Loose skin, wrinkles, and dark spots are telltale signs that you are getting older. However, just because there are more than 40 candles on your birthday cake doesn’t mean you should neglect your skin and let the aging process do its thing. In fact, with a great skincare routine, you can take years off your face and look much younger. Not only can healthy skincare habits help retain skin’s youthful firmness longer and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but they can also reduce skin cancer risk. Here are some of the ways you can help your skin in your 40s.
Ensure sun protection
Although the sun is our main source of vitamin D, it is not a great idea to stay in direct sunlight for a long period of time. The sun’s rays can speed up the aging process and make your skin look much older. Therefore, seek shade whenever possible, especially between 10 am and 2 pm. During those sunny days wear a wide-brimmed hat, pants, and long sleeves, and put on sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside. If you think that indoor tanning beds are a good replacement for lying on the beach, keep in mind that those lamps also expose you to harmful ultraviolet rays and therefore accelerate skin aging.
Don’t forget to moisturize
Apart from drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day, you should use a good moisturizer on a daily basis. This product traps water in our skin, therefore erasing fine lines and giving it a more youthful appearance.
Address your specific needs
In your 20s and 30s, skincare is about prevention alone. However, in your 40s you need to address the specific skincare concerns that surface at this point in your life. Therefore, if you have loose skin, spots, uneven skin tone, fine lines, or collagen depletion, look for products that specifically target those issues.
Don’t smoke
If you haven’t smoked until now, it is a bad time to start, and if you are a smoker you should seriously consider quitting. Tobacco smoke leads to a dull and dry complexion, as well as premature lines and wrinkles.
Take Vitamin A
If you wish to get rid of those fine lines, use a retinol product. It can brighten and lighten your look, and lead to a rejuvenated skin.
Watch what you eat
What you eat reflects directly on your skin. If you eat only greasy junk food, your skin can become dry, flaky, and full of pimples. On the other hand, healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats will promote healthy skin.
Use serums
If you haven’t used antioxidant-rich serums in your skincare routine, now is the right time to start. These products can help you ward off free radicals, but be sure to look for a formula that also has hydrating and collagen-boosting benefits.
Don’t forget about your neck
Unfortunately, a lot of ladies apply a ton of different products to their face, but they forget to look after their neck. This part of your body also needs serums, moisturizers, and other face products to stay healthy and youthful, so make sure you don’t stop at your chin when applying your skincare products.
Take supplements
Apart from eating healthy foods and maintaining a well-balanced diet, you should also take supplements that will help you retain your skin’s youthful firmness for longer. For example, your skin stops producing as much collagen as it used to when you turn 40, so you can take collagen supplements to provide the skin with the necessary proteins. In addition, you can also take mega-rich fish oil which will help you with hot flashes that happen during perimenopause.
With this skincare routine you can maintain a youthful appearance and no one will be able to tell that you are in your 40s.
