product with retinol (a vitamin-A derivative), which helps thicken and strengthen skin.

Thinking Ahead
Your skin will thin and develop fine lines as you head into the next decade, so make sure to get your Z's, says Valori Treloar, M.D., a holistic dermatologist. "Your skin heals during sleep," she explains. "Seven to eight uninterrupted hours are optimal, but if that's impossible, nap when you can." Don't forget sunscreen on your neck and chest, warns Lucchina: "People start to hate their neck in their forties. It doesn't dawn on them to protect those areas as well as their face."

Try This
To help delay the onset of lines and wrinkles, up your antioxidants: vitamins A, C, and E. Drinking green tea and red wine and eating antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies (like berries and dark leafy greens) can also boost your skin's resilience to environmental damage, Petty says. Dietary silicon and zinc aid in skin repair and may improve skin's overall texture.