9 Ways To Better Skin In Your 40s And Beyond

9 Ways to Better Skin in Your 40s And Beyond

As you approach your 40s there are some skin changes that can start happening.

Your skin becomes drier and more sensitive to cleansers and skincare products
You are more prone to irritation and stinging
Loss of collagen and elastin in the deeper layers of the skin, leads to wrinkling and loss of elasticity
Your skin may appear duller due to the fact that with age your skin cells turn over slower than they did when you were younger
You may notice more hyperpigmentation due to age-related UV exposure and this can lead to an uneven skin tone
You start to produce less oil
You may still be coping with acne into your 40s
However, many of the acne treatments that you might have used in your 20s or 30s are now too drying and irritating now that your skin is not as oily as it once was
You are more prone to breakouts due to hormonal changes especially around menopause
Your levels of antioxidants in your skin such as vitamin C and vitamin E start to decline leaving you more vulnerable to environmental stressors such as ultraviolet radiation pollution

9 Ways to Better Skin in Your 40’s And Beyond

Switch out your cleanser

Cleaning is an important part of anyone’s skincare routine but when you get into your 40s you may find that you need to switch your cleanser.
You may be using a foaming cleanser that strips your skin too much leaving it dry and parched especially if you are experiencing age-related dryness.
Instead, you might select a gel cleanser or a cream-based cleanser.
You may need to reduce the frequency of cleansing, instead of cleansing twice a day you may only need to cleanse once a day.

M0isturize lavishly

Moisturizing especially at night-time is very important.
As you get into your 40s you may find that you need to use a thicker moisturizing cream to help your skin stay hydrated.

Don’t ever forget your sunscreen

Sunscreen is super important.
Even if you have never used sunscreen on a daily basis before, it is not too late to start now.
Sunscreen protects your skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation including the UVA that comes through window glass.
UVA is what actually destroys the collagen in the deeper layers of your skin.
Protect your skin by wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen every day even when it’s cloudy.
It is also important to remember to reapply sunscreen throughout the day if you spend time outdoors.

The importance of exfoliating

As you get into your 40s your skin cells don’t turn over as quickly as they once did and this leads to dull, dry skin.
A chemical exfoliant is recommended to help remove sun-damaged skin cells, brighten up skin tone and soften dry patches, giving your skin a more radiant appearance.
Avoid physical exfoliants, like scrubs, that can create micro-tears in the skin, worsening dryness, which is the last thing that you want.

If you have an oily skin type you will benefit from using a salicylic acid exfoliant.
It will help with the overall appearance of the skin and also help with acne control and reduce the appearance of pores and oiliness overall.

If you have dry skin you will benefit from alpha-hydroxy acids.
These can soften dry patches and facilitate skin cell turnover.
They improve moisture retention and overall skin barrier function.
If you have really sensitive skin and are prone to rosacea, you might want to consider a polyhydroxy acid.
These are very gentle and help with hydrating the skin and improving moisture retention without exfoliating too aggressively.

Why antioxidants are a must

The antioxidant levels in your skin start to decline as you age, resulting in less vitamin C and vitamin E which is necessary for collagen production.
Vitamin C applied topically to the skin has been shown to improve collagen production, helping to smooth out wrinkles.
It has also been shown to help brighten and improve areas of hyperpigmentation.
Unfortunately, vitamin C is not stable and is difficult to get absorbed into the skin.
It needs to be in the presence of vitamin E and ferulic acid (a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free-radical damage from pollution, ultraviolet light, or infrared radiation).

Retinol for skin cell turnover

This is something you should consider incorporating into your skincare routine in your 40s if you haven’t already.
Retinol is a topical vitamin A, the goal of which is to put retinoic acid into your skin.
It increases collagen synthesis and facilitates skin cell turnover.
It also helps to remove sun-damaged skin cells and to improve the look of wrinkles and fine lines.
So, incorporating some form of topical vitamin A in your 40’s is prudent.

Your diet is more important than you think

Make sure that you are eating your fruits and vegetables because those will help protect your skin from free radical damage.
Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have carotenoids in them.
They help your skin deal with UV radiation better and ultimately benefit you in more ways than just your skin.

Exercise & keep moving

It is really important to keep exercising in your 40s and not to become a couch potato.
This is really critical because as you age, you start to lose muscle mass and bone density.
Weight-bearing exercises are a helpful way to protect the health of your bones.
Cardiovascular exercise is key for the most important muscle in your body, your heart, as well as reducing inflammation in the body.
Age-related loss of bone density and muscle mass will also show up on your face with facial sagging and hollows.

Sleep the great repairer

Sleep is so important for the recovery of your skin and for fighting off free radical damage and for total body health and longevity.
Women in their 40s may be approaching or going through menopause and a lot of women experience insomnia as a part of menopause.
This can drastically impact your total body health, as well as the health of your skin.
Establishing a good sleep hygiene routine involves amongst others:

Not drinking caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
Lowering the temperature in your bedroom, making it cool can help facilitate sleep
Turning off bright lights early in the evening
Turning off your devices, in particular, can help your brain transition to sleep.

Sources
aad.org – skin care in your 40s and 50s
sciencedirect.com – analysis of facial soft tissue with aging
health.harvard.edu – do retinoids really reduce wrinkles
tandfonline.com – skin anti-aging strategies
mdpi.com – role of vitamin c in skin health
aad.org – 11 ways to reduce premature aging