Want the Best Skin of Your Life Once You Hit 40? Prioritize These 8 Products

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(Image credit: @greceghanem)

Here's the thing: We're all aging, folks! As hyper-focused as our culture is on maintaining our youth and slowing down the wrinkles, pigmentation, and any other visible signs of aging, I'm calling for a shift in mindset. We might not be necessarily ecstatic when we notice that first gray hair or some new crinkles around our eyes, but instead of freaking out and throwing the car into reverse, I personally like the idea of making the most with what we have. And really, who said our skin looks best when we're young? A construct that's who. I mean, my mom is 74, and I'm thoroughly convinced she has the most beautiful skin in all the land—wrinkles and all.

Whether we like it or not, our age is showing up on our faces every day we're lucky enough to wake up to a new day. Inevitably, there will be some visible shifts. (For instance, according to one dermatologist I consulted for this piece, our collagen starts to break down by 1% each year after we hit 30.) That said, despite what our genetics, age, or lifestyle habits have to say about it, certain products and ingredients can definitely help keep our skin happy and balanced and looking as healthy as we feel. There's just some strategy involved. To get the scoop on the best skincare products to use once we hit 40 and beyond, I reached out to some of the best experts in the business—from estheticians and acne specialists to dermatologists—for their insight. Keep scrolling for eight key product categories to prioritize in your 40s and the best specific skincare products within each to add to your shopping cart. 

The Most Common Skin Concerns Once You Hit 40

"Clients in their 40s definitely voice more concern around fine lines and wrinkles, an increase in laxity, and uneven skin tone," says facialist to the stars and Australian skin expert Melanie Grant. "The rate at which our skin produces collagen starts to rapidly decline from age 30, and in our 40s, the sun exposure and potential sun damage from our youth really starts to surface with uneven pigment, dark patches, and sunspots." Plus, for many women, she notes, perimenopause is another factor that can contribute to a significant change in the skin once we hit our 40s since hormones shift and prepare for menopause. (This can cause a number of concerns, including dehydration, dryness, laxity, breakouts, and even rosacea.)

The good news? according to Joshua Zeichner, MD, FAAD, adding and prioritizing the right skincare products can improve the aforementioned signs of aging while simultaneously reducing future damage, even if, sadly, we can't change our genetics, previous environmental exposures, or lifestyle faux pas.

The Best Types of Skincare Products to Use Once You Hit 40

Serum With High-Quality Actives

While you might feel the urge to buy a slew of new products and completely overhaul your regimen upon noticing the first visible signs of aging, remember that less is actually more when it comes to a great (and balanced!) skin aesthetic. "In the long run, you're better off working with fewer products and making sure you're really consistent with them," Grant explains. "If you're not sure where to start or don't want to invest in an entirely new regimen, reach for active serums. These are typically water based and formulated with the smallest molecules, yielding the most significant change in the skin." She recommends antioxidants—like vitamin C—for the daytime and corrective formulas with AHAs, BHAs, and retinol in the evenings.

Retinol or Similar Alternatives Like Retinal and Bakuchiol

"Our 40s are a great time to incorporate a retinol serum to encourage collagen synthesis, boost cell turnover, and break apart any pigment that might be presenting," Grant tells me. She recommends starting slowly—curb your application to once or twice a week in the evenings only and work your way up to nightly use as your skin tolerates.

"Retinoic acid or a plant-based version such as bakuchiol is a must when it comes to anti-aging ingredients," says Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD. "As we age, our body naturally loses vitamin A, which contributes to normal signs of aging. Retinoic acid (retinol/retinoid) is an extremely effective cell-communicating ingredient that can connect to almost any skin cell receptor site. It tells the cells to behave like healthy, younger skin cells. It also functions as an antioxidant that can interrupt free radical damage, which causes wrinkles and other signs of aging. It increases cell turnover, builds collagen, improves discoloration, hydrates skin, reduces acne, and, with continued use, strengthens the skin barrier."

Antioxidants 

"Once you're in your 40s, a dose of antioxidants in the morning is a must," Grant explains. "They shield the skin from environmental aggressors and free radical damage that wreak havoc on the cells and accelerate aging. Vitamin C is great for those of us in our 40s because it adds radiance, brightens, firms, and really kicks our own collagen production into gear."

Sunscreen

"No matter what your age is, sunscreen is absolutely essential," Zeichner emphasizes. "In fact, if you're only using one skincare product, most dermatologists would recommend sunscreen. Studies have shown that using sunscreen and nothing else over the course of a year actually improves signs of skin aging."

Peels and Exfoliants

"As we age, several important skin-barrier functions slow down: collagen and elastin production, cell turnover, and more," Engelman explains. Zeichner agrees, noting that, with age, our skin cells don't exfoliate the way that they normally did when we were younger. This creates buildup on the skin's surface, interfering with light reflection and contributing to a dull appearance of the skin. Luckily, both Engelman and Zeichner say peels and high-quality exfoliating products can help boost these processes while removing visible signs of aging and improving the overall health and appearance of the skin barrier.

Eye Cream

Even if you've forgone eye cream in the past, experts say your 40s are a strategic time to give the delicate area around your eyes an extra dose of TLC. "Another must for anyone over 40 is eye cream," says Engelman. "The eye area is really the first place we show aging, so I even recommend starting in your 20s."

Repairative Moisturizer

"Along with sunscreen, a gentle cleanser and a nourishing moisturizer will be your best friend," Njoroge tells me. "Look for a moisturizer that has ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and peptides, as these can help your skin appear more plump and hydrated, temporarily reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

If you're over the age of 40, Zeichner adds that he often recommends a richer moisturizer as compared to what he would recommend to someone younger. "With age, the skin typically gets drier, contributing to dullness and loss of radiance," he says.

Gentle Cleanser

"Cleansing should be the simplest step in your routine that doesn't require much thought, which is why I love cleansers that don't contain exfoliating actives," Njoroge divulges. "You know they're safe to use regardless of what other steps you'll follow them up with, and they won't increase your risk of being sensitized from over-exfoliation."

As Zeichner reminds me, you don't have to spend a fortune on your cleanser, and choosing a gentle, simple formula is probably one of the best things you can do for your skin, especially once you hit 40. 

Up next, I Developed Perioral Dermatitis Practically Overnight—Here's What Helped

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.