Skincare in your 40’s

In your 40s, your skin is undergoing significant changes, largely influenced by hormonal fluctuations that occur during perimenopause. As estrogen levels drop, the skin can experience dryness, dullness, loss of tone, and even adult acne. This decade is a pivotal time to enhance your skincare routine to address these issues proactively and support your skin’s health as it continues to age.

What’s Happening with Your Skin in Your 40s:

• Collagen Loss: By your 40s, collagen production has slowed significantly. This decline results in a loss of firmness and elasticity, making wrinkles more prominent and leading to sagging skin. Collagen gives your skin its structure, and without enough of it, skin becomes thinner and less resilient.
• Cell Turnover: Your cell turnover rate has also slowed down, taking around 35 to 40 days instead of the 28-day cycle that you enjoyed in your 20s. This slower renewal process leads to a buildup of dead skin cells, contributing to a dull complexion. Incorporating retinol or booking a sqt Bio-needling facial can help speed up the cell renewal process, revealing fresher, more radiant skin.

Common Skin Issues in Your 40s:

• Dry Skin: As estrogen levels decrease, your skin loses moisture more easily, leading to dryness. You may notice fine lines around your eyes, mouth, and forehead becoming more visible. Hydration is essential now—opt for a richer moisturizer containing essential fatty acids, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or shea butter. If these feel too heavy, try a more nourishing night cream or upgrade to hydrating serums to keep your skin plump and moisturized.
• Dull Skin: The slower cell turnover means that dead skin cells linger on the surface longer, giving your complexion a dull, lackluster appearance. Retinol is a powerful ingredient for accelerating cell turnover and keeping your skin looking fresh.
• Acne: Unfortunately, hormonal changes can also lead to acne around the mouth and jawline in your 40s. This type of acne is often stubborn and linked to fluctuating hormones. Extraction facials, along with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial skincare ingredients, can help control breakouts.
• Wrinkles: The fine lines that began in your 30s may now deepen and become more prominent, especially around the eyes, mouth, and forehead. Retinol remains your best ally in combating these signs of aging, as it is one of the only ingredients proven to stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Skincare Recommendations:

• Hydration: Use a moisturizer packed with hydrating ingredients like ceramides. Consider layering with a hydrating serum to enhance moisture retention.
• Retinol: A must-have for your 40s. Retinol not only increases cell turnover but also boosts collagen production, helping to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. If you haven’t started yet, now is the time to incorporate it into your routine.
• Antioxidants: Continue to use antioxidants like Vitamin C, green tea, and zinc to protect your skin from environmental damage and maintain a healthy glow.
• Neck and Décolletage Care: Don’t forget to extend your skincare routine to these often-neglected areas, which can show signs of aging faster than your face.

Advanced Treatments:

In your 40s, it’s beneficial to incorporate more advanced treatments to boost collagen production and maintain skin firmness. These should be done every 1.5 to 2 years to maintain results:

• Bio-Needling: This treatment stimulates collagen production by creating tiny channels in the skin that allow for deeper absorption of serums. It’s great for improving skin texture and promoting firmness.
• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): IPL can help address pigmentation, redness, and uneven skin tone, while also encouraging collagen growth to maintain skin elasticity.
• Ultimate Aging Facial: A comprehensive facial treatment that targets multiple signs of aging, including hydration, collagen production, and skin tone.
• Dermal Needling: This treatment involves creating controlled micro-injuries in the skin to boost collagen production, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and scars.

Your therapist will help guide you in choosing the right treatments based on your skin’s specific needs.

Skincare Must-Haves for Your 40s:

• Antioxidants: To protect against free radicals and environmental damage.
• Good Hydrating Moisturizer: For keeping skin plump and nourished.
• Sunscreen: Always use SPF to protect your skin from UV damage.
• Retinol: The go-to ingredient for fighting aging and promoting cell turnover.
• Home Rolling: For at-home skin rejuvenation and product absorption.
• Neck and Décolletage Cream: Because these areas deserve just as much attention as your face.

By prioritizing active ingredients and regular treatments, you can maintain youthful, radiant skin throughout your 40s and beyond.