4 Ways To Combat The Signs Of Aging Over 40

I’ve always admired women who seem to “have it all together.” I look at them and think, you MUST let me in on your secret! This is especially true when I see a woman who’s into her 40s and has glowing, healthy looking skin. If you’re like me, you feel younger than that pesky number says you are, and you want to look it! 

So here are my tips from the pros for how to look younger over 40 and combat the signs of aging:

1. Boost Collagen

   

Signs of young-looking skin are that it’s firm, plump, supple and, of course, has minimal wrinkles! Collagen is an important protein

our bodies naturally produce that helps our skin achieve all of this. The catch is that we produce less as we age. To help your skin keep or regain elasticity and smooth fine lines, use a topical cream like retinol, which helps boost collagen production. You can also consume collagen peptides orally. And don’t forget the sunscreen! A good, full-spectrum sunscreen will help protect the collagen you already have from breaking down.

2. Hyaluronic Acid

Not to bum you out, but hyaluronic acid is another naturally occurring element of young-looking skin that slows down as we age. It’s key to hydrating our skin, which helps it look fresh and plump. The good news is, it easily penetrates the skin, so it’s super effective when you apply it topically. And since it’s something our bodies naturally produce, your body is much more likely to love it than have a negative reaction to it.

3. Use a High-Quality Vitamin C Serum
   

   Smoothing fine lines, fading acne scars and blending uneven skin tones are just some of reasons I love vitamin C as part of my skin care routine (and you will too!). In our 40s, we can start to see dark spots and other skin pigmentation issues from sun and hormones that stabilized versions of vitamin C can help improve. And it even helps with collagen and elastin production because the highly acidic nature of Vitamin C triggers the skin to heal itself, producing more of the proteins that are critical to younger looking skin. Win-win!

4. Layer Your Products Correctly
   

   Now to make the most of these time-reversing — or at least slowing — products, it’s important to apply them in the right order. After you cleanse your skin, apply the products from thinnest to thickest, because the thinner products can’t penetrate the thicker ones to get to your skin and do their work. So start with your toner, then serums, like the vitamin C. Pro tip: Find a serum that combines vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to save a step of layering in the morning. Next, apply eye cream, then your moisturizer. Keep in mind that once we hit our 40s, we tend to need a thicker moisturizing cream as opposed to a gel for the most hydration. In the morning, top off your routine with a full-spectrum SPF. At night, swap the sunscreen for your retinol. Voila! You’re on your way to more vibrant, younger looking skin!

Now that you know my go-to tips for having younger looking skin, I’d love to hear yours! Let’s help each other look as young as we feel — or younger! Email me at jessica@jessicaderle.com or reach out to me on Facebook Messenger at m.me/jessica.derle.