Canadian skincare for women over 40

Changes in hormones due to perimenopause or menopause can cause changes in your skin, including acne. Typically, the acne would appear around the chin and neck. You may need to change your skin routine as a result. Look for ingredients such as amino acids and salicylic acid in your cleansers to help rebalance the PH level of your skin without stripping it dry.

There is no fountain of youth. Sorry! However, you can certainly use products that can improve the appearance of your fine lines or discolouration. The word “appearance” is used because topical products can only penetrate into the epidermis of the skin, while it is the dermis that contains the elements that diminish over time, such as collagen and peptides.  

Aging prematurely can be prevented by using a good moisturizer and an SPF of at least 30 every day.

Think of sunscreen as your shield. Always apply it after your moisturizer.  

If you are wearing makeup, ensure the sunscreen has absorbed before you apply your makeup.

Dark spots begin to appear on our skin as we mature due to sun damage from many years ago. Spot treatments are available; however, patience is key as they can take time to reduce the appearance of the dark spot (one to two months). More invasive medical treatments that work to remove the top layers of your skin can provide faster progress.  

Note: certain actives that are intended to lighten the appearance of a dark spot can make your skin more sensitive to the sun (natural product or not). To prevent more dark spots from occurring as you mature, ensure you wear an SPF of at least 30, year-round.

In short answer: no. The SPF in your foundation is not enough coverage because it is one of the last ingredients (meaning the least). Ensure you still use an SPF sunscreen of at least 30!

Serums penetrate the skin a bit deeper than a moisturizer. Think of it like this: a moisturizer stays on the surface to fight free radicals and provide that nice moisturized feel, and gives a smoother canvas for makeup. A serum works harder below the surface to repair skin damage, rebalance pH, brighten and moisturize (depending on the serum).

There are water-based serums and oil-based serums. Water-based serums absorb quickly and can be used day or night. We suggest adding an oil-based serum to your skin routine to give your skin even more moisture. As oil-based serums typically can take time to absorb, we suggest you use them in the evening. If you prefer to use it in the morning, ensure you have time to massage it in and let it absorb before you apply any makeup.

The skin around your eyes is thinner than the skin on the rest of your face and body.  This is why it can be more sensitive than the rest of your face. Eye creams take that into consideration, focusing on the annoyances that can occur as a result of the more delicate skin (dark circles, puffiness, crepiness). If you use a regular face cream versus an eye cream, you may end up with milia (white, keratin-filled cysts) because the cream (or even makeup) could not dissolve properly.  

Note: Milia should only be removed by a professional such as a licensed aesthetician or dermatologist.

A simple skincare routine for any skin type is based on three steps: 

1. Cleanser  (in the evening, particularly)
2. Moisturizer
3. Sunscreen SPF 30

That’s it!  

Night notes: A night cream versus a day cream is a personal preference. Typically, creams that are marketed for ‘night’ are more moisturizing. Using them in the evening allows time for absorption. However, if you have dry skin, a more moisturizing cream is best at any time of day. 

Skip the sunscreen at night unless you sleep outside in areas of the world where it is sunny for 24 hours a day. (Hello, Inuvik!)

The notion of a night vs day cream goes back to the idea that a thicker cream has more time to absorb while you sleep. However, advancements in active ingredients have made many creams effective to use either in the morning or at night.  

Use what you feel you need, as some brands may use the terms “day/night” to insinuate you need both. For your skin, you may want to use a ‘night’ cream in the morning because it is more moisturizing. Many brands are steering away from these labels because of the various advancements in active ingredients and because a person’s skin needs are unique.