The Three Skin Habits I Wish I’d Started at 25
(And It’s Not Botox or Filler)
Columnist
Dr Victoria Ellison shares the three simple, science-backed habits that make the biggest difference to skin health, no matter your age.
As a medical aesthetic doctor, I see every day how effective injectable treatments can be when they’re used correctly and safely. They absolutely have their place. But after years of treating skin age after age, I’ve realised something important — the women who age best aren’t the ones chasing treatments early. They’re the ones who build strong foundations and stay consistent with them.
And here’s the reassurance I give every patient who walks through my door — it’s never too late to start. Whether you’re in your twenties, forties or well beyond, these habits can transform your skin at any age.
Starting earlier simply protects what you already have, but starting later still brings visible, meaningful results.
1. Daily SPF: your best anti-ageing product
If there’s one habit I could go back and drum into my 25-year-old self, it’s this one.
Most visible ageing isn’t caused by the sun on holiday days, even though we think it is. It’s caused by the sun — day in, day out — through car windows, office windows and even on cloudy days. UVA rays are around all year, quietly breaking down collagen and leading to lines, uneven tone and loss of firmness.
SPF isn’t a “holiday product”. It’s an everyday essential. I tell my patients to keep it beside their toothbrush so they never forget it. Use a broad-spectrum SPF with strong UVA protection every morning, and take it down your neck, chest and the backs of your hands.
2. Vitamin A (retinol, retinal, tretinoin)
If I had to choose one skincare ingredient that genuinely transforms skin over time, it would be Vitamin A.
Vitamin A improves texture, tone, breakouts and fine lines by strengthening the skin from within. But it has to be done right.
Over-the-counter retinols vary hugely in strength and quality, and many people either use something too strong and irritate their skin, or give up too quickly because they don’t see instant results.
This is where medical-grade guidance matters. In my own practice, I work with a Harley Street pharmaceutical lab to create prescription creams made specifically for each patient, adjusted every few months as their skin changes.
The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. Most women only need four core steps: a gentle cleanser, moisturiser, SPF and a Vitamin A treatment cream. No ten-step routine required.
Vitamin A can be the cherry on top — but again, only when it’s stable and right for your skin.
3. Banking collagen with SkinPen microneedling
From around age 25, we lose roughly 1 per cent of our skin’s collagen each year. During our first few years of menopause, that can rise to 30 per cent. Collagen is what gives skin its bounce and strength — and once it’s gone, it’s harder to rebuild.
That’s where SkinPen medical microneedling comes in. It works by creating tiny, controlled channels in the skin to trigger your body’s natural repair process — a bit like how exercise micro-tears muscle to make it stronger. The result is firmer, more resilient skin.
SkinPen is suitable for all skin types and isn’t just for ageing concerns. It can also help with acne scarring, surgical scars, stretch marks and overall skin quality. It’s the first FDA-approved microneedling device, so its proven safety and effectiveness is well established.
Injectables can enhance what’s already there — but they work best on healthy, well-supported skin. If you focus on these three habits — daily SPF, the right Vitamin A, and collagen-stimulating microneedling — you’ll build a foundation that lasts a lifetime.
Start where you are. Stay consistent. And your future skin will thank you for it.
Dr Victoria Ellison MB BCh BAO BSc Hons
Medical & Cosmetic Doctor
Dr Victoria Clinic
NI, Saintfield & Dundonald
Web: www.drvictoriani.com
Email: hello@drvictoriani.com
