Hello Beautiful! As a woman closing in on 50 and a makeup artist who focuses on women over 40, I know the challenges we all face on our faces! In this post, I am sharing some of my favorite for my tips and tricks for the best skincare routine to renew that radiant glow for women over 40. 

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Once we hit our 40s and 50s, it’s such an interesting time in our lives! We know who we are better than we ever have, and in our minds, we feel like we are as young and vibrant as we have ever been! And yet our bodies and our faces might tell us a different story in the mirror. (I mean, when did my hands turn into grandma’s hands on my “very young” body?! haha) Here’s the good news: It is not too late to renew that radiance and get back to thriving in your natural beauty! Find out why and how in the next sections!

Over 40 Skincare Tips

Why is my skin changing so much after 40? 

We really start to notice the changes in our skin and face. As collagen production is on the decline every year after about age 35, it starts to show the most on our faces with the reduction in elasticity and brightness. The discoloration, the newer wrinkles, the gravity… facts of life and time passing, which in itself has its own beauty! But if you are feeling discouraged or bland about things, there are lots of options to be more proactive in taking care of our skin. In the next section of bullet points, I am listing out my favorite ways to start to create change!

Of course, there are injectables and professional treatments to create change in this area as well, but this post is about what we can do at home that will help us feel vibrant and radiant.

The Best Skincare Regimen for Women Over 40

Here are some of my favorite recommendations for steps that really can make a difference in having radiant and glowing skin after 40.

1. A consistent skin care routine. Whether it’s 3 step or 12 step, the most important part is to DO it! Cleanse, treat, moisturize. Those are the basics that need to be done, morning and evening. Do not sleep with your makeup on! No, it won’t actually age you ten years (does anyone else remember hearing that back in the day?), but it isn’t doing  you any favors and inhibits your skin’s time to recover while you are sleeping.

2. Invest the time to discover what your skin’s needs are and how you want to address them. Is it discoloration? Puffiness? Dehydration? Those are all different issues and they are amazing targeted treatments out there for each one. 

3. Invest in your skincare routine treatments. A great cleanser, serum, and moisturizer are worth the extra money. If you only have the funds to splurge on one product and need to choose budget items for the rest, then your splurge should be the serum. Why? This is your targeted treatment that can really improve whatever condition that needs to be addressed.

Skin Care Steps To Do At Home

4. Facial massage – Do you need the skin tools like rollers and stones that are all the rage right now? No, but I do love those. They feel good and help the process. But you could massage your face in upward, lifting motions with just your hands and it will make a difference over time. Just like anything – consistency makes the difference. As a side note, I do have to say that what estheticians can accomplish with a gua stone is pretty impressive. Check out Wilding Beauty’s * tutorials… I am blown away by the smoothing and sculpting of the face that she accomplishes! (*That is not a sponsored link).

You can also read more about skin tools in my “The Skinny on Skin Tools” blog post here: https://abundantbeautyco.com/2020/08/03/the-skinny-on-skin-tools/

5. Drink water! So much water. More than you want to. Your skin will show the difference. Infuse it with cucumbers or other fruit to mix it up and add some flavor and health benefits. It also just feels like a spa day when you do that, so why not start to do that all of the time?

6. Try collagen supplements. Powder is the most common, and is easily blended into smoothies or coffee. There are liquid forms as well that some say are more digestible and therefore more easily absorbed and potentially more effective. (These are still on my list to try). And know the difference in your collagen options: true collagen is animal-based, while plant-based collagen options are typically fruit derivatives that help support and boost your own natural production.

Glowing Skin After 40

7. The fastest boost to a quick facial glow – hang your head upside down for a few minutes! I know it sounds silly and might feel silly if you don’t practice yoga. But it is actually good for our bodies to change our blood circulation like that, and you will see the difference. So if you want some extra glow before your next zoom call, try it! Plus you will laugh and that will feel good.

8. Of course, investing in professional facials is also amazing. You can also do this for yourself at home by setting aside the time to do a facial steam, a couple of masks in a row (maybe exfoliating and then hydrating), and finish with a face oil and facial massage.

In summary, it is worth the extra time to take care of our skin. The first thing people see is our faces! We want our goodness and the beauty of our soul to shine through, right? I love the natural beauty of someone who is comfortable in their own skin, at every age in their life. That ability to be so confident and radiant is improved when we take the time for self-care. It is not self-indulgent to take care of yourself and your skin; self care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly! Don’t let this second act of life be a reason to feel bland or “less-than.” You are so beautiful right now, and you are worth the investment of time to treat yourself well. Try a few of the steps above, and let your light shine through. 

Which ones of the above steps do you do regularly? Which ones will you try? Will you hang your head upside down? lol! I’d love to hear!

Cheers to thriving in your natural and abundant beauty!

Xx,

Kristin