Top Daily Habits for Strong, Healthy and Glowing 40 Plus Skin
Healthy, glowing skin after 40 is absolutely possible. It just needs a slightly different plan to the one that worked in your twenties and thirties.
Let’s be honest, most of us 40 plus glance in the mirror and notice changes. Skin may feel drier. It looks duller. It is not as springy. This happens for good reasons. And once you understand them, caring for your skin gets so much easier.
During perimenopause and menopause, oestrogen begins to taper. This hormone helps your skin hold onto hydration. It keeps your skin thick and firm. When levels dip, your skin loses moisture channels. That is when dryness sneaks in. Skin can feel tight or even flaky.
“Your skin is an organ, not armour. Treat it gently, feed it well, support it daily.”
Collagen production also slows down. Collagen gives your skin structure. Less collagen may mean softer skin, more lines and slower bounce back after sleep. Many women lose a significant amount of skin collagen in the menopause years, so supporting collagen and elasticity becomes more important.
Then there is cortisol, your stress hormone. When cortisol stays high, inflammation can show up on the skin. You may see more sensitivity, dullness or spots. These are very common hormonal skin changes at 40 plus.
Sleep shifts too. And while you snooze less soundly, your skin repairs more slowly. This can leave you with under eye shadows or a tired complexion in the morning, even if your skincare is brilliant.
These changes are not your skin failing. They are your skin asking for a new kind of support. What once worked in your twenties may feel underwhelming now. This is normal at 40 plus. But it is also reversible with the right daily habits.
When we talk about skin health after 40, it helps to zoom out and remember the skin is an organ, not just a surface. It needs nutrients, hydration, circulation and balance. Looking after these foundations supports healthy ageing for skin and helps you keep a more natural glow.
Skin health after 40 starts on the inside
The conversation around great skin used to revolve around creams, peels and facials. Those have their place and can be very helpful. Yet it is the everyday basics that keep skin thriving long term. The skin is an organ. It relies on nutrients, hydration and good circulation.
When these foundations wobble, the best products struggle to keep up. When they are steady, your skincare works better and glowing skin becomes much easier to maintain.
The routines that matter most now
Here are the daily pillars that genuinely move the needle for skin health after 40:
Protect against UV every day. Even in winter. SPF helps prevent collagen breakdown and pigmentation.
Prioritise protein in meals. Amino acids repair skin, build collagen and improve elasticity.
Drink enough water through the day. Hydrated skin looks smoother. It also supports detox pathways.
Add omega 3 rich foods. Think salmon, sardines, walnuts and chia. These quieten skin inflammation.
Mind your blood sugar. Balanced glucose helps reduce dullness, breakouts and cortisol spikes.
Move for lymph flow. A brisk walk, dry body brushing or gentle bounce on a rebounder all count.
Sleep like you mean it. Good sleep supports skin repair and can soften under eye shadows.
Add collagen or vitamin C consistently. These work together to support skin structure.
Manage your stress signals daily. Breathwork, tapping or simply 5 minutes of calm helps your cortisol. Your skin loves lower cortisol.
“Skin care at 40 plus is less about changing everything and more about doing the basics well, often, for all the years to come.”
7 science-led skincare habits to support glowing skin after 40 plus
7 easy skin wins to start today. Because quick matters when you are juggling life, try these:
A big glass of water first thing
Rehydrates after sleep and helps skin look fresher.A protein rich breakfast before 10am
Amino acids from eggs, Greek yoghurt, tofu or a protein smoothie support skin repair and collagen building.A 10 minute walk outdoors after lunch
Boosts circulation which brings a healthy glow and supports your lymph flow.Gently exfoliate the skin once a week
Helps remove dead surface cells, brightens the complexion and lets a vitamin C serum work better. Gentle exfoliation is usually best for 40 plus skin.Use a moisturising serum daily
Hydration improves suppleness and softens fine lines, particularly when skin feels dry in perimenopause and menopause.Apply SPF 30 plus every morning
A generous layer of sunscreen such as La Roche Posay on the face, neck and ears protects against collagen loss and pigmentation and supports healthy ageing for skin.Reduce sugar and ultra processed foods
Cutting excess sugar and ultra processed snacks helps steady blood glucose, lower skin inflammation and support long term skin health.
Keep it simple. Do these for 21 days. Most women see brighter, smoother, calmer skin. And they feel the difference too.
Why habits beat hero treatments here
Healthy, glowing 40 plus skin is not about chasing miracle products or one off treatments. Professional treatments absolutely have their place and can give a real boost, especially when skin needs a little extra help. But the real magic happens in what you do every day at home.
Tiny daily deposits of care are what your skin relies on. When you stack good nutrition, movement, sleep and hydration with simple daily skincare habits like cleansing, moisturising and using SPF, your skin responds in a natural, long lasting way.
Over time your glow becomes your normal, not something you only see after a facial. At 40 plus consistency is the true superpower. No cream or treatment can replace what you do for your skin, and your whole body, day in and day out.
Want more bite size support
If you enjoyed this, you will love the deeper skin and wellbeing insights I share in my book, workshops and online programmes. You can also sign up for Health Bites on my homepage for weekly skin friendly habits, nutrition tips and confidence boosting nudges that do not overwhelm.
Forty plus skin deserves strong roots so it stays healthy for decades, not days.
“Creams can support the surface. But healthy habits support the future of your skin.”
If you want to learn more about skin health and wellness for 40 plus women, my Number 1 international bestselling book Have a Magnificent Menopause brings it all together in a simple, supportive way showing how to care for your skin, body and confidence from the inside out. Link to my book is below-
Your 40 Plus Skin Questions Answered
Why does 40 plus skin feel different to before?
Hormones begin to shift, oil levels can lessen, and skin renewal slows. The skin cycle becomes longer. This often means less bounce and more dryness. Gentle, regular care supports this stage best.Why do fine lines show up more now?
As women move through perimenopause and menopause, collagen naturally declines. This affects firmness and elasticity. Daily collagen support through food and a vitamin C serum helps skin stay strong over time.Can I exfoliate if my skin gets sensitive?
Yes, but skip harsh scrubs. Choose a soft exfoliant, like a lactic acid exfoliant or enzymes once a week. This clears dead surface skin without upsetting the barrier.Do I really need SPF 30 plus every single day?
Absolutely. Sunscreen helps prevent collagen breakdown and dark spots. A broad spectrum SPF 30 plus, such as La Roche‑Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid, is a well known favourite.Why do I sometimes look tired even with good skincare?
When sleep is broken, skin repair gets less time at night. The circadian repair rhythm can become less efficient. A cooler eye routine in the morning, plus better sleep support, can refresh the skin fast.What actually makes the biggest difference for skin wellness after 40?
Not one product, but stacking basics. Daily hydration, weekly gentle exfoliation, steady SPF 30 plus, protein at breakfast and managing sugar and ultra processed foods gives the skin what it needs often. That’s what builds lasting glow.