Daily Skincare Habits to Enhance Youthful Skin After 40

Written by an independent, certified dermatologist

 

"Ageing skin doesn’t need fixing - it needs support. And after 40, that support comes from small, intentional habits done regularly."

 

As we age, maintaining youthful, healthy-looking skin requires more than just a few good products. It’s about building consistent daily habits that support your skin’s changing needs. After 40, the natural ageing process speeds up: collagen production slows, skin cell turnover becomes sluggish, and hormone fluctuations during perimenopause can trigger new sensitivities, including dryness, redness, rosacea, and even adult eczema.

But the good news? Small, science-backed changes to your daily skincare routine can make a significant difference. Whether you’re dealing with fine lines, sagging skin, or flare-ups from rosacea or eczema, establishing supportive habits - and sticking to them - will help your skin age with grace, strength, and radiance.

Here are the daily skincare habits I recommend most to women over 40, based on years of dermatological research and clinical experience:


1. Start and End With Gentle, Hydrating Cleansing

As skin matures, its ability to retain moisture weakens, making hydration absolutely essential. Harsh cleansers strip the skin’s protective barrier and can aggravate rosacea or eczema, especially during perimenopause when the skin is naturally more reactive.

Look for:

  • Creamy, non-foaming cleansers with ceramides, glycerin, or squalane
  • Products labelled fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, or for sensitive skin

Avoid:

  • Alcohol-based toners
  • Harsh scrubs or exfoliating cleansers with gritty textures

A soft, consistent cleanse morning and night supports skin barrier function and prepares the skin for active ingredients.


2. Incorporate LED Light Therapy into Your Routine

Light-based skincare is one of the most powerful and non-invasive ways to enhance skin health after 40. Whether you're treating fine lines, sagging skin, rosacea, or eczema, LED therapy targets skin at the cellular level - stimulating collagen production, calming inflammation, and improving skin tone and texture over time.

Devices like the Dermaglow LED & EMS Mask offer multiple wavelengths tailored to different skin concerns:

  • Red Light Therapy boosts collagen, smooths wrinkles, and improves circulation
  • Infrared Light supports deeper skin repair and elasticity (ideal for jowls, neck, and sagging cheeks)
  • Green and Yellow Light help calm redness, strengthen capillaries, and reduce visible symptoms of rosacea
  • White Light enhances cell turnover, supporting healing for sensitive, eczema-prone skin
  • Deep Infrared penetrates deeper to stimulate tissue regeneration - clinically shown to reduce the depth of stubborn, deep wrinkles

By incorporating LED therapy into your routine 3–5 times per week (for just 10–15 minutes), you’ll start to see clearer, firmer, more resilient skin over time - especially when combined with the following habits.


3. Use Retinol Wisely and Consistently

Retinol (vitamin A) is one of the most researched ingredients for ageing skin. It accelerates cell turnover, stimulates collagen, and helps smooth fine lines and uneven texture.

Pro tip:
If you’re using LED light therapy at night, applying a retinol-based serum after your LED session is a powerful combination. The light primes your skin to absorb active ingredients more effectively, and retinol complements this by promoting regeneration overnight.

Look for:

  • Retinol or retinaldehyde formulas designed for sensitive or mature skin
  • Products with added hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or peptides to reduce irritation


4. Prioritise Sun Protection - Every Single Day

UV exposure is the number one external cause of premature ageing. Even on cloudy days or indoors near windows, UV rays can break down collagen and worsen rosacea or eczema symptoms.

Daily habit:

  • Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning, rain or shine
  • Use mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) if you have sensitive or reactive skin
  • Reapply throughout the day if you're outside for prolonged periods

Not only does sunscreen protect against wrinkles and pigmentation, but it also helps stabilise skin barrier function - a must for eczema-prone or rosacea-prone complexions.


5. Hydrate & Moisturise Strategically

As estrogen declines in the 40s and 50s, skin often becomes drier and thinner. Moisture loss leads to dullness, tightness, and more pronounced fine lines.

Look for moisturisers that contain:

  • Hyaluronic acid (to draw moisture into the skin)
  • Ceramides and fatty acids (to rebuild the skin barrier)
  • Peptides (to support firmness and elasticity)

Apply moisturiser directly after LED therapy or a warm cleanse to lock in hydration while your skin is most receptive.


6. Add EMS for Sculpting and Lifting

EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) is a complementary technology to LED that offers lifting and firming benefits. It works by gently activating the facial muscles beneath the skin - helping to tone, define, and counteract sagging in areas like the jawline, cheeks, and neck.

Devices like the Dermaglow LED & EMS Mask combine EMS and LED light therapy, so you can treat surface concerns like fine lines and redness while also addressing structural changes like muscle laxity and skin drooping.

Just a few sessions per week can make a visible difference in the contours and firmness of your face over time.


7. Stay Consistent With Your Routine

This might be the most important habit of all. No product or device can deliver results if it’s only used sporadically.

Whether it’s your LED mask, serum, or daily SPF - consistency is the key to cumulative improvement. Most women notice visible changes within 4–8 weeks when following a regular routine.

Try setting aside 15–20 minutes each evening as a moment of self-care; cleansing, LED therapy, and serum application. Your skin (and your mind) will thank you for the ritual.


Final Thoughts: Skincare After 40 is a Journey, Not a Race

Ageing skin doesn’t need fixing - it needs support. And after 40, that support comes from small, intentional habits done regularly.

From LED light therapy and EMS, to thoughtful product choices and hydration, these daily habits work together to help your skin age with strength, softness, and radiance. It’s not about chasing youth, it’s about nurturing your skin with what it needs now.

If you’re new to LED therapy, take a moment to explore the Dermaglow LED & EMS Mask, designed specifically for women 40+, combining multiple light wavelengths and gentle EMS sculpting to help tackle fine lines, sagging, rosacea, and perimenopausal eczema and many other skin concerns from every angle.

Your skin has been through a lot. Let’s give it what it deserves.