Skincare in Your 40s: The Basics
The hormonal changes that occur in your 40s can cause a loss of elasticity in the skin, resulting in more prominent lines and wrinkles. Focus on a thorough and consistent skincare regime packed with anti-ageing ingredients to target cell regeneration and renewal.
However, what you might not know is that there are some very simple changes you can make to your little ol' skincare routine in order to keep your skin looking just as good as it does now.
So, if you're looking to step up your skincare routine (and you love a listicle situation), we've pulled together some helpful skin tips everyone in their 40s should know about.
Cleansers
Use a gentle, creamy cleanser both morning and night to remove impurities without stripping skin of its precious natural oils. We love the Dr LeWinn’s Private Formula Gentle Cream Cleanser.
Serums & Moisturisers
Repair and protect skin with a serum rich in antioxidants. The E.L.F Antioxidant Booster Drops contain vitamin C to brighten and rejuvenate, vitamin E to nourish and renew, and snow mushroom extract to hydrate.
Another anti-ageing ingredient for your consideration: peptides! Peptides are the building blocks of the skin, and a serum like the Clear Skincare Copper Peptide Serum will help to stimulate collagen production and minimise lines and wrinkles.
Follow up with an SPF rich moisturiser of at least 30+ to protect skin from harmful UV rays. We love the Invisible Zinc Sheer Defence Daily Facial Moisturiser SPF50.
Eye Cream
The skin around the eyes is super delicate and will likely show the first signs of ageing. Gently pat on a retinol-enriched eye cream, like the Olay Eyes Pro Retinol Eye Wrinkle Cream Treatment.
In this decade, dark-skinned women are usually just beginning to see fine lines, wrinkles, and other age-related issues like loss of volume, says Brooke Jackson, MD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In fair-skinned women, sun damage continues to show up as splotchiness and hyperpigmentation. And many 40-somethings contend with hormone-related problems such as acne and premenopausal dryness.
Nighttime Treatment
It's worth it to spend a bit more on your bedtime regimen, says Jackson. Regular use of a prescription retinoid is like making a deposit in your 401(k): Retinoids boost reserves of collagen and elastin, preventing future sagging. Not only are they antiaging, they also reduce acne, a bonus for women still suffering through breakouts.
These are the years when deeper wrinkles tend to set in around the eyes and mouth. There can also be an overall loss of volume in the face, as we start to lose subcutaneous fat. “As you hit your 40s, that delicate balance starts to tip a little bit, and you begin to break down more fat and more collagen than you’re producing,” says Carroll. Plus, acne seems to spike in this group due to fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels. This can lead to big-time breakouts, especially the large cystic type, that tend to appear along the jawline. “And they can leave spots and scars behind too,” says Carroll. Yes, wrinkles plus pimples — oh joy!
Apply Sunscreen on The Daily.
On that note, please say hello to skincare's number one anti-ageing product - sunscreen. We can almost hear the collective groan associated with us always pushing sunscreen. But it works, so If you're not already using it every day, you're doing your skin a serious dis favour because in case you didn't already know, one of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun.
A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin concerns, as well as, y'know, skin cancer. So, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and remember to reapply it during the day.
Exfoliate Regularly (But, Like, Gently)
A mild scrub will help get rid of any signs of dryness and dull tone, which can sometimes accentuate lines and wrinkles.
For best results, try to up your exfoliation game to every second day for smooth, bright skin. Of course if you're noticing any signs of irritation or prolonged redness - pump the brakes.
Slap on a Night Cream Before Bed.
If you don't already use a night cream or sleeping mask, get around it - cause did we mention your skin in your 40s tends to be dry? No?
Opt for a moisturising cream that includes moisture-boosting ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Big fat bonus points if it includes antioxidants, cause they're important day and night.
10 Ways to Make Yourself Look 10 Years Younger
1. Maintain Good Posture
Good posture makes you look taller, thinner, and younger, Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, NYC Area Spinal and Orthopedic Surgeon, maintains. "Unless a conscious effort is made to maintain good posture, we spend so much time hunched in front of our phones and desks, and thus we are training our bodies to slouch," he tells Eat This, Not That! "Improving your posture as you age not only makes you look younger but has multiple health benefits." Good posture is also linked to increased self-confidence, and confidence projects a positive, youthful appearance.
2. Don't Forget to Wear Sunscreen on Your Hands
Unprotected UV exposure accelerates age related changes such as wrinkles, skin coarseness, and age spots, reveals Annie Gonzalez, MD, Miami Board Certified Dermatologist of Riverchase Dermatology. "Wearing sunscreen protects against skin aging, and decreases age spots, wrinkles, and other premature skin aging," she explains. While most of us don't forget to wear it on our face, we often neglect our hands. "Even if our face looks young, aged hands will reveal our chronological age," she points out.
3. Eat Anti-Aging Foods
Debra Jaliman, MD, board-certified NYC dermatologist, Assistant Professor of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and author of the book, "Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist," (St. Martin's Press), explains that eating specific types of food can have anti-aging powers. "Eating foods with antioxidants will make your skin glow," she says, suggesting pomegranates, blueberries, goji berries, black berrries, and cranberries. Also, avoid packaged foods also known as processed foods and sugar. "It is important to have a healthy diet and to limit the amount of sugar that you eat. Processed sugar glycates the collagen which stiffens and ages it," she says.
4. Smile More
According to Sanam Hafeez, MD, NYC Neuropsychologist and Faculty Member Columbia University, smiling can instantly make you appear a decade younger. "People who smile more are often perceived as younger than their actual age, and a genuine smile gives you a youthful appearance," she says. "When you are happy, your face glows, as opposed to an angry face, which can make you look grumpy and older. Smiling also boosts overall health and makes you feel happier.
5. Exercise
How you walk says a lot about your age, explains Jessica Mazzucco, NYC Certified Fitness Trainer. "Staying fit and exercising daily can help you avoid age-related changes in gait and puts a little pep in your step. Focusing on core-related exercises will also improve your posture and won't leave you in a hunched body position that will make you look older."
6. Get A Good Night's Sleep
Sleep is one of the best anti-aging treatments, explains Niket Sonpal, MD, NYC Internist and Gastroenterologist. "Skin ages faster and doesn't recover as well from environmental stressors like sun exposure when you have poor sleep. Poor sleep also can cause wrinkles and fine lines, swollen eyes, and paler skin, all characteristics that make you look older," he notes. "Beauty sleep is not a myth, your body repairs itself while you sleep, and good sleep leads to a long list of benefits that will make you look younger."
7. Take Care of Your Skin
Stacy Chimento, MD, board certified dermatologist of Riverchase Dermatology in Miami suggests memorizing the ABC's of anti-aging. "'A' use antioxidants daily to prevent signs of aging, 'B' use sunscreen daily to create a barrier from the sun's damaging UVA/B rays, and 'C' use vitamin C serum to strengthen skin and repair sun damage," she says.
8. Eat Lots of Veggies
Dr. Chimento also suggests improving skin health via diet. "Increasing one's consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables along with a balanced diet will provide nutrition for skin health," she says. "Having a diet rich in antioxidants helps to promote healthy collagen, fight free radicals, sun damage and improves inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, acne, and rosacea."
9. Put Down the Pack
No more cancer sticks, says Dr. Chimento—not only can they cause cancer but premature aging. They "contain harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide which displaces oxygen in the skin," she explains. "The nicotine component reduces healthy blood flow creating a dry and dull appearance of the skin. It can interfere with vitamin C which is an important antioxidant in reducing free radical formation."
10. Keep Yourself and Your Skin Hydrated
One way to immediately freshen up your face is to hydrate, according to Dr. Chimento. "The skin should always be in a good PH balance. Dehydrated skin is more prone to inflammatory conditions such as acne, rosacea, rashes, etc.," she explains. In addition to drinking enough water, seek out hydrating skincare. "Many of my acne patients are scared to use moisturizers as they are afraid they will 'break out' or make them oilier. If the skin is too dry, then it will make more oil as a response," she says. "I love products that contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides as they improve texture and restore the lipid barrier of the skin. One great way to hydrate your skin is by getting a HydraFacial treatment. Although the face is the most common area for a HydraFacial, this can be used also on the neck and décolletage areas." And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these