Once we hit our 40s and enter perimenopause, there can be an onslaught of new skin concerns that arise. Thanks to the fluctuations in hormones and daily wear and tear of skin, you might be dealing with anything from dry skin to discoloration, redness and more. That’s why we turned to New York City board-certified dermatologist Doris Day, MD, FAAD to answer our most-pressing skin care questions for women in their 40s and beyond. Dr. Day also serves as a professor of dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center, has authored three books and shares her wealth of skin care knowledge on her social media accounts—check out one of her Reels below! To see Dr. Day’s skin care advice that’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine, keep scrolling.
Editor’s note: Dr. Day is a contributor to First for Women magazine and you can find more skin care advice from her in the print publication, which is available for purchase online here. To ask her a skin care question, send an email to beauty@firstforwomen.com.
I’m not a fan of body scrubs, what do you recommend for exfoliating?
“Try dry brushing! It gently sloughs off dead, dry skin cells. This technique also unclogs pores to prevent body breakouts and stimulates the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins, puffiness and bloat,” says Dr. Day. For the best results, she advises choosing a brush with bristles made of natural fibers, as synthetic ones can irritate skin. “I like TADA Body Brush, which has a hand strap for better grip. To use, start with clean, dry skin and move the brush in gentle, short strokes all over your body, especially the feet, elbows and knees, avoiding areas with broken skin. And don’t forget to moisturize afterward!” Repeat once or twice a week (cut back if your skin is sensitive).
Are there ingredients I should avoid when my rosacea flares up?
Can slugging exacerbate oily skin?
“Slathering petroleum jelly on top of skin after applying skin care, aka ‘slugging,’ is a big trend on TikTok, as it provides a boost of moisture to dry, mature skin. For some, though, slugging can lead to clogged pores, so skip it if you’re acne-prone,” notes Dr. Day. “Otherwise, apply your nighttime skin-care regimen as usual. I like using a hydrating serum, like CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, followed by a richer night cream. Next, layer on Vaseline to act as a barrier that locks in skin care.” Tip: Place a towel over your pillowcase to protect it from the jelly while you sleep. “You’ll notice soft, plump skin the next morning,” she says. “For dry skin, you can slug nightly, but for combination or oily skin, keep it to two to three times a week to avoid breakouts.”
Do I need to massage in my face serum?
“In short, no. Massage isn’t the most effective way to ensure serums absorb, says Dr. Day. “That’s because as we age and develop more vellus hairs, or peach fuzz, massaging can cause serums to simply glide over these hairs rather than penetrating the skin.” The best method according to Dr. Day is to gently press your serum into your skin to break through that peach fuzz barrier. “But don’t give up on massage just yet! There is one beneficial facial massage called lymphatic drainage that reduces puffiness,” notes Dr. Day. “If you want to try it, note that many beauty videos suggest massaging upward, when really you should use your fingers or a facial roller to gently massage downward, pushing fluid away from your face.”
Is it possible to diminish deep wrinkles without Botox?
“You can soften them! First, notice if you frequently raise your eyebrows, squint or crinkle your eyes and try to minimize these habits, as they cause wrinkles in the first place,” explains Dr. Day. “Hydration is also key to aid skin self-repair, helping to soften and prevent lines. This is easy to do; just apply a moisturizer daily, like Laneige Water Bank Moisturizer, which preserves collagen by preventing moisture loss. And top with SPF 30 or higher to keep creases from worsening.”
For a nose that’s always red, how can I tone it down?
A red nose is a frustrating chronic issue due to the dense network of blood vessels and strong blood supply to the area, says Dr. Day. “I suggest applying an eye cream that contains caffeine, which constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow, and niacinamide, an antioxidant that decreases inflammation and redness. I like Olay 10 Years Younger Day Eye Cream, which has both ingredients. In addition, certain triggers such as alcohol, spicy foods and stress can exacerbate the redness—so try to avoid those and you’ll likely see a big benefit.”
How can I brighten dark spots?
“I recommend using a combination of three ingredients and products to target dark spots,” says Dr. Day. “First, cleanse skin morning and night with a glycolic acid–infused cleanser, which will gently exfoliate skin and remove dead, discolored skin cells. Next, in the morning, apply a vitamin C cream, like La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Cream.” It will brighten skin, and the antioxidant properties will ward off new spots, she says. “At nighttime, add a retinol to your routine to help with skin cell turnover and even out skin tone. Consistency is key when using this regimen.” When used daily, you’ll begin to see results in two weeks for surface discoloration and in four to six weeks for deeper spots.
