10 skincare tips for women over 40 that actually make a difference.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

I've spent way too much money on skincare over the years. Hundreds of dollars on fancy brands. Trendy ingredients that didn't deliver. Ten-step routines that lasted a week. If I could go back and start over at 35, this is what I'd tell myself. These are the 10 skincare tips that have actually moved the needle — for my own skin in my 40s, and for the thousands of women I've talked to in this season.

1. Stop using foaming cleansers

That "squeaky clean" feeling after you wash your face? It's the sound of your skin barrier being stripped. Foaming cleansers contain sulfates that strip natural oils, which older skin can't afford to lose.

Switch to: A cream or gel cleanser with glycerin, ceramides, or oat. My cream cleanser pick. You'll notice a difference in about two weeks.

2. SPF is non-negotiable — even in winter, even indoors

UVA rays penetrate windows and clouds. They're the rays primarily responsible for visible skin aging — wrinkles, sunspots, sagging. If you do one thing for your skin this year, it's wearing SPF 30 or higher every single day.

Try: My daily mineral SPF pick

3. Retinol is the single most-studied anti-aging ingredient

Nothing in the drugstore or Sephora beats retinol for actual, visible anti-aging results. Peptides, bakuchiol, snail mucin — all fine, but retinol has decades of research behind it.

Start low (0.025% or 0.05%), go slow (2 nights a week, building up), and expect a purging phase for the first 2–4 weeks. It's worth it.

Try: My beginner retinol pick

4. Apply moisturizer to damp skin, not dry

Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin work by pulling water into your skin. If your skin is bone dry, they pull moisture out of the deeper layers. If your skin is damp, they pull water from the surface into your skin. Game changer for how hydrated your skin actually looks.

5. Don't forget your neck and décolletage

These areas age faster than your face and are constantly neglected. Every product you put on your face should go on your neck and chest too. Your future self will thank you.

6. Exfoliating more isn't better

Over-exfoliation is one of the most common mistakes I see women make — especially when they're frustrated with skin texture. If your skin is red, stinging, or looking "weird" after exfoliation, you've done too much.

The rule: 1–3x per week maximum, and never on the same night as retinol.
Try: My gentle exfoliant pick

7. Skincare works from the inside too

The single best "anti-aging serum" is sleep. The second is hydration. The third is protein. You can spend $500 on creams, but if you're running on 5 hours of sleep and eating cereal for dinner, your skin will show it.

Supplements like omega-3s, Vitamin C, and collagen peptides also support skin from the inside. My collagen peptides pick.

8. Patch test new products

If you've ever broken out in a rash from a new serum, you know the pain. After 40, skin becomes more reactive. Always test new products on your jawline or inner arm for a few days before slathering it on your entire face.

9. Facial massage is underrated

Five minutes of gua sha or facial massage, 3x per week, improves circulation, lymphatic drainage, and skin tone. It doesn't replace skincare, but it genuinely helps — and it's almost free once you own the tool.

Try: My gua sha tool pick

10. Consistency beats products

The women I know with the best skin in their 50s and 60s aren't using the most expensive products. They've just been consistent — washing their face, wearing SPF, moisturizing, using retinol — for years. You don't need to do everything perfectly. You just need to do the basics, consistently, over time.

Small, consistent steps. That's the whole secret.

Get the complete midlife skin + body plan

The Midlife Glow Up Guide walks you through the exact skincare routine, the supplements that support it, and the habits that make it all work together. Shop the Glow Up Guide →