r/40PlusSkinCare

So yesterday my friend took me out for my birthday - love her! First stop, nail salon. She picked the place, great reviews, decent pricing, etc. While we sat in the chairs getting our toes done, the subject of age came up. For some reason, my friend jokingly states that I am younger than her after the technician acts surprised that she will be 53 that year. So the attention gets turned to me. The woman tells her, no - she's older than you - I can tell by her eyes and the lines on her face. Then the witch proceeds to suggest I get Botox. I've been extremely focused on skincare the last 8 months particularly because I've recently lost the excess weight I gained after Covid and I used to be the one who floored people by MY age. Times have changed and I'm sensitive about it. I've got the prescriptions, the red light panel and masks as well as at-home microneedling kits. What is everyone else doing? I'm 57 today and I want to stop thinking about this. Pics taken this month and added for context.

Of course, I am well aware that I should have started this years ago so please be nice, lol. Unfortunately, I recently have gotten to where I am not a fan of my face/skin in most pictures. Being the marketing director for my company, I am in front of the camera a good bit. I will be starting my tretinoin journey this week, starting at twice a week. Besides double cleansing daily, spf 30 when I'm outdoors, and occasionally a moisturizer when I remember during the week, a skin care routine is nonexistent, but I really am ready to be a "big girl" now and start one. I know SPF and moisturizer will now be a priority with starting tretinoin, but is there anything else I should start? I also know not to start a bunch of new products at once. I just have no idea what's the most important and in what order, to still keep a very easy and simple routine. I never buy products because I never know what to buy. Once you buy one thing, someone else comes out with the "best" the next week. It seems like social media is flooded with people saying, "use this" and "use that" just to earn a commission. My under-eye bags when smiling are beginning to take a toll on my self esteem. Are there any products or treatments BESIDES Botox that actually target and help those areas? I'm not sure where to even start. Any advice at all is greatly appreciated.

48F. I’ve always been thin’ish but in the last year or so my veins have gone crazy on my hands. People notice and close friends and family ask me what happened to my hands. Please advise what can be done for this problem.

I’ve been struggling with a combination of clogged pores, papules and tiny pustules along with redness on my cheeks for about 6 months. I used to use widespread benzoyl peroxide gel on my cheeks, with what I thought was a preventative acne treatment. I also never moisturized at night because I was convinced that it would clog my pores. Within the past couple of weeks, I connected the dots and realized that I was constantly damaging my skin barrier, which is why my skin is always oily and probably why I’m getting clogged pores. I dropped actives and have been just cleansing and moisturizing the past week to hopefully repair the barrier and stop the oil. The dermatologist wasn’t sure what it was, maybe a combo of irritation and rosacea, she prescribed metrocream 0.75% and a 3% colloidal sulfur wash.

Anyway, I was given the metrocream for the papules but after a little research, it seems like it makes things worse for a lot of people so I haven’t started it. Does anyone have tips for reducing the amount of papules or how to make them go away faster? I just started using a 3% colloidal sulfur wash a week ago but haven’t seen any difference yet.

I am 46 yrs and been on my skincare journey about five years ago, never used anything before that time frame. Now as I age been focusing on rebuilding my skin but I started losing weight with the shot and my face aged and I find nasal folds and my sides on the chin noticeable wrinkles/lose skin any recommendations, I won’t consider cosmetic surgery just yet, but definitely in a-few more years. Any advice and suggestions I am willing to give it a try.

Thanks in advance ladies! 🫶🏻

My eyes look really tired and it has been going on for a few years, I am 48y.o, stopped smoking a few months ago, I sleep about 7 to 8 hours daily, exercise daily, don't eat much processed foods, and am really trying to acquire a healthy lifestyle to age well. What could be the cause or the causes? I would appreciate your advice to look less tired... Are those hollow eyes? I also got creepy skins that come and go, can it be due to dehydration only ?

edit: thanks to all your suggestions. I’m going to do a deep dive into this in the next 2 days and see what I can find. definitely upping the SPF and hydration. Might even try the microneedling just in general. Ill update once I found something.

how do I stop these wrinkles? I am 41 and every morning I wake up I notice these lines. I can even feel them. They fade a little throughout the day and as soon as I wake they’re a little worse than the day before. I have realised they are probably because I sleep on my side, and there’s no way I can sleep on my back. Has anyone else noticed these wrinkles and found something that works?? It’s making me really self conscious and uncomfortable, and I know I shouldn’t care, but I do. Please help.

Hoping for some advice.

I (f47) feel like I have a great skincare regimen. Mainly Korean products. I've been able to get my rosacea under control and rarely get spots these days. Most of the time I have a nice glow to my skin too.

However, I really feel like the actual tone of my skin makes me look so old and tired. I have a range of random dark spots and freckles and it looks so uneven.

What products, treatments (chemical or aesthetic) do I need to sort this out, please? All recommendations welcomed and what worked for you. Thanks.

I hope this is okay to post here. I just bought Celimax Retinal (0.1%) Tightening Booster Serum and plan on starting it tomorrow evening. I only want to use it on the fine lines near the corners of my eyes, my forehead, the crease between my eyebrows and the pores on my cheeks and nose. I want to avoid my chin for right now just to see how the rest of my face does with the retinal as that has always been where I've gotten acne in the past and i read that this can make some people purge badly. I have not had any acne flair ups in a long time so i dont know what would be "purged" if someone wants to explain?? For reference i am 42, and my best guess is I have combination skin, the area around my nose and cheeks gets sort of oily by the end of the day (not enought to be shiny), but the rest of my face is rather dry. I have large (to me) pores and alot of sunspots that have been popping up the last few years and the obious small wrinkles. My question is, with the skincare that I am currently using is there anything I should completely remove and the things I can keep when should any of them be moved from morning to night or vise versa. Here is when I use the products:

Morning:

1. Proactive -I only use this on my chin and cheek areas, if I don't I will get very large pimples (especially my chin)

2. Dr. Althea 345 Barrier Cream

3. Anua Zero-Cast Mosturizing Finish Sunscreen SPF 50

4. Makeup - Run of the mill drug store brands

Evening:

1. Almay Makeup remover wipes (not pictured)

2. Anua Hydrating Acid 8+ Panthenol Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser

3. Anua Azelaic Acid 3 + Cica Clarifying Toner

4. Medicube Triple Collagen Syrum

5. Anua Niacinamide 10+ TXA 4 Serum - I only use this a every other night

6. Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum - I also only use this every other night