10 Skincare Tips You Should Know in Your 40s

Women often go through drastic life changes as we age: we switch our career paths, we meet new people, we outgrow old friends, we experience ups and downs in our romantic lives, and some of us bear children. As everything in our lives change, so do our health and physical appearance.

In our younger years, our skin is softer, bouncier, and smoother, but it is also oilier, and more prone to unwanted acne breakouts. When we grow older, the condition of our skin changes and it becomes more challenging to maintain a youthful complexion. 

In our 40s, it’s important to take proper care of our skin to protect it against dryness, sensitivity, and dark pigments. Our skin can become duller-looking and uneven, and develop wrinkles around our face. This happens because of a phase called perimenopause or the years leading up to menopause. 

During perimenopause, our estrogen levels decrease, and our skin loses its elasticity. This decrease in estrogen can lead to loss of collagen, bone depletion, and sagging.

The aging process is natural. Still, you can choose to age like fine wine. No matter what your age is, it’s perfectly okay to strive for healthy, glowing skin. We’re here to help you out. 

Below are some valuable skincare tips you should know in your 40s to achieve younger-looking skin.

Add Vitamin C in Your Daily Diet. 

Using vitamin C serum or taking vitamin C pills can help prevent dark spots from appearing on your face. Vitamin C boosts collagen, has antioxidant properties, and protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. 

Exfoliate Twice or Thrice a Week. 

When our skin matures, it thickens, and our pores become accentuated. Dead skin cells on our face won’t shed as fast, which causes our skin to look dull and its texture becomes rough. Additionally, since there is excess pigmentation in dead skin cells, the skin tone could look uneven or darker. 

Exfoliate two or three times a week to stave off dead skin cells on the face. Using both chemical and physical exfoliation can help you maintain that youthful glow. Be sure to avoid abrasive scrubs because your skin becomes thinner. Still, it’s good to physically exfoliate to stimulate circulation and carry more oxygen to your skin.

Moisturize Your Skin to Prevent Dryness. 

Because our skin gets duller as we age, using moisturizer can help you avoid dryness. Most dermatologists recommend moisture-trapping liquids that act as natural lipids in the skin and makes it smooth and soft.

Get Enough Sleep. 

Getting enough beauty sleep is important because our skin naturally repairs damages during nighttime. If you’re sleep-deprived, this process of regeneration can be impaired. What’s more, sleep deprivation can increase cortisol, a stress hormone that causes the breakdown of collagen.

At bedtime, you can always use an overnight sleeping mask to help boost your skin’s regeneration process. Never wear your makeup to sleep and be sure to use gentle makeup removers.

Always Use Non-Greasy Sunscreen. 

Most women admit that they regret not using sunscreen to protect their skin from sun damage despite knowing that wearing sunscreen every day is crucial. You can use SPF 30 or SPF 50 sunscreen products and combine it with your moisturizer.

It’s important to be consistent in applying sunscreen every day. Apply it on all exposed skin surfaces, such as hands, exposed forearms, and neck, in addition to the face.

Wash Your Face in the Morning and at Night. 

Wash your face and cleanse it thoroughly when you wake up in the morning and before you go to sleep at night. During the day, there will be a buildup of dirt, makeup, sunscreen, and sebum on your face, which can lead to breakouts, dullness, and even eyelash breakage. 

You can try the Korean beauty ritual: first, use a cleansing oil, and then use a milk or water-based cleanser. Cleansing twice will ensure that all the bacteria and dirt will be removed from your skin. 

Use a Humidifier and Change Your Sheets. 

The perfect solution to dry skin is by using a humidifier at bedtime. If you live in a place that experiences winter, know that cold air saps moisture from the skin and can cause dryness. Since using air conditioning systems can also dry your skin, using a humidifier to add moisture into the air can help keep your skin glowing. 

Change Your Sheets Every Week.

Make it a habit to change your bed sheets every week because the dirt and grime can accumulate in them. Use softer pillowcases because they are less abrasive and can minimize inflammation.

If You Have Acne, Avoid Eating Dairy, Sugar, and Gluten. 

Make sure to avoid certain types of food when you have acne. Eating dairy, sugar, and gluten can significantly increase your insulin levels and throw your hormones off-balance. Use topical solutions such as retinol, masks, and glycolic pads to reduce inflammation and redness.

Lastly, Use Retinol as an Anti-Aging Serum. 

Since your skin starts losing collagen in your 40s, dermatologists highly recommend adding Retinol anti-aging serum in your nighttime routine. The vitamin A derivative in Retinol works to prevent wrinkles and boost collagen production. It can also help treat two major causes of acne, which are inflammation and dead-skin buildup. Because retinol can be irritating on the skin, it should be used once or twice a week at nighttime until your skin is comfortable enough to use it every night.

Aside from the tips above, the most important thing you should do in your 40s is to maintain a healthy routine, stay hydrated, sleep for at least eight hours a day, eat a balanced diet with whole foods, and perform physical activities. All of these will help you keep your skin youthful and glowing.

Vivianne Sterling

Editorial Manager at Beautips. I love street style and I'm always in search of bits of inspiration around me. I also believe in home-made solutions for fitness, beauty tricks and healthy cooking.

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