Over 40 is not over the hill! This is the best time of a woman’s life to reconsider her lifestyle priorities and reverse the signs of aging with a healthy anti-aging skin care routine.
What should you know about your skin after 40?
After 40, women encounter changes in skin composition, some of which we do not commonly perceive as age-related variations. For example, you may observe your skin has become less smooth, drier, or more sensitive. You may also notice that wrinkles become more visible on the forehead, above your lip line, and on your neck. Of course, much of the skin problems and changes arise from hormonal changes and aging. But even if genetics and some illnesses accelerate the aging of your skin, you can nevertheless resolve them by adopting a wholesome daily anti-aging skin care routine and a lifestyle of wellbeing and self-care.
My struggles with skin conditions
I’ve grappled with some skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and rosacea for decades. As a teen, my skin was prone to acne breakouts and pimples that eventually left some scarring. In my 30s and until very recently, I had ongoing skin inflammations on my face and around the hairline. A dermatologist suspected it was psoriasis and recommended a cortisol-based cream which I hardly applied on my skin. And with the onset of menopause, my skin started to show signs of aging. Besides wrinkles, my skin began to lose elasticity below my chin. Most importantly, I’m at risk of developing melasma spots if I sit in the sun for long. These stubborn spots are the stamp of aging skin and are tough to remove with a non-invasive procedure.
Menopause and skin conditions
I was utterly oblivious to the influence of menopause on my skin and body. No one told me what to expect, and I didn’t bother investigating menopause before it happened. Most women don’t think about this topic until their physician confirms it through blood work and medical examinations. And even then, a doctor won’t necessarily sit you down and tell you about your skin condition and physical effects unless you have a medical history or unless you point out the changes. So what can happen to your skin after 40?
The eight accomplices of aging skin
Before revealing an anti-aging skin care routine after 40, it’s essential to know how your skin changes as you age. And although we grew up deeming that conditions like wrinkles and loss of elasticity are strictly age-related, we are not acquainted with distinct skin conditions attributed to hormonal fluctuation and aging.
Dullness
As skin matures, dead skin cells can cover up your complexion’s natural and radiant tone, leaving it dull-looking and pale. In addition, your skin may appear more faded with age because it cannot hold water or produce oil and collagen.
Sagginess
Sagging skin is the loose skin that appears to hold no definition due to lack of collagen and elastin. Particularly in menopause, the skin loses collagen at a rate of 30% in the first five years. That’s why women who experience menopause later on, post 55 naturally maintain firmness in their skin. So don’t feel bad about saggy skin if menopause strikes earlier.
Creases
Wrinkles are the most visible skin problem that sometimes begins in our 30s. This is because you start to lose fat under the skin, causing elasticity to drop. As well, facial muscle contractions like smiling or frowning prompt the skin to fold and crease.
Large pores
Similarly, the loss of elasticity and collagen production reduces firmness and increases the size of the pores on your skin.
Increased sensitivity (itchy, redness, rosacea)
A reduction of estrogen can likewise make your skin irritated or cause it to be more delicate than usual. This sensitivity makes you more likely to get a rash or hives when you’re exposed to irritating substances.
Dry skin
As hormone levels fall, your epidermis can become dehydrated, lax, and transparent. In addition, hot flashes and the reduction of estrogen can dry your skin which is why you need the right skincare products to reduce dullness and boost hydration.
Sunspots/hyperpigmentation
One of the most common types of hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure is melasma, a skin condition that surfaces when hormone levels fluctuate. This stubborn skin damage is challenging to treat, and the best way to avoid them is by protecting your skin from the sun.
Acne
Perimenopause acne develops in women due to hormonal fluctuations, and they usually appear around the chin area. As well, adult acne takes longer to heel and appear under the skin causing unrelenting discomfort.
Why is it essential to have a regular skin care routine after 40?
Although aging is part of life and is a natural process, we should welcome and accept this wisdom stage. Of course, there’s no point in consuming time worrying about the folds, dips, and wrinkles, but there are significant advantages in establishing a lifestyle of self-care and preservation.
Women after 40 endure physical changes through perimenopause, and menopause and hormonal fluctuations are uncomfortable for many. For example, according to John Hopkins Medicine, almost 75% of women experience hot flashes during menopause. With discomfort comes the need to re-evaluate lifestyle and habits that worked before turning 40 but not so much after. Ultimately, your daily anti-aging skin care routine after 40 is among these practices you should re-evaluate and enhance.
The effective anti-aging skin care routine
The good news is that your skin condition won’t change overnight, nor will these nasty changes take place at the same time. However, the likelihood of encountering skin incidences becomes more evident if you neglect taking good care of your body and skin. Achieving healthy skin means incorporating healthy lifestyle habits, including well-balanced meals, activity, and a strict skin care routine.
Hydrate
The first rule of an effective routine is hydration. Well-hydrated skin is less sensitive to irritants and is better equipped to flush away toxins. In addition, when your skin is well-hydrated, it can retain collagen and appear fuller and more radiant.
Skin hydration has to be on the inside and outside. Water is the source of life that sustains vital organs. And since the skin is the biggest organ and the first line of defense, it needs water to maintain its functions. Drinking an adequate amount of water each day helps keep the skin well-hydrated on the inside.
The second method of hydrating the skin is through conventional skin care routines that combine moisturizers, serums, and oils. Hyaluronic Acid can retain moisturizer and help hydrate dry skin. My favorite is Vicky MINÉRAL 89, the number 1 serum in Canada that the Canadian Association of Dermatology recommends for skin health. MINÉRAL 89 is a daily face moisturizer that provides the skin’s daily dose of strength. Its pure formula combines 89% of Vichy Volcanic Water and natural-origin Hyaluronic Acid.
Wear Sunscreen
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure. After 40, women are prone to developing melasma during menopause due to fluctuation in hormonal levels. I cannot describe the importance of protecting your skin from sun exposure without admitting that I experienced it last summer while suntanning. It was not just a wake-up call, but rather a slap on the face. Literally it felt that way! I’ve described it in this blog and shared the best-rated sunscreen lotions for women over 40.
Clean skin
Clean skin is a window to a radiant look. Washing the face twice a day is second nature to most mature women, which becomes more important to fighting wrinkles. Shedding dead skin and oil buildup is prevalent after 40 due to hormone inconstancy. Specialists recommend using mild cleansers for aging skin to reduce possible irritation and excessive dryness. I started using Vichy Normaderm Purifying Cleansing Gel in my 30s to fight adult acne and reduce skin sensitivity. To this day, this cleanser continues to deliver outstanding results leaving my skin clean without stripping away moisturizer.
Exfoliate
Not all skin exfoliating products are made equal, especially for mature skin. Women over 40 might be afraid to exfoliate their skin because the process could damage and dry the delicate and sensitive skin. But exfoliation helps wipe out dead skin and oil buildups, which reduces the appearance of dull, flaky skin. As well, it boosts cell turnover and prevents a pale appearance over time. Eminence Stone Crop Oxygenating exfoliant is an award-winning product that contains natural, organic, and biodynamic ingredients to combat inflammation, lighten and moisturize all skin types. I have been using it once a week to smooth my skin and remove impurities for a number of years and it works effectively. The powder is gentle even on sensitive skin and safe to use even while experiencing inflammation.
Vitamin C
A MUST have for every skin type! I started using Vichy Vitamin C serum in March 2020 and haven’t stopped since. The serum does wonders for my skin as it eliminated the chronic inflammation episodes which I’ve been dealing with since my 30s. But, as well, I noticed a difference in my skin texture as the serum helped reduce the appearance of acne scars on my cheeks and promoted skin smoothness. According to Healthline, Vitamin C helps hydrate the skin, fade pigmentations, reduce redness, protect against sun damage, stimulate collagen production and prevent skin sagging. Here are some of the best Vitamin C serums for aging skin.
Nourishment
What you put inside your body reflects on your skin at the end. And you may have the most expensive moisturizers and skin treatments, but you’re not doing your skin justice if you consume unhealthy food. In your 40s, eating nourishing meals elevates your energy, metabolism, and cellular growth. Thus, you’ll need to eliminate sugar, starchy and fast food to control metabolism and hormonal fluctuations. Unfortunately, such food groups wreak havoc on your body and skin by increasing skin sensitivity and breakouts. They speed up the aging process, and you’ll feel better replacing them with fresh vegetables, fruits, and good carbs.
To maintain a youthful-looking skin that oozes radiance, use serums and moisturizers that target areas of concern: wrinkles, loose skin, melasma, and acne. Retinoids, derivatives of vitamin A, peptides, antioxidants like vitamins C and E, Hyaluronic acid, and ceramides are examples of ingredients that can enhance your skin and add to your anti-aging skin care routine. Lancome Advanced Génifique Face & Eye Serum is an anti-aging face serum formulated with 7 prebiotic & probiotic extracts and hyaluronic acid. This serum targets 10 key signs of aging and visibly improves skin radiance.
Exercise
Last but not least, add exercising to your daily anti-aging skin care routine to increase blood flow and nourish your skin and keep it lusty. In addition, blood flow also helps remove toxins and free radicals, from working cells. According to US Dermatology Partners, a research study found that the skin of participants who worked out regularly almost mirrored healthy skin for individuals of much younger ages, between 20 and 40. This research showed that 30 minutes of aerobics exercises each day, may in fact make it possible for you to turn back the clock for your skin.
For more ideas, Follow Elle Muse activities on Instagram and Pinterest:
A side note: Elle Muse is a marketing affiliate which means we do get a small financial reward (commission) on orders you may place through the links. However, it doesn’t cost you more to shop through this site. We simply curate our favourite pieces and offer suggestions. Your support helps sustain Elle Muse blog. Happy shopping. Privacy policy: click here.
