How I Take Care of My 40-year-old Skin

There is no such thing as complexion perfection. No matter how well we take care of our skin, there is always room for  a little improvement. And as we get older, we may find the problems that needed fixing when we were 20 are not the same as when we are 40. I just entered the 40 club and I am loving it. I feel more confident about myself and I also feel the need to focus on me. And part of focusing on me is taking better care of my skin. I have been doing some research on what kind of products that my skin needs and below are the solutions that I came up with.

How I Take Care of My 40-year-old Skin

If you are a woman of color in your 40s, chances are you have just started to see some fine lines and wrinkles. Well, so is the case for me anyway. I have also noticed other age-related problems like loss of volume and occasional dryness. My face was oily for as long as I could remember, but in my late 30s, I started experiencing dryness. This is the kind of revelation that makes you wonder what other part of the body will start looking like the Sahara desert. According to Brooke Jackson, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, fair skinned-women in their 40s will notice sun damage as splotchiness and hyper-pigmentation. He also mentioned acne and premenopausal dryness, which yours truly is already experiencing. Now how do we deal with these issues?

1. Use the right cleansers

Any milky or creamy cleanser will do. I have been using Dove lately and my skin is loving it. I used Irish Spring shower soaps before that. But I have learned in my early 20s that women with acne prone skin should use a face wash with salicylic acid.

2. Apply the right oils

When you are in your 40s, you feel the need to use some oil on your face at some point, especially around winter time. Whether you use the oil before or after using your cleanser, you have to make sure that you have the right oil. Argan and coconut oils are light and work great on my face. I use Argan oil after my cleanser or  coconut oil before. Never both. And I only do that when the winter weather is harsh on my skin.

3. Don’t forget your serums and moisturizers  

The best serum that I have used so far is Clear lift Revitalizing Serum by Valentia. It smells like orange and goes clear on the skin. I also use straight up lime juice on my face during the summer. In addition, I  have  used POND’S Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Always use a serum or cream that contains vitamin C or E. If you are concerned with eye puffiness, don’t forget to use eye serum that contains the same ingredients.

4. Your skin needs toning too

Most toners contain vitamin E that softens the skin and adds elasticity. Dickinson’s hydrating toner is one of my favorites because it removes impurities without over-drying the skin.

5.  Sunscreen is not only for Summer

I did not think that black women could get sun burned until I vacationed in Jamaica. The same is true for Haiti and other countries in the Caribbeans. But exposure to the sun over a long period of time can cause major damage to the skin, even cancer. Nowadays most of the moisturizers and face creams that we use contain UVA/UVB SPF 30 or 50 to protect the skin. Using sunscreen daily can save your skin and your life.

6. Stop Sagging skin with the right night cream

You’ve probably heard the saying “black don’t crack.” But I say black will crack if you don’t use the right moisturizer. I have just started to see some cracks. It actually started in my late 30s. Never neglect your neck. If the skin is not cracking up there, it might be cracking down there. Use a good night cream on your face and around your neck to avoid sagging skin and wearing turtlenecks for the rest of your life.

7. Take care of your lips

The face is not that simple. It is composed of so many parts. We have the eyes, the nose, the lips, and the part around the mouth where the parenthesis start forming after we reach a certain age. Whether you use a 5-in-1 moisturizing lipstick or just a simple lip balm, always make sure your lips are on point and crack-free.
Do you feel comfortable in your own skin?  No advice that I give here can help you if we don’t have the same skin type. Only your dermatologist can prescribe the right medication and skin care routine for you. The most important thing is to know what your issues are and discussing them with your doctor. Self-care equals self-love. If you find yourself taking care everybody else but yourself, you need to figure out what’s wrong and start changing things around.