Your 40s are hard enough as it is…letting skincare make it even harder wasn’t on my list. One day everything’s fine, and the next you’re wondering why your usual moisturiser suddenly feels useless, your glow's gone (even though you just had a vacation), and your exfoliator all of a sudden seems too harsh for your skin.
It’s not you. It’s just time to swap a few things around.
One thing I’ve noticed in my 40s is how much faster my skin tells me what it likes and what it doesn’t. In my 30s, I could get away with not drinking enough water for a couple of days. Now my skin shows it immediately. It’s drier, thinner in some areas, and takes longer to bounce back from late nights or stress. I’ve had to completely rethink my routine to focus on hydration, barrier support, and treatments that actually improve skin health rather than just covering things up.
As your skin changes with age, your products may need to change too. It doesn’t mean you need to do a complete new shop. Just gradually swapping a few things should get you back on track.
Here are 5 skincare swaps that actually make sense in your 40s, and can make a huge difference:
1. Swap Foaming Cleansers for Creamy or Gel Based Ones
If your skin starts to feel tight or dry after cleansing, your face wash might be the problem. Those bubbly, foamy cleansers we all used in our 20s are usually packed with sulfates that strip your skin barrier.
What to try instead (you can click on each one below if you want to see my recommendations):