Everything Your Skincare Routine Needs If You're Over 40

In most cases, the skincare routine you follow as a teen or young adult will look vastly different from the routine you use during your 40s. As time passes, taking care of your skin requires a careful, more tailored approach that factors in the major skin concerns, including dryness, wrinkles, and ultra-violet (UV) damage. Additionally, your skin undergoes many changes as you grow older. For instance, your skin type may do a complete 180, shifting from oily and acne-prone to thin and sensitive. At the root of many of these changes are three of the prevailing issues of aging skin: collagen production, moisture retention, and sun exposure.

Therefore, paying special attention to the products in your daily routine is key to preventing and treating premature aging and skin damage. As such, Glam reached out to celebrity esthetician Kristin Gunn, owner of both Halcyon Skin Care and Beaux Medspa, for tips on creating the most effective routine for mature and aging skin, along with her top product recommendations. "Let's face it, in our 40s we have to work a little harder to maintain our youthful glow!" Gunn tells Glam during an exclusive interview. "Here are some of the things I recommend for anyone trying to maintain healthy, hydrated skin."

If you're not used to using cleansers, finding the right product can feel like a game of Russian roulette. You never quite know if a new cleanser will break you out or trigger a reaction. However, cleansers are a vital part of any skincare routine, especially if you wear makeup on a regular basis. "In our 40s, our cellular turnover comes to a screeching halt, which means a buildup of dead skin cells," celeb esthetician Kristin Gunn shares exclusively with Glam. "This can result in a dull complexion, no matter what makeup you are using."

The type of cleanser you use also matters. "A cleanser with AHA/BHA acids is key. This is a chemical exfoliant that will gently melt away the buildup of skin cells," Gunn explains. "This type of exfoliant is recommended over a manual exfoliant (microbeads, apricot shells) as those will do more harm than good. In my line Halcyon Skin Care, we have the perfect AHA/BHA Cleanser for daily use. Skinmedica also makes a great one." A cleanser with both AHAs and BHAs — there's a difference between the two — leads to powerful exfoliation, so if you're accustomed to strong exfoliating acids, gradually work your way up to regular use and avoid layering with similar skincare actives that may be present in other products.

Vitamin C serums are arguably one of the most under-appreciated products in the game, and that goes for all ages. However, once you incorporate vitamin C serum into your routine, it quickly becomes an invaluable step in your skincare arsenal. For those who don't know, vitamin C is an antioxidant that prevents skin damage, reduces discoloration, and helps prevent sun damage when applied before sunscreen. In other words, it's a multipurpose ingredient that offers innumerable benefits to aging skin, so if you're not yet using a vitamin C serum, it's something that you'd do well to prioritize.

As for how best to apply vitamin C, esthetician Kristin Gunn recommends applying a "quality vitamin C serum" in the morning after cleansing. "This is always applied during the day and will protect you from all of the free radicals we encounter (pollution, allergens, etc.)," Gunn shares exclusively with Glam. "It also provides a light exfoliation and a glow to your skin, a must for the 40+ crowd. My favorite C-serum is the Revision C+ Correcting Serum."

"The next step is a rich eye cream under your eyes," says Kristin Gunn during an exclusive chat with Glam. "I love Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream by LaRoche Posay. This eye cream is tested specifically on allergy-prone, ultra-sensitive skin, and checks all of the boxes for ingredients!" Of course, the under-eye area is one of the thinnest areas on your face, so avoid pulling or tugging on the skin too much. Applying eye cream with your pinky or ring finger is generally the easiest way to do this. 

"Use what product is left on your fingers to gently apply under your brow, into the delicate eyelid skin," Gunn adds. "This is a game changer, as that area sees crepiness first!" On that note, the delicate skin around your eyes can be prone to milia for some people, so read through the ingredient label on your eye cream before applying to check for pore-clogging culprits.

"The final daytime step is always, always, a good quality SPF. There is no excuse now for skipping this step," Kristin Gunn says during an exclusive chat with Glam. "There are wonderful, hydrating SPFs that won't cause your eyes to burn, or your makeup to pill. We love Elta Daily Tinted SPF (tinted or non-tinted). We cannot keep it in stock. It's wonderful, SPF40, and has hyaluronic acid in it for all-day hydration. No excuses!" Choosing the best sunscreen for your skin involves some trial and error, but it's a vital step in any routine and it's non-negotiable. If you're worried about a white cast, lean toward a tinted sunscreen. White casts can be tricky to avoid completely with mineral sunscreens, but they come highly recommended for sensitive skin, as many chemical sunscreens contain harsh ingredients.

And of course, your makeup is only as good as your skincare. Those with mature skin may already face some difficulty when applying foundation and concealer on wrinkles or dry patches, so make things easier for yourself by using makeup products that are designed for aging skin types. Gunn recommends mineral makeup, in this case. "There are so many of these now and they are beneficial to your skin, less heavy, and usually non-comedogenic," she tells Glam. "This will help smooth your skin and not contribute to clogged pores." Oh, and "never, ever sleep in your makeup, unless you want to look 10 years older." 

Contrary to popular belief, an extensive nine-step nighttime routine isn't necessary to maintain healthy and radiant skin. Your nighttime skincare can feature the same steps from earlier in the day but with a few crucial tweaks. The evening is when you should apply your serious anti-aging products, such as retinol. Esthetician Kristin Gunn recommends the Revision Retinol Complete 0.5. "Their retinol is active, will help with pigmentation issues and give you the most amazing skin you've ever had! You can start with this every third night, and as your skin adapts to it, work up to nightly application," she explains exclusively to Glam.

"Let your retinol 'dry' while you brush your teeth, and then apply your evening moisturizer," she recommends. "This will lock in moisture all night and have you looking plump and hydrated in the morning." Gunn's clients love the EltaMD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer, as it contains "squalene, coconut fruit extract, and sodium hyaluronate (a more potent version of hyaluronic acid)." This product "nurtures dehydrated skin (goodbye, flakiness), restores skin suppleness, and protects against future moisture loss," says Gunn. "It also is affordable!"

Lastly, if you're into face masks, Gunn recommends Farmacy Ceramide Hydration Honey Mask. "Even doing this once every couple weeks will make a difference, but weekly will really blow your mind! Plus, it has a really cool jar for your countertop!" she adds. Ultimately, Gunn acknowledges that this "seems like a lot of steps, but it is worth it, and your skin will thank you!"