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Carrot & Stick The Defense Serum
Perhaps you’re at the point in your life where you’re starting to think about the best anti-aging serum for 40s skin — or maybe, even the best serum for over 50. While your skin shows the first signs of aging as early as your 20s, when you move into the 40s decade (even earlier in many cases), more significant changes start to pop up.
Whether you notice discoloration, loss of elasticity and volume, or fine lines and wrinkles, it’s time to reevaluate your routine so you can tweak it to include the best serum for 40s skin. Applied after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing, a serum is a step that should not be skipped or overlooked.
A serum’s molecular size is significantly smaller than a moisturizer or other skincare products, and it can penetrate on a more profound level — the most potent, results-driven ingredients are delivered deep into your skin. With that said, serums are one of the most effective anti-aging treatments, regardless of how old you are.
How is the best anti-aging serum for 50s different from the one you’d use in your 40s, you ask? While many of the ingredients used remain the same, it’s the potency that tends to change — but you don’t have to find the perfect formula for your age on your own.
Here at Styles Space, we’ve reviewed hundreds of products with a scientific lens to ensure you’re creating a skincare routine that’s safe and effective.
Ahead, 20 of the best anti-aging serums for 40s skin to help promote a healthy, youthful complexion.
Best Anti-Aging Serum for 40s: The List
BEST OVERALL
BEST: Carrot and Stick Repair Serum
Best Bet
FULL LIST
Carrot & Stick The Defence Serum
Formulyst Active Serum — Vitamin B, C, E, Ferulic + Niacinamide
Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum
Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate
Strivectin Advanced Hydration Lactic Acid Nightly Retexturing Serum
Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Stress Rescue Super Serum
Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum
Your Skin in Your 40s
Your 40s is when you really begin to notice that your skin isn’t quite as firm as it used to be. You’re dealing with the loss of collagen and elastin, which give the skin structure and tone, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness. Depending on how you took care of your skin when you were younger, sun damage may be more pronounced as well.
Many women experience a drier, rougher complexion — especially from their mid-to-late-40s since menopause is around the corner. They may be already going through perimenopause, or menopause transition, which begins several years before the real deal. These hormonal changes can also trigger adult acne, so that anything can happen during this phase of life.
What to Look for in a Serum in Your 40s
When it comes to skincare in your 40s, look for a serum with a combination of the following ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide (B3), retinol (but not if you’re already using a vitamin A derivative in a cream), and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. Together, these ingredients will protect against free radicals (think UV rays, pollution, cigarette smoke), stimulate collagen production, and improve elasticity and hydration levels.
You’ll want to invest in two different formulas: a protective one with antioxidants and brightening agents during the day and something more hydrating yet potent that stimulates collagen and elastin production at night. Think of it as giving your skin protection during the day while repairing it at night.
The Goal of an Anti-Aging Serum for 40s Skin
- Stimulate collagen production
- Fade existing fine lines and wrinkles
- Prevent (or clear up) a blotchy complexion
- Fade dark spots and signs of discoloration
- Firm and tone
- Prevent and treat rough, dry skin
Beyond Your 40s
Aging is a fact of life, and each decade depicts a different metamorphosis. While some people embrace the skin they’re in regardless of age, for others, accepting changes in physical appearance can be difficult to accept. Perhaps you’re wondering how the goals of an anti-aging serum for 40s skin change as you get older.
Best Serum for Over 50
Several changes occur when you’re in your 50s, including thinner skin, loss of elasticity, more prominent wrinkles, a tendency to bruise easily, excessive dryness, and age spots. While prevention is the key to lessening the effects of age, it’s still not too late to incorporate the best serum for aging skin over 50.
Hydration becomes a growing concern, so reach for a formula with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin E. If you haven’t already, incorporate retinol (or bakuchiol, the natural alternative) to help soften — not eliminate — wrinkles while improving skin tone and texture.
Best Serum for Over 60
During your 60s, your first two layers of skin — the epidermis and dermis — thin and flatten out. Your skin becomes drier and itchier and may resemble crepe paper or tissue. Wrinkles, age spots, creases, and bruises become more prominent. You’ll have to use a more gentle touch when applying skincare products since the skin is more fragile.
While the ingredients for 40s skin and above are still good choices for the best serum for aging skin over 60, this is also the time of life to start embracing wrinkles and loss of tone without neglecting skin health. You should continue a solid skincare routine that includes a serum that focuses on hydrating, nourishing, and protecting more than trying to reverse wrinkles.
The Best Anti-Aging Serums for Your 40s
BEST OVERALL
BEST: Carrot and Stick Repair Serum
Apply this anti-aging serum daily to keep skin hydrated and protected from free radical damage. The Repair Serum by Carrot & Stick helps lift, tighten and firm the look of skin thanks to seven plant-based neuropeptides, while synthesized growth factors help keep skin looking radiant. It’s the best anti-aging serum for 50s — and beyond.
FULL LIST
Carrot & Stick The Defence Serum
It contains 3 distinct types of vitamin c that work together to help fight free radical damage. Use every morning.
Formulyst Active Serum — Vitamin B, C, E, Ferulic + Niacinamide
his formulation shields your skin from environmental assaults that show signs of aging in your 40s. One drop contains a powerful antioxidant blend of antioxidants and vitamins, with the highest concentration of pure vitamin C, B, E, ferulic acid, and niacinamide. It leaves your skin looking brighter, healthier, and more youthful.
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Acid
Skinceuticals has several best-selling serums, but this patented daytime formula is considered the gold standard, according to skincare professionals. Along with visibly improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, loss of tone, and discoloration, it’s clinically proven to reduce oxidative damage from environmental aggressors by up to 41%. Once absorbed into the skin, this vitamin C serum keeps working for a minimum of 72 hours.
Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum
Perfect for travel or convenient home use, these small yet potent capsules deliver the ideal amount of serum every time. Formulated for nighttime use, each dose is packed with retinol and peptides to stimulate collagen synthesis, ceramides to strengthen the skin’s barrier, and a blend of oils to deeply hydrate. You’ll wake up to a more refreshed, hydrated, and glowing complexion as soon as the next day, but it also works progressively to fade the signs of aging in your 40s.
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
This power-packed serum is formulated with two forms of retinol—one that works quickly and another that’s time-released—to soften fine lines and wrinkles and even out the skin tone while stimulating collagen production. A retinol booster enhances the results, while hyaluronic acid minimizes dryness and promotes a from-within glow.
Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum
Choosing a favorite product from AOS is like trying to pick a favorite child — impossible. So, let’s leave it up to actress January Jones as this potent 20% vitamin C and 2% citrus cell complex infused serum is one of her favorites from the brand.
The C in this formula has a cumulative effect, so it’s suitable for all skin types. An antioxidant complex of glutathione and three potent antioxidants brightens, firms, and protects against environmental aggressors immediately and over time.
Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate
This unique serum features Japanese shiso, which has been shown to prevent the degradation of hyaluronic acid — another ingredient in this formula — to deeply hydrate while improving the skin’s elasticity. Glycerin and an epidermal hydration filler encourage the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid to improve dullness while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and an uneven texture.
Strivectin Advanced Hydration Lactic Acid Nightly Retexturing Serum
As the name suggests, this formula is one of the best serums for targeting dry, lackluster skin because it exfoliates one of the keys to achieving a supple, plump complexion. Alpha-hydroxy acids, vegan lactic acid, blue cypress oil, and an advanced youth-boosting Nonapeptide boost the skin’s natural moisturizing factors while improving skin tone and texture.
Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
If you feel as though your 40s skin is changing from one day to the next, you’ll love this high-tech serum that adjusts to suit the needs of anyone who wears it. It targets, treats, and prevents specific skin issues, whether that’s loss of elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, dullness, breakouts, and hyperpigmentation — basically anything that can pop up in your 40s. The secret sauce is a blend of brightening botanicals, vitamin C, peptides, and salicylic acid.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Stress Rescue Super Serum
We all have stressed skin at some point or another, and let’s face it, 2020 put us to the test. Soothing niacinamide, ashwagandha, and goli fruit extracts protect against environmental stressors (think cigarettes, sun exposure, stress, pollution) and damaging blue light from electronics.
Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum
Full disclosure: This is not a retinol serum for rookie retinol users. This professional strength formula consists of a 5% retinoid ester blend, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol, and blue-green algae to provide antioxidant protection. The addition of encapsulated CoQ10 works to improve damaged or aging skin; and if you’re worried about irritation due to the strength, cactus extract, Hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, and ginger calm and soothe.
Serums in Your 40s: The Bottom Line
While your skin shows the first signs of aging as early as your 20s, it’s when you move into the 40s decade that more significant changes start to pop up. Whether you notice discoloration, loss of elasticity and volume, or fine lines and wrinkles, your 40s are a time to reevaluate how you’re taking care of your skin so you can tweak your skincare so it’s more effective for this next phase of life. If you haven’t already adopted an anti-aging skincare routine for the 40s, now is the time.
When it comes to choosing the best anti-aging serum for the 40s, look for a formula with a combination of the following ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide (B3), retinoids (but not if you’re already using a vitamin A derivative in a cream), and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. Together, these ingredients will protect against free radicals (think UV rays, pollution, cigarette smoke), stimulate collagen production and improve elasticity and hydration levels.
For the best results, you’ll want to invest in two different formulas: a protective one with antioxidants and brightening agents during the day and something more reparative that stimulates collagen and elastin production while you sleep.
Overall, the best anti-aging serum is Carrot & Stick Repair Serum.
Best Bet
FAQs
In your 40s, skin becomes dull-looking, uneven, and yes, fine lines and wrinkles are more predominant as you move into and through your forties. This change is primarily due to perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause), a period when your estrogen levels begin to decrease, and skin becomes thinner and begins to lose its elasticity.
Wrinkling can also be associated with how well you took care of your skin in your 20s and 30s, including whether or not you protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
While acceptance is crucial as we go through the different phases of life, some measures you can take include, but are not limited to:
- Don’t be lazy about your skincare routine
- Don’t neglect your neck and décolleté
- Exfoliate regularly
- Consider a cosmetic procedure
- Drink enough water daily
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Adopt a well-balanced diet
- Quit smoking
- Get enough sleep
- Find activities to destress throughout the day
- Limit sun exposure and wear SPF daily
Along with using the best-targeted skincare ingredients to address the signs of 40s skin (more on that in a bit), it’s also essential that you’re considering your lifestyle habits. Even the best products in the world aren’t going to be effective if you’re not taking care of yourself in other ways
Protect Your Skin From the Sun
Daily sun protection is the golden rule for anti-aging and not looking older beyond your years. Numerous studies show that sun exposure is the number one cause of aging — how’s that for a bit of motivation to get serious?
First and foremost, apply sunscreen (a minimum SPF of 30) to all exposed areas of skin; reapply throughout the day as needed. Try to avoid being outside in direct sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are the most dangerous. Accessorize with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to provide a little shade around your face.
Avoid Tanning Beds
Don’t even think about crawling into a tanning bed — even if it’s to get a little color before vacation. Substantial research shows that these dangerous beds are linked to cancer and are more dangerous than laying in natural sunlight because the UVA rays penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin. There are numerous high-quality, natural self-tanning products (and professional services) on the market today, making it easier than ever to achieve a natural glow.
Stop Smoking
Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals that damage collagen and elastin. The nicotine in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to constrict, impairs blood flow, and deprives your skin of vital nutrients like vitamin A. The unhealthy, worn skin of a 40-year-old heavy smoker resembles that of a non-smoking 70-year-old.
Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet
What you put into your body will ultimately show up in your skin, so you must be eating a diet made up of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. While it’s easier said than done, limiting junk food, alcohol, and sugar can prevent a dull complexion, collagen loss, and breakouts.
Furthermore, eating foods rich in antioxidants and probiotics (think yogurt, kefir, kale, and kombucha) can help clean up your gut, strengthen your immune system, and promote a glowing complexion from the inside out. Adopting these good habits now will help you with your overall health down the road.
Get Enough Shuteye
It’s called beauty sleep for a reason. When you’re sleeping, your body goes into repair mode, so it’s essential to get enough shuteye every night — not just on the weekends. Nighttime is also when you want to use reparative and hydrating skincare products because your skin can effectively utilize the active ingredients. Furthermore, studies suggest that lack of sleep is associated with more fine lines, wrinkles, and droopy corners of the mouth, so it’s no surprise that not getting enough shuteye can exacerbate the signs of aging in your 40s.
References:
Photoaging: What You Need to Know,” Skincancer.org, January 2019.
Is it True That Smoking Causes Wrinkles?, Mayoclinic.org.
Smoking and Its Effects on the Skin,” Derm Net NZ, November 2016.
Study Reveals the Face of Sleep Deprivation,” August 2013.
