According to dermatologists. There is a consensus among dermatologists: it’s never too late to start caring for your skin.
The earlier you develop a regimen, the better. Generally, prevention is more effective than correction.
Incorporate certain habits and ingredients into your morning and nighttime routines in your 20s and 30s. That way, by the time you reach your 40s, you’re more likely to have tighter, brighter, healthier skin.
It’s important to use brightening and anti-wrinkle products even before any deep-set lines or sunspots show up. Microscopic changes like excess pigment and loss of collagen start in our 20s and progress slowly.
They are usually not visible until your 30s and 40s. By then, they’re much harder to treat.
Distilling the most important habits to take on before (and during) your 40s can be tricky. Adopt skincare habits that are enjoyable to you.
If your skincare routine is not enjoyable, continuity is difficult. Choose products of high quality and select your active ingredients carefully.
So what are the most important skincare products, ingredients, and habits to adopt before and during your 40s? We spoke with three top dermatologists to find out.
Read on for the updates to make when it comes to skincare in your 40s.
Get Acquainted with Vitamin C. The antioxidant vitamin C is one of the most important ingredients to start using in your 20s and 30s.
It helps prevent dark spots before they happen and support collagen before you lose it. Vitamin C is a terrific skin brightener with firming benefits since it boosts collagen and has antioxidant and UV protection benefits.
Look for a high-potency vitamin C serum with antioxidant boosters like ferulic acid and vitamin E. Apply your vitamin C in the morning before moisturizer and sunscreen for extra protection.
Exfoliate Two or Three Times a Week. Maturing skin thickens, which can make it look a bit more dull.
As we age, our dead skin cells don’t shed as fast. That makes the skin start to look dull and textured.
Exfoliating two to three times a week can help solve or at least stave off some of these concerns. Incorporating exfoliation, both chemical and physical, can help shut down the problem before it begins and help maintain your youthful glow.
Make Sunscreen the Centerpiece of Your Routine. If you incorporate just one anti-aging product into your skincare routine, it should be sunscreen.
It’s never too late to begin wearing daily SPF. Even if you have been a lifelong sun seeker, it is never too late to prevent further sun damage.
The sun accounts for up to 80 percent of the visible signs of facial aging. This can be slowed by the daily use of SPF.
Apply sunscreen on all exposed skin surfaces every day with a commitment to consistency. This includes hands, exposed forearms, neck, and décolleté in addition to the face.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF of at least 30 or higher. Many formulas can feel thick and chalky, but you can try the EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen.
It goes on completely clear with zero white cast.
Embrace Moisturizing Emollients. Skin can get drier, flakier, and duller as we age.
You should get in the habit of protecting your moisture barrier early on. There are a few well-supported moisturizing ingredients that dermatologists will typically recommend.
These include moisture-trapping lipids, which mimic the natural lipids in the skin that make babies’ skin so soft. CeraVe’s drugstore cream contains lipids at a super-affordable price.
Hyaluronic acid is another moisturizing ingredient that the dermatologists we’ve interviewed recommend. HA is one of the key molecules that affects skin moisture levels.
It has an impressive ability to hold water, thus improving moisture levels in the skin.
Incorporate a Retinoid Into Your Routine. A retinoid is a great, clinically-supported ingredient to incorporate into your nighttime routine.
Your 20s are the perfect time to start using a high-quality retinol, or even better, a prescription-strength retinoid at night. The vitamin A derivative is meant to work preventatively to fight wrinkles and boost collagen production.
Consistent use of retinoids can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 12 weeks. Even if you use the best, most expensive, most clinically proven skincare products on the market, they won’t work if you only use them every now and then.
Consistency is key. Visit a dermatologist to determine the best skincare routine for you, then repeat that routine every single day.
Looking younger is great and all, but making sure your skin is protected against skin cancer is the most crucial factor to consider. Get full-body exams by a board-certified dermatologist once a year.
Get them more frequently if skin cancer runs in your family or you have a history of sun damage. Now is the time to get a baseline skin evaluation from your dermatologist.
Do this to make sure there are no early signs of precancerous skin changes.