There’s something special about your 40s. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either in this decade of your life, or about to be. So you’ll know that your confidence is shining brighter, you know yourself better than ever, and your priorities have shifted towards things that really matter. And with all of these positive lifestyle changes come changes in your skin as well. While you may have started to notice a few new lines creeping up on you, changes in firmness, or a slightly different texture, these shifts are not something to be feared; like the decade itself, they’re simply marking a new chapter in your skin’s story.
And, all in all, your skin is probably still looking pretty fantastic. Especially if you haven’t been skipping the sunscreen and jumped on the retinol bandwagon early. All that hard work from your former decades should be starting to pay off, and combined with your newfound confidence, you should be feeling like yourself, only better…
But if you have started to notice a few changes appearing seemingly overnight, you might be wondering why your skin is changing so quickly. And, as it turns out, there is a perfectly good scientific explanation for this, with much of it coming down to the hormonal fluctuations associated with perimenopause. While skin ageing is something that happens gradually throughout our lives, our 40s can bring a number of biological changes that make those shifts considerably more noticeable, particularly when it comes to collagen, hydration and elasticity.
The good news is that with a little extra care and a thoughtful approach, your skin can continue to look and feel healthy throughout this next phase of life. But, as always, the first step to caring for your skin is understanding what’s going on underneath. So, whether you’re wondering why your skin suddenly feels different, looking to maintain your youthful glow, or simply trying to make sense of the changes associated with perimenopause, let’s get into the science behind what’s actually happening.
How your skin changes in your 40s
Like all things in life, understanding the why is the first step to success. As you may have noticed, your skin in your 40s doesn’t exactly behave the same way it did in your 20s and 30s, and while natural ageing is partly responsible, there is another rather significant factor at play: hormones. For many women, their 40s mark the beginning of perimenopause, the transitional period leading up to menopause, during which levels of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone begin to fluctuate. And while we tend to associate these hormonal changes with things like hot flushes, disrupted sleep and irregular periods, they can also have a significant impact on our skin.
Oestrogen, in particular, plays an important role in maintaining collagen production, hydration, elasticity and skin thickness, which means that as levels begin to fluctuate and eventually decline, you may start to notice changes in your skin's texture, tone and firmness. Combine this with the cumulative effects of sun exposure, lifestyle habits and environmental stressors, and it's little wonder that our skin can suddenly seem to change so quickly.
So, if you're reading this in advance of your 40th birthday, get that sunscreen on ya, stat! Your 40s are when all that hard work you've done to protect your skin will really start to pay off. Here are a few more ways our skin changes during this decade, and why perimenopause can make those changes particularly noticeable.
Decline in collagen and elastin
One of the key changes the skin will undergo is a decline in collagen production, alongside changes to the elastin fibres that help maintain its elasticity. These proteins are responsible for keeping our skin looking firm, supple and bouncy. And this is not necessarily a new change, as it’s actually around our mid-20s that collagen production begins to gradually decline. But, in your 20s, you have an abundance of collagen to work with, so you may not notice the impact this has on the skin until around now.
What makes our 40s particularly interesting, however, is the role that oestrogen plays in maintaining collagen levels. As oestrogen begins to fluctuate during perimenopause, and eventually declines with menopause, the skin can start to lose some of the structural support that keeps it looking firm and plump. In fact, research suggests that women can lose approximately 30% of their skin's collagen during the first five years after menopause, which goes some way towards explaining why these changes can become so noticeable over a relatively short period.
This can manifest in a number of ways, but the most noticeable signs are that the skin feels less taut, deeper lines may begin to form, and you may notice some sagging, particularly around the cheeks, jawline and eyes.
Slower cell turnover
Again, this is not a new change, so to speak, but as we enter our 40s, the signs of a decrease in our skin’s natural renewal process may begin to show. When we're younger, our skin is generally much more efficient at producing new cells and shedding old ones, but as we age, this process gradually slows, which can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface that aren't being cleared away nearly as quickly.
This makes the complexion appear duller, more uneven and textured, which can affect how smoothly skincare products and makeup sit on the skin. And when you combine this slower renewal process with the hormonal changes associated with perimenopause, which can also influence the skin's ability to maintain hydration and repair itself, it's easy to see why your complexion might suddenly seem a little less glowy than it once did.
Moisture loss and a weakened barrier
Another change the skin is going through is a reduction in its ability to retain moisture, which is one of the reasons why dryness is such a common complaint during perimenopause, even among women who have spent most of their lives dealing with oily or combination skin.
This is partly because oestrogen helps support the skin's hydration and barrier function, and as hormone levels begin to fluctuate, the skin can become less efficient at holding on to moisture. The lipid barrier, which is responsible for helping to trap hydration in the skin and protect it from external irritants, may also become less effective, leading to dryness, flakiness and increased sensitivity.
Without proper care and products, this can make fine lines appear more pronounced, and the skin may begin to feel rough, tight or uncomfortable. You might even notice that products you've been using happily for years suddenly aren't doing quite enough, which can be particularly frustrating when you've spent the better part of a decade perfecting your skincare routine.
Hormonal fluctuations and perimenopause
Like all things hormonal, the exact age and stage at which we go through our different milestones will vary from person to person. But, for many of us, our 40s will mark the beginning of some major hormonal shifts, particularly those associated with perimenopause.
And while we've already touched on the role that oestrogen plays in collagen production and hydration, the hormonal fluctuations during this period can also influence oil production, skin sensitivity and pigmentation, meaning your complexion may start behaving in ways you haven't experienced since those dreaded teenage years.
Except, unlike our teenage selves, these changes don't necessarily show up in the form of acne and oiliness, although both can certainly make an unwelcome return. Instead, you may notice increased dryness, thinning, loss of density, uneven pigmentation or a general change in the way your skin looks and feels.
And perhaps the most frustrating part is that these changes don't always happen gradually or consistently. Because hormone levels can fluctuate significantly during perimenopause, your skin might feel perfectly normal one month and unusually dry or sensitive the next, which helps explain why so many women feel as though their skin has suddenly changed overnight.
How your skincare routine should change in your 40s
Caring for your skin in your 40s is not about ‘fighting ageing’, it’s just about ensuring you’re equipped with everything you and your skin need to bridge this transition period. Because, yes, your skin is changing, but so are you (in a good way).
Think of your 40s skincare routine a bit like upgrading from fast fashion to investment pieces; it’s about choosing products that work hard, last longer and deliver the best results. And while perimenopause can make your skin's needs a little less predictable, your focus should really boil down to four main things: hydrating like your life depends on it, encouraging collagen production, defending against environmental chaos, and giving your skin an extra nudge to renew.
Here are a few things you can do to help…
Hydration, inside and out
Put it this way, if your skin could text you, in your 40s it would be sending some iteration of ‘more hydration!’ in every message. When our skin becomes dehydrated, it can feel tight, make fine lines more obvious, and just make the overall appearance of the skin seem ‘meh’. And because fluctuating oestrogen levels during perimenopause can affect the skin's ability to retain moisture, hydration becomes particularly important during this decade.
Look for moisturisers and serums that don’t just look pretty in your bathroom cabinet, but also actively help draw water into your skin and keep it there. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are particularly useful for attracting moisture, while ceramides can help support the skin's protective barrier and reduce moisture loss.
Layering hydrating products under richer creams is a great way to get the most out of them, particularly if your skin feels like the Sahara Desert after cleansing. And if you've noticed that your skin has become more sensitive than usual, it might also be worth taking a gentler approach with stronger active ingredients until your skin barrier is feeling a little happier.
Boost your collagen
As we’ve discussed, your collagen may start to have one foot out the door by the time you reach your 40s, and the hormonal changes associated with perimenopause can make maintaining collagen levels a little more challenging. The stronger your skin's collagen support, the smoother, firmer and bouncier it will generally look. And while you can’t magically replace all the collagen you've lost, you can encourage your skin to produce more of it.
Retinoids, including retinol, are usually the gold standard here, as they help stimulate collagen production and encourage cell turnover, which can improve the appearance of fine lines and uneven texture over time. Go easy if you’re new to them, as some skin takes a little while to adjust, particularly if it's already feeling dry or sensitive.
Vitamin C is another useful ingredient to have in your routine, thanks to its antioxidant properties and its role in supporting collagen synthesis, while peptides may also provide some additional benefits depending on their formulation.
And, of course, there are professional treatments that can help give collagen production an extra nudge. Microneedling, for example, works by creating controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating the body's natural repair response and encouraging collagen production, making it a particularly useful treatment for concerns such as fine lines, loss of firmness and uneven texture.
Don’t skip the SPF (ever)
If SPF wasn’t already a daily habit, your 40s should be the wake-up call you need. UV damage is essentially the fast track to fine lines, sagging and pigmentation, and while some people can get away with being a bit slack when they’re younger, the 40s are likely when this will all start to catch up with them. And because the hormonal changes associated with perimenopause can coincide with changes in pigmentation and skin texture, protecting your skin from further sun damage becomes even more important.
Even on cloudy days, UV radiation can still reach your skin, so make broad-spectrum sunscreen a consistent part of your morning routine, particularly when the UV index is 3 or above. And don’t skimp on this step; your SPF is not the product to be trying to save a few dollars on. Invest in a good one that you actually enjoy wearing, and you will not regret it. Of course, remember to reapply throughout the day as directed, especially if you’re spending time outside.
The last word
While it might feel as though your skin has suddenly changed overnight, the reality is that a number of biological processes have been quietly happening beneath the surface for years. Llooking after your skin in your 40s isn't about trying to turn back the clock. It's about understanding what your skin needs now, giving it the support it deserves, and embracing this next chapter with the same confidence you've spent the past few decades building.
