What skincare should you use in your 40s?

What changes does your routine need to address?

As skin ages, dryness, wrinkles and age spots become more common. Skin also becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth, and healing can take longer. Sunlight is a major cause of skin aging, while smoking contributes to wrinkles. The useful response is to protect skin and address the changes that bother you, rather than buy a product for every possible sign of aging.3

What should you use in the morning?

1. 1Wash with warm water and a mild cleanser. Avoid scrubbing or using soap to get your face clean.
2. 2Apply vitamin C serum if you choose to include it.
3. 3Apply a facial moisturizer suited to your skin type.
4. 4Apply broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors. Cover skin that clothing leaves exposed.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours while outdoors. A moisturizer containing sunscreen can combine two steps if it provides broad spectrum protection and SPF 30 or higher; for time outdoors, choose water resistance too. Protection also means seeking shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wearing a wide brimmed hat, protective clothing and sunglasses. Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps.12

What should you use at night?

1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser, without rough cloths or abrasive scrubs.
2. 2Apply retinol if you decide to use it.
3. 3Apply moisturizer. If retinol irritates your skin, applying a thin layer of moisturizer before retinol can help.

Moisturizer traps water in skin and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines. Use it every day, and include body moisturizer and lip balm where needed. Facial cleansing twice daily is a useful starting point, but keep the washing gentle: scrubbing is not part of the plan.1

Should you add vitamin C or retinol?

Vitamin C helps brighten skin, reduce fine lines and support collagen, the protein that gives skin structure. Choose an opaque container because light can inactivate vitamin C. Retinol helps old skin cells shed and slows collagen breakdown, helping reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It can irritate skin, particularly when you first start or if your skin is sensitive. Avoid duplicating retinol across a serum and moisturizer. Prescription retinoids are not necessary for most people.4

How do you choose products without buying everything?

Give sunscreen and moisturizer a few weeks before deciding what else to add. Then pick one remaining concern and a product aimed at it. No product treats every sign of aging, despite the ambitious workload assigned to a single jar. Adding several aging treatments within a few days or weeks can irritate skin.2

Choose formulas for your current skin type: a moisturizer for oily skin if yours is oily, or products labelled for sensitive skin if yours is sensitive. A hypoallergenic label means a lower allergy risk, not zero risk. The words "clinically proven" mean consumers tried the product, not that it underwent clinical trials or received FDA approval. Effective products exist at every price, so your budget does not need to audition for the luxury aisle.2

What results can you realistically expect?

Moisturizer can temporarily make skin look fuller and soften the appearance of fine lines. Regular use of retinol bought without a prescription can begin showing improvements in about three months. Aging skincare delivers modest changes, not the results of a facelift.24