Need-to-know skin care tips for your 40s

Jennifer Aniston. Cameron Diaz. Jennifer Garner. What do these women have in common? They’re all over 40 and look absolutely fabulous. For the insider secrets to maintaining a firm, youthful complexion, sans surgery, we asked the expert skin doctors to share their top skin care tips. 

Dehydration

By this age, dehydration not only presents itself as fine lines and wrinkles, but also as a lack of tissue in the skin, which can lead to reduced volume, says Edouard Mauvais-Jarvis, Dior’s scientific communications director.

What to do: “I usually recommend products that contain vitamins A, B and C,” says Dr Shobhan Manoharan, laser and cosmetic dermatologist at Brisbane Skin and Westside Dermatology. “Alpha hydroxy acids in lower concentrations at home, or higher concentrations at clinics, are also ideal to help improve and maintain skin tone, texture, fine lines and wrinkling.”

Try: Lancôme Rénergie Multi-Lift Reviva Plasma

Unevenness

The natural ageing process can lead to enlarged pores, giving the skin a bumpy

appearance; however, “pigmentary unevenness is more frequently seen, in the form of evenly distributed colour irregularity”, notes Mauvais-Jarvis. Gravity means that volume loss is more apparent, particularly in the cheeks and lips.

What to do: Look for brightening products that “act intensively on evenness and relaunch luminosity from within the skin”, suggests Mauvais-Jarvis. Regular exfoliation will keep pores clear, while pore-refining products help shrink enlarged pores.

Try: Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser

Inflammation

“The presence of chronic micro inflammations, triggered by factors including lack of sleep and daily stress, is widespread in this age bracket and can accelerate ageing,” explains Mauvais-Jarvis. “Inflammatory signs, such as redness or blotches, even though less frequent in this age group, are often caused by conditions like food overload, harsh treatments and pollution.”

What to do: More sleep, less stress and a balanced diet is easier said than done. In the meantime, detoxifying products help neutralise environmental toxins that cripple skin’s self regenerating capabilities.

Try: Jurlique Calendula Redness Rescue Calming Mist

For more beauty advice from marie claire visit marieclaire.com.au

Main image credit: Getty