Anti ageing skincare routine for your 40s
40 is the new 30. So, how can we make sure our skin plays the game?
Our skin’s needs are constantly changing, which is why it’s important to evolve our skincare routine and products as we enter our 40’s.
How your skin changes in your 40s
Before looking at a good anti ageing skincare routine for over 40s it's useful to, first of all, understand how your skin changes as you hit your 40s.
40 may just be a number, but many doctors and skincare professionals will tell you that your 40s are when you can really start to see changes in your skin. Sebum production and the water and fatty acids that give our skin its hydration and plumpness decline as we age, leaving our skin more defenceless against daily damage from external factors like the sun. All this means that your skin is likely to become drier, thinner and less firm.
Your natural collagen production will start slowing down, if it hasn't already, meaning your skin loses its elasticity and you might start to see more wrinkles and signs of premature ageing.
Along with the crow's feet and loss of moisture, sun exposure may also mean increased hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, and the slowing of your skin's regeneration process may mean your face looks duller due to the slower production of new skin cells, and dead skin cells taking longer to get rid of.
It may sound like doom and gloom for your face once you reach 40, but the good news is that with help, you can slow the onset of these premature ageing factors. So what is the best skincare routine once you've reached your 40s?
The best skincare routine for your 40s
Start with a gentle cleanser
Wash away the dirt and grime and remove dead skin cells with gentle, hydrating anti-ageing cleansers that are mild to the skin, and avoid deep scrubbing and clarifying products that can strip our natural oils. Look for kind-to-skin formulas such as milks, cleansing balms and foaming cleansers.
Look no further than our Electro-Lite Gel Cleanser. This gentle cleanser contains a soothing combination of Magnesium, Calcium Electrolytes and Bio-compatible Glycolipid to clean, hydrate and replenish the skin’s upper layer with an optimal non-stripping pH level of 5.5, making it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Boost collagen production
After starting your skin care routine with gentle cleansing, a vitamin-rich, collagen serum is vital in maintaining moisturised skin. The big vitamins we’re looking for here are vitamin A (retinol), B3 (niacinamide) and C, in moisturising formats such as rich creams and serums.
Vitamin A (retinol) is the go-to for stimulating collagen and elastin production to help maintain the bouncy structure of the skin. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that’s brilliant for defending against pollutants and environmental stressors that damage healthy skin cells, and targeting pigmentation that prematurely ages the appearance of your skin.
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) works wonders on strengthening the skin’s lipid barrier by increasing the production of ceramides. Ceramides band together to form a protective layer that locks in the moisture skin needs to look plump and glowing, and lock out environmental pollutants, UV and toxins that age skin before its time.
One of the best formats for 40+ skin is an anti-ageing serum. Serums are highly-concentrated yet lightweight formulas packed with powerful ingredients that absorb easily into the skin and boost hydration and luminosity that makes skin appear younger.
Why not try our Youth Reformer Serum? This highly potent neurocosmetic oil-in-serum formula contains a complex of Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid provides intense hydration for the skin and the combination in our Hyaluronic Acid and vitamin C serum is great for recapturing the skin's youthful look and feel, helping to reduce visible signs of ageing, improve moisture and cell rejuvenation. In fact, the exclusive formula of this Hyaluronic Acid and vitamin C serum boosts collagen production by 54% in just 48 hours!
Sun protection
Last, and most important of all – SPF.
Sunscreen and protection against the sun should be a part of your skin care routine, not just for holiday. One of the biggest threats to skin in our 40’s is the sun; and we’re not just talking about those blissful weeks of topping up our tans. Daily exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays can speed up the aging process by penetrating the skin and damaging the elastic fibres that keep skin firm. Now we know what you’re thinking - SPF has a bad rep - but gone are the days of the thick, heavy, sticky creams we’d be covered in on the beach. Formulas have evolved to be gloriously lightweight and contain skin-loving ingredients such as vitamin C and E, making them the perfect addition to the morning skin care routine for all skin types.
A skin care regimen to slow skin ageing
Fact of life - our skin and body change with age. Also a fact of life? By formulating the best skincare routine we can manage those changes to look and feel the way we want, even as the clock ticks over.
Just as we spend time working our bodies to keep healthier and in shape for today and tomorrow, we can also up the facial workout ante when it comes to looking younger for longer. We recommend trying FaceGym's Radio Frequency Workout – in our studio or online for plumped-up, gorgeous skin that glows. Radio Frequency works on boosting the skin’s collagen production to help restore elasticity, firming the skin and achieving radiance that improves over time. We even offer a specific Lower Face Lift 1-2-1 Session to treat troublesome skin slackening around the jawline that comes with age.
