American Express

By Shannon Campbell

When you’re young, it can be easy to forget about the ravages of time, since you don’t have to deal with them. But as you enter your 30s and 40s, you begin to notice some unpalatable changes in your physical form.

Aging. Your skin doesn’t bounce back like it used to, you’re seeing fine lines and wrinkles in places they have never been before. The dark circles under your eyes are getting darker every year.

While this may sound a little dire, aging is completely normal! And it isn’t too late to curb some of these issues. You can’t stop the physical signs that you’re getting older, but you can soften the blows of time by taking care of your health and your skin. So we’re going to share some of the best anti-aging tips for people entering their 40s.

Keep Your Skin Hydrated

If you haven’t been moisturizing daily, now is the time to do so. Keeping your skin hydrated not only makes your skin look better, but also protects it from pollutants and other damaging environmental factors. Make sure to use a daily moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which attracts and retains moisture in your skin.

Exfoliate Regularly

As you get older your skin becomes drier, and dead skin cells tend to stick more easily to the skin. This can exaggerate the appearance of wrinkles and make your skin look rough and dull. Gentle exfoliation once or twice a week will help fix this. You can use a mechanical exfoliator like an exfoliating sponge or scrub, or use chemical exfoliators such as AHAs and BHAs.

Increase the Collagen in Your Skin

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in the body, particularly concerning the condition of your skin. It keeps skin firm, tight, and smooth. Much of the reason you develop wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin over the years is due to the loss of collagen as you get older.

Stimulating collagen production is one of the best ways to smooth your skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and overall make your skin look fresher and younger. There are multiple effective anti-aging treatments that can boost collagen in the body, including red light therapy and radiofrequency therapy.

Get Enough Beauty Sleep

Deep sleep is an important part of your skin's healing process - as you sleep, higher levels of collagen are produced. Sufficient periods of sleep have also been linked to better blood circulation, leading to a healthy, glowing complexion. You should aim to get 7 hours of sleep per night at an absolute minimum, though preferably 8-10.

Reduce Excess Sun Exposure

Now is the time to really reconsider all those long days at the beach without sunscreen. Sun damage is one of the biggest perpetrators of skin damage, from wrinkles to fine lines, to hyperpigmentation and other skin pigment conditions. It really is key that you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

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Anti-Aging Tips as You Reach Your 40s