Skin Habits to Avoid After 40

You’ve been caring for your skin for decades. And once you feel like you’ve got your skincare down, middle age hits.

Your skin changes as you age, and you may not be able to get away with the things you did in your 20s and 30s. It’s time to start thinking long-term.

Why Your Skin Needs Extra Care in Your 40s

Once you hit 40, your skin undergoes significant changes. Collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep your skin firm and smooth, begin to break down more rapidly. Skin becomes thinner, and cell turnover slows. Hormone changes can also affect your skin’s texture and moisture levels.

Ditch These Skincare Mistakes

These changes make your skin more vulnerable to damage and slower to repair itself. That’s why maintaining healthy skin habits becomes even more important. Let’s look at the habits you should avoid to keep your skin looking youthful for the long run.

Skipping Sunblock

If you’re not wearing sunscreen daily, now is the time to start. Sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature aging. UV rays break down collagen, cause dark spots and wrinkles (not to mention skin cancer). Even on cloudy days, your skin is exposed.

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and apply it every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you’re spending time outdoors.

Sleeping in Your Makeup

We’ve all fallen into bed after a long day without washing our faces. However, sleeping in makeup clogs your pores, traps dirt and oil, and prevents your skin from repairing itself overnight. This can lead to breakouts, dullness, and accelerated aging.

Your skin does most of its repair work while you sleep, so make cleansing with a gentle cleanser a non-negotiable part of your evening routine.

Smoking or Vaping

Smoking and vaping are among the worst things you can do for your skin. Both restrict blood flow to the skin, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. This leads to a dull, uneven complexion and accelerates the formation of wrinkles, particularly around the mouth and eyes. To add insult to injury, the chemicals in cigarettes and vape products also break down collagen and elastin faster.

If you think it’s too late, think again. You will see visible improvements in your skin from increased blood flow within just a few weeks of quitting.

 Overexfoliating

Exfoliation is important for removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover. But too much of a good thing can damage your skin. As your skin thins with age, overexfoliating strips away your skin’s protective barrier, leading to redness, sensitivity, and increased dryness.

Using Dirty Makeup Applicators

This is a part of adulting that we’ve all probably neglected, but it’s time to grow up. Your makeup brushes and sponges are in direct contact with your skin every day. When you don’t clean them regularly, they accumulate bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells. Applying makeup with dirty tools can lead to breakouts, irritation, and infections.

Wash your makeup brushes at least once a week with a gentle cleanser or brush cleaner. Replace sponges every few months.

Choosing Generic Skincare Products

Not all skincare products are created equal. Generic, over-the-counter products often contain lower concentrations of active ingredients and may not be formulated to address specific aging concerns.

Medical-grade products contain higher concentrations of proven ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid. They’re formulated to penetrate deeper into the skin and deliver more noticeable results.

Putting Off Botox

Many people think of Botox as something to consider only after wrinkles have already formed. However, Botox can be highly effective as a preventative treatment. Relaxing the muscles that cause expression lines helps prevent those lines from becoming permanent creases.

Starting Botox in your 40s can slow the aging process and keep your skin looking smoother for longer.

Using Filler the Wrong Way

Many people use fillers to plump lips or add volume to cheeks. However, fillers can also be used strategically to address signs of aging.

Dermal fillers can be used strategically to fill in deep creases around the nose and mouth. You can also consider collagen-boosting treatments like Sculptra to rebuild collagen across a larger area.

Wearing High Heels

Wait, wearing high heels is a skincare habit? Yes, unfortunately. Wearing high heels regularly can contribute to or worsen varicose veins by inhibiting blood flow out of the legs. Over time, this can weaken vein walls.

Luckily, visible veins are extremely treatable. But it’s a good idea to opt for comfortable, supportive shoes whenever possible, and save the heels for special occasions.

Take Control of Your Skin’s Future

Ready to upgrade your skincare routine? Schedule a consultation with our anti-aging experts to create your best skincare plan for your 40s and beyond.