To say that a lot has changed over the last couple of decades is an understatement. The clothes you wear, the way you style your hair, your taste in music and what you spend your money on are probably significantly different now than when you were 20.
Your skin has also gone through some changes over the years, so your skincare routine should also be updated to reflect your four decades on this planet. If you are getting ready to celebrate your big 4-0, consider the following skincare tips:
Focus on Sunscreen and Shade
Protection from the sun should be the basis of your 40th birthday’s anti-aging skincare plan, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. To help avoid the harmful UV rays of the sun, which can prematurely age the skin and may lead to the development of skin cancers, wear a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside, along with pants and long sleeves. Wear sunscreen every day—choose one with an SPF of 30 or higher—and seek the shade whenever possible.
Snooze Your Way to Great Skin
Celebrate turning 40 by striving to get 40 winks of sleep every night. After all, there’s a reason they call it beauty rest—when you snooze, your body releases a human growth hormone that helps boost collagen production, which in turn can lead to glowing skin. If you are sleep deprived, your cortisol levels will rise, which will interfere with how much collagen your body makes. Do what you can to ensure a good night of sleep. That could mean treating yourself to black-out curtains for your birthday, lowering the temperature in your room, adding a white noise maker such as a fan, and avoiding intense television shows and too much social media before bed.
Harness the Power of Vitamin C
Another effective way to ward off common age-related changes to the skin is to add Vitamin C to your skincare routine. While Vitamin C does exist naturally in your skin, this level will drop as you get older. In turn, this can cause your skin to look older by losing brightness and bounce. The benefits of Vitamin C for skin are numerous and easy to incorporate into your day. If you are envisioning having to gulp down glasses of acidic orange juice with breakfast, take heed: there are a number of skincare products that contain Vitamin C and, when applied topically, can help target the common age-related skin concerns even better than drinking tons of OJ. Look for serums that contain Vitamin C, lotions and other easy-to-apply products that will give your skin a much-needed boost of this important nutrient.
Wash Gently and Pat Dry
While you don’t really want to scrub the bejabbers out of your skin at any age, this is especially good advice as you turn 40. Too much soap, hot water and washing with a facecloth can cause more harm than good. Instead, be kind to your skin and use a gentle cleanser at night to remove any makeup and grime of the day, rinsing with tepid water and patting dry. This approach will still give you clean skin but it will prevent it from drying out and getting taut, red and itchy.
Have a Great Birthday—You Deserve It!
The last 40 years have really gone by quickly, and you suspect the same will be true for the next four decades. Celebrate your special day by vowing to take care of yourself as best as you can, including your beautiful skin. Get enough sleep, wash your face carefully, look for products with Vitamin C and stay out of the sun, and people won’t believe you are 40—not that there’s anything wrong with that!