Short answer: Many people notice their skin changing in their 40s. It may feel drier, look duller, show fine lines more readily or look less even in tone, and for many women perimenopause starts to play a part. The changes vary from person to person, and so does what helps: some people need a few adjustments, while others benefit from a broader update with professional advice. Gentle cleansing, a suitable moisturizer, daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and products chosen for your skin and budget form the core.
Your skin’s needs, not the decade, decide what changes.
The changes people commonly notice
Dryness. Skin that was comfortable for years may start to feel tight after washing or by the end of the day.
Dullness. Skin-cell turnover generally changes with age, and many people find their skin looks less bright than it did.
Fine lines. Lines tend to look more obvious when skin is dry, so hydration plays a part in how they look.
Uneven tone. Years of ordinary sun exposure can show up as spots and patchiness.
A spot that is new or changing, or any change that worries you, belongs with a dermatologist.
Hormones and environment
For many women, perimenopause, the transition toward menopause, begins in the mid-to-late 40s, though timing varies widely. Falling hormone levels can affect how skin behaves: some people notice more dryness, some find their skin more easily irritated, and some see breakouts return. Menopause and Skin: What Changes covers the transition. Hormones are only one possible explanation.
Your surroundings matter too. Climates with little humidity, such as desert climates, and cold, windy weather can leave skin drier, and sun exposure adds up over the years.
Let your skin’s needs guide the changes
Some people reach their 40s needing only a few adjustments. Others find that a routine that suited them at 35 no longer fits, and a broader update makes sense. Your skin’s condition, and advice from a professional who can see it, should decide how much changes.
Introducing new products one at a time helps you see how your skin responds to each. Victoria’s “less is best” principle means purposeful, individualized care: the appropriate amount of each product at the appropriate frequency. Good care can also fit different budgets, and the spending decision is yours.
Cleansing, moisture and body care
If your skin feels tighter than it used to, look at cleansing first. In the evening, remove eye makeup with a dedicated eye makeup remover, then cleanse your face gently with lukewarm water. Go to bed with a completely clean face. Why Does Skin Get Drier as You Get Older? covers other common reasons for dryness.
A sensible order is cleanse, an appropriate toner or mist, serum, then moisturizer, each according to the product’s directions, plus daytime sun protection. If your moisturizer no longer feels like enough, a different formulation may suit you better than more of the same one. The complete formulation and your own skin decide suitability, not richness alone.
Arms, legs, hands and chest can feel drier too, so a body crème used regularly after bathing belongs in a complete routine. Does Your Body Need a Skincare Routine? goes further.
Peptides and retinol: options, not requirements
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Some specific peptides have been studied in cosmetic formulations for the appearance of fine lines, and the strength of the evidence varies from one peptide to the next. What Peptides Do explains how to read the claims.
Retinol is a form of vitamin A used in skincare for the look of fine lines and uneven tone. It is an option, not a requirement. If you choose it, it is generally used at night; follow your product’s directions and make daily broad-spectrum sunscreen part of the routine. Using a non-prescription retinol product more than directed, or more often, can lead to excessive dryness, flaking, redness or sensitivity rather than faster results. If you use a prescription retinoid, follow the guidance of the healthcare professional who prescribed it.
Introducing a new peptide or retinol product gradually does not mean the two cannot share a routine. Many suitable routines include both, used according to each product’s directions. Visible change needs consistent use over time, and the timeline varies with the concern, the product and the person.
Exfoliation and sun protection
How often to exfoliate depends on age, skin condition, method and response; no fixed schedule suits everyone. If exfoliation leaves your skin red, sore or stinging, pause non-prescription exfoliating products or treatments and allow the skin to settle before reconsidering the frequency or intensity. Persistent irritation should be discussed with an appropriate skincare or healthcare professional.
A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. For exposed skin, including the face, ears, neck, chest and backs of the hands, use broad-spectrum sunscreen according to its label directions, including directions for application and reapplication.
Victoria’s approach
Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria views good skincare as a lifelong commitment: as skin changes, the products and treatments that support it may change too. A professional can recognize changing needs, from maturing skin and hormones to climate and season, and advise adjustments over time.
For a typical client around 45 without obvious underlying skin problems, examples Victoria might consider include the Cellaris Body Crème for body care; the Recovery Crème; and the Matrix-Cell 3000 Concentrate, a serum used beneath a moisturizer according to its directions. They illustrate a broader range rather than a prescribed set, and the right choice depends on your skin, preferences and budget. Both crèmes come in jars, so take each out with a clean spatula and apply it with clean fingertips. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. For help deciding what to adjust, try the Ask Victoria page.
Frequently asked questions
That depends on your skin. Some people need a few adjustments, such as more moisture or gentler cleansing, while others benefit from a broader update guided by a professional who can see their skin.
No. Retinol is an option, not a requirement. If you choose it, it is generally used at night, its directions come first, and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen belongs in the routine alongside it.
Many suitable routines include both. Introduce new products one at a time so you can see how your skin responds, then follow each product’s directions for using them in the same routine.
It can. Some people notice more dryness, skin that is more easily irritated, or returning breakouts, though experiences vary widely. Anything that concerns you belongs with your physician.
No. Suitable care can fit different budgets. What matters is choosing products that suit your skin and using them consistently, as directed.
About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.
Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.
