In your 40s, expression lines between your brows and around your eyes and mouth don't disappear like they did in your 30s. "Your estrogen level is tapering so your skin will become dryer," says Lorencin. The neck and décolleté area might start to look crepey as well. Overall you'll need to add moisture and collagen-building ingredients like peptides.
Your ideal regimen: Step 1: Cleanse using a basic non-foaming, non-drying cleanser in combination with a gentle face cleansing brush to help remove dead skin cells. Because you'll use retinol (a chemical exfoliant) regularly, you'll need to get rid of any flaking skin. Step 2: Use SPF daily to prevent further damage and choose a product that contains antioxidants to fight free radicals and help reverse some of the damage you already have. Step 3: Retinoids and peptides are two ingredient groups that you should add into your routine if you haven't already. Peptides can help rebuild collagen, especially when used in combination with skin texture-improving retinoids like retinol. To get both ingredients in one dose (and at one price), opt for a serum like Rodan + Fields Anti-Age Night Renewing Serum, $89. Step 4: Dr. Murad suggests using an anti-aging product specifically formulated for the neck that includes phytoestrogens, retinols and licorice root to help smooth, plump and erase discoloration, such as Dr. Murad's Rejuvenating Lift for Neck and Decollete, $55. Step 5: Use a moisturizer that has a high level of glycerin or hyaluronic acid to help skin retain the moisture it needs.
Photo 5/5
If you're in your 50s
"Moisture, moisture, moisture," says Waldorf. This should be your main concern in your 50s. Loss of tone, hollow eyes and sagging are your biggest issues, and creams and serums can only do so much. If you're looking for more dramatic results, in addition to using powerful products that contain peptides, retinoids, or alpha hydroxy or amino acids, consider talking to your derm about laser treatments and other non-invasive or invasive skin rejuvenation options.
Your ideal regimen: Step 1: Use a cream cleanser that will hydrate skin while it cleanses. Step 2: Choose a moisturizing cream that contains SPF to keep skin hydrated and protected. Because ingredients like retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun, daily use of sunscreen is a must. Step 3: For day, apply a peptide-rich serum under your SPF daily to help build collagen. Look for one that also contains antioxidants to fight free radicals or hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture. PCA Skin pHaze 25 ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum, $102, contains all three ingredients. Step 4: At night, apply a retinoid before your moisturizer. Your moisturizer should contain phytoestrogens to help with hormonal aging, such as Ilike Phytoestrogen Moisturizer, $68. Step 5: Though it sounds too simple (and inexpensive) to be true, a simple petroleum jelly is a great way to lock in the moisture from your moisturizer, which is more important now than ever. One thing to note, petroleum jelly prevents water loss but doesn't attract moisture, so you can't actually skip moisturizer altogether.
When it comes to skin care, most of us fall into one of two camps. There are those of us who never change our routine, using the same ill-suited face wash and moisturizer from our high school days. Then there's the other group, who embrace treatments like Botox and acid peels before there's a wrinkle in sight.
As we age, our skin changes. What worked in our 20s won't do us any favors in our 30s — or 40s. If the goal is to maintain a youthful, dewy glow well into our golden years, and look just as radiant every decade in between, we need to tailor our skin care regimen to the number of candles on our birthday cake. We got the lowdown from the country's top skin care experts on the products we should be using in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond. Here, how to put your best face forward at every age.
