If you haven't been following a dedicated skincare routine in your 20s and 30s, is it possible to cultivate an effective one in your 40s?

Yes, it is. In fact, there may be no better time to initiate a full-on skincare routine than in your 40s, a period that is marked by significant changes in your body. 

Sure, the earlier you adopt good skin habits — like wearing daily sunscreen and exfoliating at least once a week — the better shape your complexion will be in as you enter your more mature years. But don't let past negligence deter you from wanting to take better care of yourself now. 

In this article, we'll help you put together the best skincare routine for your 40s by explaining the common concerns associated with this decade and the products that will help you address them.

Common Skin Concerns in Your 40s

Most skin concerns you experience in your 40s may have been initiated during your 30s or even late 20s. However, a decline in the foundation of your skin's outermost layer can result in unfamiliar issues that you haven’t yet had to address.

1. Sagging Skin

Collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are the building blocks of your skin's outermost layer. They work together to keep your skin smooth, firm, and well-hydrated. Starting in your 30s, collagen production in your body declines by 1% each year. 

In addition to that, your body begins to produce less elastin and form fewer GAGs over time. This is a natural occurrence, although poor diet and overexposure to UV rays can exacerbate these declines.

As these building blocks in your skin diminish, the result is loose, sagging skin. You can usually spot it on the jowls, underneath the chin, and on the neck. 

2. Wrinkles

The decrease in collagen and elastin also yields the formation of wrinkles. You may have been fortunate enough to have dealt with only fine lines throughout most of your 30s. Ultimately, these lines can turn into deeper creases due to the lack of collagen and elastin in your skin once you reach your 40s. 

When you make repeated expressions, like squinting your eyes or furrowing your brow, your skin eventually lacks the ability to snap back into place as easily as it could in your 20s. This results in deeper creases forming in your skin. 

You may discover your first defined wrinkles around your eyes (crow's feet), between your eyebrows (frown lines), around the mouth (smile lines), or on your upper lip (smoker's lips, if you smoke or vape regularly).

3. Increased Dryness

As we already mentioned, your skin begins to form fewer hydrating GAGs over time. That's coupled with a decrease in the skin's natural moisture-retaining lipids, called ceramides. By the time you enter your 40s, you'll have lost 60% of your natural ceramides. 

When your skin becomes weaker in its ability to produce and retain moisture, you will start to experience more prolonged bouts of dryness. Your skin might become flakier and tighter than it had been in your younger years, even if you normally have a balanced or oily skin type.  

4. Sun Damage

Hyperpigmentation and other symptoms of sun damage — including wrinkles and small pimple-like bumps called actinic keratosis — can become evident in your 40s. Sun damage is a culmination of lax sun protection. Not wearing a daily SPF is an obvious perpetrator, but regular tanning during your youth can also bring forth these issues later in life. Contrary to popular belief, tanning is not healthy — it damages your skin's DNA. 

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the third most common form of cancer in women under the age of 49. Make sure to regularly check your skin for the formation of new dark spots or changes to existing moles. Visit your dermatologist if anything is amiss to rule out a potential skin cancer diagnosis. 

5. Slower Cell Turnover

Your skin's cell turnover rate continues to decline in your 40s. At this point, your skin can take more than 40 days to regenerate — a far cry from the 20 days it would take in your 20s. This can lead to an accumulation of dead skin cells, which can make your skin appear dull and listless.

The Best Skincare Products for Your 40s

The best skincare routine for your 40s will feature products and actives that will replenish and nourish your skin, resulting in a natural, healthy glow.

1. Hydrating Cleanser

Cleansing your face properly is a must, especially if you wear sunscreen or makeup on a regular basis. Look for a formula that removes dirt and impurities while replenishing your skin with nourishing ingredients that will add moisture, rather than strip it away.

The YORA Rebalance Face Cleanser is a gentle cream cleanser that includes soothing, moisturizing chamomile. It's also fortified with avocado oil, which is rich in vitamins (A, D, and E) that can improve your skin's elasticity. 

2. Exfoliant

Regular exfoliation is necessary to combat prolonged cell turnover rates in your 40s. If you're new to exfoliating, start off by doing this step once a week. You can work your way up to exfoliating two to three times a week, depending on what your skin can handle. 

Opt to use a chemical exfoliant, which contains AHAs/BHAs, or a physical exfoliant, which is a grainy scrub. The latter option is not recommended for anyone with sensitive skin, as the grains can be too abrasive. 

YORA's Revitalise Face Polish is a hybrid product that combines a chemical exfoliant (glycolic acid, an AHA) with a physical exfoliant (bamboo powder). These ingredients effectively remove dead skin cells from the surface, leaving your complexion smoother and brighter. 

3. Serums

Serums are formulas that contain a high concentration of active ingredients. They're useful for targeting one concern or a combination of them. You may have started using serums in your 30s to ward off signs of aging, fade dark spots, or provide extra hydration for dry skin. The most popular serums to use in your 40s may contain retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or AHAs. 

YORA's Revitalise Face Serum contains mineral-rich Swiss glacier water plus YORA's own hyaluronic acid blend of PRIMALHYAL 50 and PrimalHyal™ 300. It yields intense moisturization and can also help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Meanwhile, YORA's Defence Face Concentrate contains retinol along with lipochroman®. Together, these ingredients reduce visible signs of aging while protecting skin from free radicals (unstable atoms that can damage skin cells) and other pollutants.

4. Eye Cream

Depending on the severity of your under-eye wrinkles and dark circles, eye cream may have been added to your skincare routine years ago. While you may prefer to use a general moisturizer for your eye area, a dedicated eye cream is specifically made to treat the issues that are commonly associated with this delicate part of your face. 

YORA's Define Eye Contour is formulated with seaweed extract, an ingredient rich in antioxidants according to a 2018 study featured in Marine Drugs. This eye cream hydrates the under-eye area, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and reduces the appearance of dark circles.

5. Moisturizer

A decline in the skin's ability to produce and retain moisture means that a well-formulated moisturizer is a necessity. It's possible to replenish — or rather, replicate — the natural ceramides you've lost. According to a 2018 study from Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, synthetic ceramides can mimic your skin's natural moisturizing system. Seek moisturizers that contain these ceramides along with other nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. 

For daytime use, there's the lightweight YORA Revitalise Face Moisturiser. This gel combines mineral-rich Swiss glacier water, plant sugar-derived squalene, and YORA's own hyaluronic acid blend of PRIMALHYAL 50 and PrimalHyal™ 300 to provide a plumper, smoother complexion. 

Meanwhile, the YORA Rebalance Night Face Moisturiser is a richer night cream that has Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, and Ceramide 1 to provide deep hydration while restoring your skin's moisture barrier. 

6. Sunscreen

Sunscreen is the most important product you can add to your daytime skincare routine. While several day creams may include SPF, that's not enough protection, according to a 2019 study published in PLoS ONE. A separate broad-spectrum sunscreen will be your most effective line of defense against UVA and UVB rays. 

Wearing sunscreen regularly will save your skin from burns and wrinkles while reducing your risk of skin cancer. It's imperative you don't skip this step in your daytime routine if you use retinol or vitamin C, as these products can increase your skin's photosensitivity, making it more prone to sun damage. 

A Focus on Skin Firming and Tightening

Loose, sagging skin can develop in your 40s as you begin to lose the key components that contribute to your skin's firmness and volume. Here's what you can do to help tighten those troublesome areas on your face and neck.

• Invest in a well-formulated firming cream. The YORA Conditioning Face Balm contains Suberlift™, which is an extract of cork oak that has been clinically proven to tighten the skin by binding to the surface via a microcrystalline network. You can also look for creams that contain ingredients that promote collagen production (like retinol). 
• Massage loose skin to help increase blood flow. A 2017 study featured in PLoS ONE discovered that using a regular massage device, combined with a firming cream, can "significantly" reduce sagging and minimize the appearance of wrinkles. 
• Facial exercises may also tighten loose skin. In 2018, scientists at Northwestern University observed the effects of a 20-week facial yoga regimen. While further research is required, the study concluded that the daily exercises "seemed to improve mid-face and lower face fullness."

Adopting the Best Skincare Routine for Your 40s

At this stage, the skincare routine you cultivate in your 40s should focus on maintenance. Aging is a natural process that can only be delayed for so long. It's okay to embrace your skin's changes with grace. While you may not be able to totally reverse years of damage, you can prevent new signs of aging from forming by taking proper care of yourself, inside and out. 

And if this will be your first time undertaking a proper skincare routine, know that it's not too late to start.