Achieving beautiful skin at 40 is a universal desire. However, as time passes, the skin starts to show signs of aging. Wrinkles deepen, brown spots appear, and the skin becomes thinner, dryer, and loses its radiance: the telltale signs of aging are manifold. But are there ways to preserve youthful skin? And are there active ingredients and skincare routines that slow down skin aging?
The beauty experts at Anne Semonin are happy to answer these questions and offer invaluable tips for maintaining a fresh, plump, and radiant complexion in your 40s.
What causes our skin to age?
Skin aging is unavoidable. It generally starts around the age of 30 as this is when the production of hyaluronic acid slows down. Hyaluronic acid is essential for skin hydration and is the ultimate active ingredient to combat dehydration lines.
Around 40, the skin starts to lose its firm and youthful appearance due to a decrease in elastin and collagen. Furthermore, the cell renewal cycle, which typically takes around 28 days in our 20s and 30s, slows down, resulting in duller, less glowy skin. As we age, pigment spots start to appear due to the uneven production of melanin, a natural skin pigment.
All these phenomena are connected to the natural aging process and internal factors such as physiology and genetics. Behavioral and environmental factors that elevate oxidative stress, including UV exposure, stress, a poor diet (too few antioxidants and too much sugar), sleep deprivation, and smoking (which depletes vitamin C levels) accelerate skin aging even further.
Miracle active ingredients for youthful skin at 40
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent premature skin aging. A healthier lifestyle and daily skincare routine can make a significant difference, especially when using products containing anti-aging active ingredients. Hyaluronic acid is one such ingredient. Hyaluronic acid of a high molecular weight hydrates the skin and improves its elasticity, while hyaluronic acid of a low or medium molecular weight fills fine lines and plumps deep wrinkles.
Retinol is another remarkable ingredient for skin health. It boosts collagen and elastin production, firming the skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Its exfoliating properties also help to remove dead cells, smoothen skin texture, and brighten the complexion.
Then there are the skincare benefits of vitamin C, which protects against free radicals, stimulates collagen synthesis, and combats age spots and loss of radiance. Last but not least are collagen and AHAs (fruit acids), which rid the skin of dead cells and activate cell renewal.
