20 Skincare Mistakes Women Over 40 Are Making

It usually takes several weeks for your skin to fully adjust to retinol’s effects, so it’s always a good idea to start slowly (and only use a pea-sized amount)

“I recommend applying it every other day for the first two weeks, then moving up to two nights on, one night off for two weeks,” dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD tells us. “After a month, if there is no irritation, you can start applying it every night. But at any point, if there is dryness, burning, stinging or peeling, you should hold off a day or two.”

It’s also crucial to only use retinol at night, as it can cause your complexion to become very sensitive to sunlight. “Retinol thins out the outer skin layer, known as the stratum corneum, which makes the skin more sensitive to sunburn,” Dr. Zeichner explains. “Sun sensitivity occurs whether retinol is applied at night or in the morning, but because retinol is unstable in UV light, I recommend applying it at night and applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning to protect yourself from the sun.”

Retinol should not be combined with other strong active ingredients, like alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide, as they can amplify irritation.

Skin longevity should be rooted in understanding the biology of your body’s largest organ, not obsessing over wrinkles.

“We want to prolong the skin’s healthy function over time—it’s preventive and holistic, focusing on cellular health, reduction of inflammation, DNA repair, barrier function, and metabolic support,” dermatologist Hadley King, MD, tells Women’s Health.

And if you see fewer wrinkles in the mirror, that’s a by-product, not the primary goal.

Part of taking good care of your skin means paying attention to the early signs of dysfunction like dryness, dullness, redness, or breakouts. This takes into consideration internal systems like gut health, hormones, immune function, and metabolic balance and how they may affect what's happening on the outside

“Supporting these biological processes will help your skin rejuvenate, repair, and function well over time,” Jaclyn Tolentino, DO, the lead functional medicine practitioner at Love.Life previously told Women’s Health.

No topical product or fancy injection can replace healthy lifestyle habits. “The foundation is diet, exercise, stress reduction, sleep, and social connection—you can’t get around that,” functional medicine specialist Frank Lipman, MD, tells Women’s Health.

At-home peels and chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid, mandelic acid, or lactic acid work well for brightening, but don’t stack them. All these products combined could be too much for your skin barrier, aesthetic dermatologist Kiran Mian, DO previously told Women’s Health.

Yes, you can support your skin with what you eat. One essential nutrient to overall skin health is vitamin C. It “helps your body build strong collagen by activating enzymes that stabilize and form it,” Kseniya Kobets, MD, says to Women’s Health.

Citrus fruits, bell peppers, and leafy greens are all excellent sources.

A high-sugar diet can affect our stores of collagen (A.K.A. the protein responsible for that smooth, bouncy glow), sometimes causing a collagen-damaging process known as glycation.

“Glycation is essentially when sugar interacts with collagen, creating a modified form of collagen called advanced glycation end products or AGEs, which are stiffer, less pliable, and break down faster than healthy collagen,” dermatologist Muneeb Shah, MD told Women’s Health.

Unless the exfoliator you're using doubles as a cleanser, you also shouldn’t exfoliate skin that hasn't previously been cleansed—this will help you avoid pushing dirt (or even makeup) further into your pores.

Dermatologists aren’t fans of slathering on as many products as possible. “I would not do any of those 10-step skincare routines,” Cindy Wassef, MD, previously told Women’s Health. “Too many products can cause irritation and acne breakouts. With so much layering, it’s also unclear how much of the later layers are even being absorbed.” Instead, she cuts herself off after two to three products.

Yes, adults can get pimples, too. Perimenopause can trigger hormonal acne, and while it’s tempting to pop them, Ife J. Rodney, MD, recommends keeping your hands off.

“It causes trauma and inflammation of the surrounding skin,” Dr. Rodney tells Women’s Health. “That can cause redness, swelling, and dark spots.”

Dr. Rodney also makes a point to only try one new product at a time. If you add two or more into your routine at once, then “you don’t know which product is giving your skin benefits. On the flip side, if you have a reaction, you won’t know which product is the offending agent,” she says to Women’s Health.

Dermatologist Susan Massick, MD avoids abrasive facial scrubs and stiff brushes because some are just too rough for your skin to handle. “It’s important to remove makeup at the end of the day, but abrasive facial scrubs can be too harsh on your skin when just a gentle cleanser would be fine,” she said.

Making certain lifestyle changes can benefit your skin’s health, too. “Try to avoid alcohol and salt intake to minimize facial puffiness, as these can be dehydrating and contribute to puffiness,” dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, previously told Women’s Health.

Consuming too much of one or both of these things can cause your body to retain water, making you appear swollen and/or puffy. Even if you can simply cut down your intake (we get it, sometimes you just need that glass of wine!), it will make a positive difference in the level of puffiness you experience.

As you start to go through menopause, the skin has a harder time keeping moisture in and irritants out.

“You need to transition to more hydrating and emollient formulas of everything—cleanser, body moisturizer, richer face creams, oils, and balms,” dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD tells Women’s Health.

Look for hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, that bring water to the skin and emollient lipids like ceramides, squalene, or shea butter to help seal in that moisture.

While there’s nothing wrong with sleeping on cotton, investing in a silk pillowcase can upgrade your skincare routine. Pillowcases that are 100 percent pure silk are naturally hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and temperature-regulating, which means they can work wonders for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Like all healthy habits, staying consistent with your skincare is key to seeing results.

Experts tell us we need to be patient when using products like wrinkle creams. While you should notice an immediate hydration boost, wrinkles won't visibly begin to diminish until you've been consistently using your new cream anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. So stick with it!