If you’re not sure about the best skin care ingredients for 40+ skin, here’s what the experts say. They LOVE these 9 ingredients because they’ve been proven to deliver results.
How Can I Make My Skin Look Younger at 40?
We’ve all come across ‘miracle’ serums and potions, promising to wipe years off your face. No topical treatment is going to make you look 10 years younger, but there are a handful of ingredients that have been clinically shown to deliver results for aging skin. One of the most important things is to focus on healthy skin. Healthy skin looks and feels more vibrant and youthful. It relies NOT on hyped up skin care ingredients—like rare melons—but ones that I, (along with other credible skincare specialists), vouch for when it comes to looking after your skin.
Here are 9 of the most beloved skincare ingredients for 40+ skin, by those who are truly in the know:
1. Sunscreen
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that sunscreen tops this list! If you’re only going to do one thing for your skin, sun protection should be it. Using sunscreen and incorporating smart sun habits helps prevent sun damage, which breaks down the collagen and elastin that keeps your skin looking plump and firm. Sun exposure can also cause dark age spots and darken other forms of hyperpigmentation, like melasma. Lastly, it also can lead to more serious issues, including skin cancer.
Sunscreen can’t reduce the wrinkles or dark spots you already have, but it will help prevent the formation of more. There are many safe and effective formulations to choose from these days, so there’s no excuse for skipping this very important step in your routine. How to choose one that works? We break it down for you here.
2. Vitamin C
Available in creams, lotions or serums, vitamin C is one of the most common active skincare ingredients. Its main role is to act as an antioxidant, protecting skin from free radicals, which break down skin’s collagen, leading to blemishes plus wrinkles and fine lines, dark spots, fine lines and loose, saggy skin.
It’s essential if you’re after glowing 40+ skin! Vitamin C is available in many different forms including ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and L-ascorbic acid, which is the most widely researched form of vitamin C in skincare and is the reason why we include it in our Bespoke Vitamin C Serum.While vitamin C delivers many benefits, it’s sensitive to light and air so look for vitamin C products that are packaged in opaque packaging to help protect it from degrading. At Apothekari, we make ours to order to ensure that it’s stable and effective from the moment you receive it until it’s used up. Each bottle is good for between 6 to 8 months.
3. Retinoids
Retinol, retinoic acid and retinaldehyde all come from vitamin A and deliver some of the greatest benefits to aging skin. Retinoids increase skin cell turnover—meaning that new skin cells get produced faster; repair the cellular structure of the skin; increase skin’s moisture content; decrease oil production (which can help to minimize the appearance of blemishes); AND boost collagen production, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Our A is for Anti-Aging Serum contains retinaldehyde, the gentlest, and highly effective retinoid. It dramatically diminishes imperfections and visibly improves the look & feel of mature skin, leaving it looking and feeling softer, smoother and more radiant.
4. Niacinamide
It’s not as well known as other skin care ingredients, but niacinamide packs a whole lot of benefits when it comes to aging skin. A form of vitamin B3, it is anti-inflammatory, making it useful in conditions including psoriasis, rosacea and acne:
Stimulates collagen production
Prevents moisture loss
Increases lipid production
Lightens pigmentation and evens skin tone.
Find niacinamide in our A is for Anti-Aging Serum where it’s combined with retinaldehyde and other highly active ingredients to help deliver antioxidant, skin brightening, skin smoothing and skin hydration benefits. Studies have also shown that it also helps to reduce breakouts.
5. Acids
This group includes alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs, including glycolic, lactic and malic acids) and salicylic acid. Plus one that often gets missed—L-ascorbic acid, referred to as vitamin C and which is available in our Bespoke Vitamin C Serum. All help to exfoliate skin, getting rid of dead, dry skin cells that can leave skin looking dull and lifeless. Salicylic acid has the added benefit of being oil soluble, allowing it to penetrate pores, keeping them clear of oil and dirt that can lead to blemishes. A triple combination of alpha hydroxy acids can be found in our AHA-Mazing Clean Cleansing Gel, which refreshes and renews skin with its delightful minty fresh scent.
6. Hyaluronic Acid
This powerful humectant works by drawing water molecules from the environment into the skin. Because it’s also found naturally in skin, it tends to be very well tolerated by most people.
Hydrated skin looks fuller, more plump—and, more youthful so it’s no wonder that this ingredient is so popular in anti aging skin care products .We can’t discuss hyaluronic acid without mentioning glycerin, a hardworking ingredient that does so much but gets ignored a lot of the time. Glycerin is also found in skin and like hyaluronic acid, it’s a humectant, helping to draw moisture from the air around us and into our skin.
Studies have shown that it mimics our skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF), which depletes as we age. It protects, softens, strengthens and helps skin feel more resilient and ageless. Hyaluronic acid is in our hydrating and antioxidant, Bespoke Vitamin C Serum. It’s also in our More Than Lip Service Vulvar & Vaginal Moisturizer where it offers fast, long-lasting, hormone relief to alleviate the pain, itching and dryness you may experience down there.
7. Oils
Contrary to what you may believe, oils won’t necessarily break you out! The key is to find the right ones for your skin. Oils are fantastic for dry, aging skin, helping to lock in moisture, and leaving it feeling softer and smoother. Their lipophilic nature (fat loving) means that they can penetrate deep into the skin, trapping water and other moisturizing goodness in while helping to keep external irritants out.
Oils can also be a great source of antioxidants—like our Antioxidant Face Oil—helping to protect from free radicals. Give it a try and let us know what you think.
8. Antioxidants
Vitamin C may be the most well known and widely used antioxidant, but there are many more that deliver skin benefits too. Green tea, coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin E, and others all work similarly to vitamin C in helping to minimize free radical damage caused by exposure to sunlight, smoke and pollution that we encounter daily. Our Bespoke Vitamin C Serum is loaded not only with vitamin C, but also 7 other antioxidants ensuring that your skin is protected from the assaults of daily living.
9. Peptides
Peptides are short-chain amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. When applied topically, they can help to build collagen—and in turn, lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Some can also help to improve moisturization, strengthen the skin’s barrier, repair damaged skin and help make it firmer and smoother.
What is the Most Powerful Anti-Aging Ingredient for 40+ Skin?
There isn’t just one BEST ingredient when it comes to looking after your skin. Everyone’s skin ages differently, depending on your genes, your environment, your lifestyle, along with your skin-care habits. It’s up to you to choose products and ingredients that are compatible with your skincare needs.
Healthy skin relies on more than just one product. A combination of sun protection, antioxidants and retinoids along with ensuring adequate moisture are a great place to start. Our Ageless Skin Set combines the essentials you need—just add sunscreen.
How Do I Take Care of My Aging Skin? Lifestyle Tips
Skin is your body’s largest organ, and its appearance can be impacted by your lifestyle. This includes stress, sleep, alcohol consumption—water intake too—along with the food you eat.
- Eat well. A diet rich in antioxidants, lean protein—which provides amino acids, the building blocks for collagen—and healthy fats, are essential for optimal health. They also lead to healthier skin. On the flip side, some foods can lead to skin damage. A diet high in processed foods and refined sugars along with unhealthy fats have been shown to promote skin aging.
- Inadequate sleep not only affects your overall wellness, it’s effects can show up in your skin. And not only dark circles—not getting enough beauty sleep can lead to duller, older looking 40+ skin. Sleep is when your body repairs and rejuvenates so aim for between 7 to 9 hours each night.
- Too much alcohol is dehydrating and can leave skin looking puffy, dry and wrinkled. You don’t have to give it up, just don’t overdo it.
- Drink enough water—between 8-10 glasses a day. Water not only helps to get nutrients to your skin (and other organs), it also helps to keep skin from looking dry.
- Exercise increases your blood flow, helping to deliver oxygen and nutrients, which keep skin healthy.
Got any other anti aging skin care tips to share? Let us know.
