Dermatologist Recommended Skincare Routine For Your 40s

If you are in your 40s, now it is time to get on a dermatologist-recommended skin care routine. But what is the best skincare after 40? You are in the right place.

I am a dermatologist in Miami, FL that researches skincare. Over 200 dermatologists and other physicians work use the Bauman Skin Typing System to prescribe skincare to their patients.

If you would rather find skincare at home, you can take our scientifically validated quiz and get a skin care routine that you can further customize based on your brand preferences and budget. It’s the next best thing to seeing a dermatologist- but- you can do it from home. (See how our quiz was validated here.)

Whether you are a man or a women, the best skincare routine in your 40s needs to focus on any barriers to skin health that are keeping your skin from looking as young, clear and smooth as possible. Here is some general advice about the best skincare routine for the 40s, but you need to know if you have one of the issues below before an optimal skincare routine for your early, mid or late 40s can be recommended.

Skin Care Routine for 40 year olds

The best skin care regimen will include skincare products with antiaging ingredients. There are many different types of antiaging cosmeceutical ingredients. Which is best depends upon your skin type.

But before I can give you advice on the best moisturizer, night creams and other products for your 40s, I need to know more about your skin. If you took the quiz and know your Baumann Skin Type already- you will get more personalized skincare advice.

If not- follow these suggestions:

Best Skincare for Oily Skin Over 40

Step 1 to finding a face cream or serum is to figure out if you have oily or dry skin.

This depends upon two things:

1. How much sebum (oil) you make?

2. How strong is your skin barrier?

Over 80% of people guess incorrectly[i] [ii] about how much sebum their skin makes. This is why you should take the quiz.

Your Skincare Regimen Should Target Common Skin Conditions in Your 40s

In your third decade of life, it is common to have these skin conditions: acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and melasma. Your skincare routine should treat all of your skin problems- not just one of them. Two or more of these skin problems can occur at the same time. For example, you may have acne that leaves a dark spot when the pimple heals. For example you may have inflamed skin and melasma, In that case it would be important that the skin lightening ingredients in your routine do not worsen your skin’s inflammation.

Do you have any of these issues? If so- read more about them by following the link.

Dryness

Rough skin

Dull skin

Sensitivity

Acne

Skin redness/ red face/ rosacea

Unevenness of Skin Tone

Fine lines and wrinkles

Best Natural Skincare Routine in your 40s

If you prefer organic, natural and vegan skincare in your skincare regimen, that is fine. There are good products out there. Just make sure that they have the best ingredients for your Baumann Skin Type. Ingredients that do not come in a natural organic version are retinoids. Don’t waste money on natural or plant-based products that claim to have Vitamin A, carotenoids, carrot extract and other forms of Vitamin. Only these forms of retinoids are effective.

What do most 40-year-olds do wrong with skin care?

Most 40-years-olds combine expensive skin care products in their skin care routine that inactivate each other. This means you are wasting time and money.

First of all- you might not need to spend a lot of money on skin care.

Secondly- you might not need that product you are buying.

Thirdly, your cleanser or moisturizer or other products in the skin care regimen may be affecting the efficacy of that expensive antiaging serum you bought.

Our regimen builder helps you choose each step of your regimen so that the products work together- even if they are from different brands.

Make sure you are not making any of these skincare mistakes:

Incorrectly guessing your skin type

Treating one skin problem rather than all of your skin conditions

Using the wrong skin care products

Using products that cancel each other out

Using products in the wrong skin care routine order

Over exfoliating

Getting procedures they do not need and cause side effects

How To Take Care of Your Skin in your 40s

This is easy! Find your Baumann Skin Type and follow the regimen builder to build a custom skincare routine to target any underlying barriers to skin health that you have. Watch your email for skincare advice specific for your Baumann Skin Type.

You will be able to read reviews for others with the same skin type you have- that makes the reviews more meaningful to you. Keep yourself informed by following @SkinTypeSolutions on social media or watching and participating in our Skin Type Talks on YouTube. Browse our skincare library to learn all about skin care products and skin science that you are interested in.

Skincare on a Budget- Not Enough Time or Money

Don’t worry, I am here to help you narrow it down to when to save and when to splurge. I can also help you find what products really matter and which you can skip.

Affordable Skincare Routine 40s

No matter what you Baumann Skin Type is, you can find affordable skincare by using our skincare regimen builder found after you take the quiz. This regimen builder allows you to choose skin care products for each step of your skincare routine. For example, you will be given a choice of night creams from many brands that are right or your skin type. You can choose by price, brand or other concerns like vegan, clean and gluten free. This allows you to buy products that are right for you and let you choose from affordable options.

Simple Skincare Routine for 40s

Your skin care routine will be simple if you do not have very many barriers to skin health. You can get away with a good cleanser, sunscreen and retinoid in some cases. However, you will need more products if you have more underlying skin conditions to treat.

Best Skincare Products for 40s

I will review some of my favorite products, but you will get better advice in an email that you receive after taking the quiz.

Best antiaging skincare for 40 somethings

This is such an important topic that I have written a separate blog about antiaging skincare in your 40s. ADD LINK Click here to learn more about the causes of skin aging and click here to find antiaging skincare routines.

Best sunscreen for your 40s

I cannot stress this enough: Use a sunscreen- EVERYDAY! Sunscreen is proven to slow skin aging and even skin tone. Sunscreen protects your skin from developing inflammation from ultraviolet radiation damage and other forms of light. If you are in your 40s and have not found a sunscreen you want to use every day- then I bet you are not shopping by your Baumann Skin Type. Most skin types like tinted sunscreens to protect your skin from blue light emitted from your phone. (Yes – your phone! Yikes!)

Replenix Tinted Mattifying Face Sunscreen SPF 30

$44.00

Out of Stock

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50

$42.00

Add to Cart

Derma Made SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer

$34.00

Add to Cart

Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36

$76.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD UV Luminous Broad Spectrum SPF 41

$41.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 Tinted

$44.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50

$36.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Cool

$59.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Warm

$59.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45

$56.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Tinted Mattifying Face Sunscreen SPF 30

$44.00

Out of Stock

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50

$42.00

Add to Cart

Derma Made SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer

$34.00

Add to Cart

Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36

$76.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD UV Luminous Broad Spectrum SPF 41

$41.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 Tinted

$44.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50

$36.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Cool

$59.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Warm

$59.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45

$56.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Tinted Mattifying Face Sunscreen SPF 30

$44.00

Out of Stock

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50

$42.00

Add to Cart

Derma Made SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer

$34.00

Add to Cart

Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36

$76.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD UV Luminous Broad Spectrum SPF 41

$41.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 Tinted

$44.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50

$36.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Cool

$59.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Warm

$59.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45

$56.00

Add to Cart

Best Facial Cleanser for your 40s

The second most important product that 40 years olds should carefully choose is a facial cleanser. The type of cleanser depends upon your skin concerns. For example, if you have facial redness and sensitive skin, consider an anti-inflammatory cleanser such as the face washes recommended by dermatologists for rosacea. Preventing inflammation at an early age will help reduce overall skin damage and keep your skin tone even. Using the wrong skin cleanser can lead to skin dehydration, inflammation, pigmentation and skin aging. If you have dry skin, learn more about cleansing dry skin here.

Find the best cleansers for your Baumann Skin Type here

Best Face Cream and Moisturizer for 40 year olds

The best face cream for your 40 something skin will have ingredients that target your barriers to skin health. Creams are better for dry skin, serums are better for oily skin. Step 3 of your morning regimen usually has ingredients that target your skin issues, while step 4 has a moisturizer that makes step 3 work better. You should splurge on the step 3 product and save on the step 4 moisturizer. In most cases step 3 and 4 of the am and pm regimen can be the same- but again- it depends upon your Baumann Skin Type. If you have dry skin, you need a barrier repair moisturizer.

These are our favorite Barrier Repair Creams:

Zerafite Barrier Repair Moisturizer

$50.00

Add to Cart

Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer

$9.99

Add to Cart

Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream

$10.99

Add to Cart

Derma Made Ceramide Barrier Cream

$35.00

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Moisturizer

$31.97

Add to Cart

Obagi Hydrate Luxe

$80.00

Add to Cart

Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer

$48.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare D.E.J. Face Cream

$62.00

Add to Cart

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

$155.00

Add to Cart

Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer

$78.00

Add to Cart

Zerafite Barrier Repair Moisturizer

$50.00

Add to Cart

Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer

$9.99

Add to Cart

Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream

$10.99

Add to Cart

Derma Made Ceramide Barrier Cream

$35.00

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Moisturizer

$31.97

Add to Cart

Obagi Hydrate Luxe

$80.00

Add to Cart

Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer

$48.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare D.E.J. Face Cream

$62.00

Add to Cart

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

$155.00

Add to Cart

Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer

$78.00

Add to Cart

Zerafite Barrier Repair Moisturizer

$50.00

Add to Cart

Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer

$9.99

Add to Cart

Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream

$10.99

Add to Cart

Derma Made Ceramide Barrier Cream

$35.00

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Moisturizer

$31.97

Add to Cart

Obagi Hydrate Luxe

$80.00

Add to Cart

Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer

$48.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare D.E.J. Face Cream

$62.00

Add to Cart

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

$155.00

Add to Cart

Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer

$78.00

Add to Cart

Best Night Cream in your 40s

If you have any of my blogs on night creams and skin aging, Then you already know that the best night cream or night serums is a retinoid. There is a lot of evidence-based data on retinoids and we have a really good understanding of how retinoids work to prevent and treat skin wrinkles.

Tips For your Skin.jpg

Tips for taking care of your skin in your 40s

Diagnose your Baumann Skin Type®

Take the quiz

Find a dermatologist or medical provider that uses the Baumann Skin Typing System

Shop By your Baumann Skin Type

Try a tinted sunscreen and use it instead of facial foundation.

If you have oily skin, skip the moisturizer in the am and apply a SPF instead

Make sure you are using the best face wash for your Baumann Skin Type

Choose a night cream based on which barriers to skin health that you have

Is the 40s too early to worry about skin aging?

Everyone in their 40s needs to be on an aging prevention skin care routine with antiaging cosmeceutical ingredients.

Best Skincare Routine For Early, Mid and Late 40s

By now- you know the drill. Take the quiz and do the regimen builder to choose the best products from nay brands and price points. It’s all there- customized for YOU!

Want to learn more? Browse the skincare library or Join us on social media @SkinTypeSolutions

[i] Youn, S. W., Kim, S. J., Hwang, I. A., & Park, K. C. (2002). Evaluation of facial skin type by sebum secretion: discrepancies between subjective descriptions and sebum secretion. Skin Research and Technology, 8(3), 168-172.

[ii] Our data on file

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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