Essential skincare tips in your 40s: Dealing with sagging skin, dark spots and more
There's a reason why many women feel being in their 40s is when things dramatically go downhill when it comes to their skin. After all, it’s a stage in their lives when the onset of menopause approaches, which means the skin is very likely to be affected along with the body’s changing hormone levels.
At this point, oestrogen levels decline, the natural cellular turnover slows down further, and there's continued loss of collagen and elastin in the body, explained dermatologist Eileen Tan of Eileen Tan Skin Clinic & Associates.
All these are factors that inevitably contributes to the ageing of the skin, which means women in their 40s are indeed likely to experience skin dryness and sagging, and develop deep, prominent wrinkles, while more pigmentation spots may start appearing.
The facts may sound bleak, but these are all part and parcel of the natural ageing process. How quickly and how far it progresses will also depend on your genes, along with your lifestyle habits, and the level of effort you have devoted to taking care of your skin thus far.
The good news, though, is that you can still minimise and slow down these effects of ageing by fortifying your skin against them with an upgraded skincare routine.
BASIC CARE
If you had already experienced drier skin in your 30s, it might progress further into your 40s, as oil production in skin continues to decline. A loss in facial volume is common, due to a drop in natural collagen production, while deeper wrinkles may develop as a result of the aforementioned conditions.
This is when the cumulative effects of unprotected exposure to UV rays are also likely to show up prominently, if you haven’t been diligent about applying sunscreen when you were younger. Pigmentation spots are not easy to eliminate completely but can be lightened with the use of skincare products with certain ingredients.
To address all these issues, the skincare products you’ve been using for the basic steps of cleansing and moisturising may need to be changed. In general, the products you need will have to be able to hydrate better and also help target the specific problems mentioned above, if they apply to you.
Try a soapless cleanser
For many in their 40s, moisture loss will become a more noticeable issue, especially after cleansing. Washing the face with just water is much touted on the Internet to be a great way of preserving moisture in dry and mature skin. But is doing so truly beneficial for the skin?
Our picks:
According to Dr Tan, water is not a cleansing agent as it won’t bind to sebum and impurities, and remove them from the skin. As such, a cleanser is still necessary. Those with dry and sensitive skin types, however, can try washing with cleanser just once a day, or opt for a soapless cleanser, which will provide the gentlest cleanse possible.
Fortify skin with moisture and anti-ageing ingredients
Moisturiser, in the day and at night, is a must for those in their 40s. “A lightweight moisturiser with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin is suitable for those with combination skin or adult acne. I would suggest creams for people with dehydrated skin,” said Dr Tan.
Our picks:
She also pointed out that ceramides is one ingredient that can benefit all skin types. “They are present in the skin’s epidermal layer and are part of the natural constituents of a healthy skin barrier. Hence, replenishing the skin with ceramides will help retain skin moisture. This is especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin and eczema.” Read More…
