Honestly, I wasn’t always convinced skincare needed different rules just because you hit a birthday. Felt kinda gimmicky, you know? Like, why bother splitting hairs?
My Stubborn Phase
Used the same cleanser and basic moisturizer for years. Didn’t matter if it was my mid-twenties or pushing 35. Just grabbed whatever smelled nice or was on sale. Woke up one morning and noticed my skin looking… tired. Really tired. Like it had hung up the “Under Construction” sign without telling me.
Stumbling Across Dr. Aivee Teo
Scrolling through feeds, maybe wasting some time, and kept seeing clips of this Dr. Aivee Teo talking about skin. What caught me wasn’t just the advice, but people mentioning how she looked. Started paying attention. Realized she’s obviously been doing this for decades. Her own face? It looks… practiced? Like someone who actually lived the advice she gives, not just selling bottles.
The “Age Matters” Lightbulb Moment
She wasn’t just saying “use sunscreen.” She was super specific. Stuff like:
- Your 20s: It’s about prevention, fixing damage from teenage years. Stop squeezing pimples, seriously. Start gentle exfoliation. Sunscreen is non-negotiable, even if you feel immortal.
- Your 30s: Hello, first signs of slowing down. Collagen takes a nap. Need richer hydration. Maybe peek at things like vitamin C serums before dark spots really settle in.
- Your 40s & Beyond: Hydration is king, queen, and the whole court. Skin gets thin, loses bounce. Look for ingredients that signal your skin cells to perk up again. Treatments might need stepping up a notch.
Seeing someone who clearly navigated these stages herself – and looked like she knew the secret paths – made me listen harder. Her age wasn’t a number; it was proof she’d actually done the walk.
My “Actually Trying This” Experiment
Okay, fine. I accepted I wasn’t in my 20s anymore. Time for actual effort. Based roughly on her age-group talk:
- Stopped stripping my skin: Ditched the harsh foam cleanser, especially mornings. Just water or super gentle cream cleanser. Felt weirdly clean without feeling tight.
- Hydration obsession: Found a much thicker, richer night cream. Slathered it on like it was my job.
- Sunscreen became habit: Not just beach days. Any time I left the house. Reapplied if outside long. Bottle lives by my keys now.
- Added a “perk-up” serum: Picked one she vaguely mentioned for “tired-looking” mature skin – something about peptides. Used it religiously every night.
Did it Actually Do Anything?
Honestly? Yeah. After maybe 6-8 weeks of not skipping steps:
- Skin felt less like sandpaper and more like… well, skin.
- That permanent “I just woke up” dullness? Started fading.
- No magic eraser on wrinkles, but they looked less… deep? Like someone inflated them slightly. Plumper.
It wasn’t an overnight miracle. More like my skin finally stopped screaming at me for ignoring the memo about getting older. Dr. Teo talking the talk and visibly walking the walk for years? That’s what finally got me to believe it wasn’t just marketing fluff. Age matters because your skin’s needs fundamentally change, and listening to someone who’s navigated the map just makes sense.
