20 Skincare Mistakes Women Over 40 Are Making

1Skipping SPF.RyanJLane//Getty ImagesEvery dermatologist our editors interview swears by daily SPF application. “Much of the sun damage that accumulates in our skin are caused by daily incidental activities, like walking, driving, or outdoor dining,” dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, MD tells Women’s Health. “Protecting our skin from sun exposure makes the single most dramatic difference in how our skin ages over time.”You can't reverse sun damage from your skin, so it’s best to be proactive and prevent it with sunscreen.2Skipping retinols.Ekaterina Demidova//Getty ImagesWhen it comes to addressing signs of aging, very few skincare ingredients prove to be as effective as retinols.“With the exception of those with rosacea or very sensitive skin, anyone can benefit from a retinol,” dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, previously told Women’s Health.Retinol is known for its ability to improve skin texture, promote cellular turnover, and prevent acne. If you don’t already have a retinol in your skincare routine, you’ll want to add one ASAP. That being said, there are several common mistakes when using retinol to keep in mind.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Using retinol too much, too frequently.LAW Ho Ming//Getty ImagesIt 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.”4Applying retinol during the day.Ekaterina Goncharova//Getty ImagesIt’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.”Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Combining retinol with other active ingredients.Anna Efetova//Getty Images6Obsessing over wrinkles.MementoJpeg//Getty ImagesSkin 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.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Ignoring early signs of skin dysfunction.Kinga Krzeminska//Getty ImagesPart 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.8Focusing on products instead of health lifestyle habits.Morsa Images//Getty ImagesNo 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.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Layering too many chemical exfoliants at once.Marco VDM//Getty ImagesAt-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.10Not eating enough Vitamin C.Yana Iskayeva//Getty ImagesYes, 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.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Consuming too much sugar.SimpleImages//Getty ImagesA 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.12Exfoliating before cleansing.Oleg Breslavtsev//Getty ImagesUnless 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.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Long skincare routines.Aja Koska//Getty ImagesDermatologists 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.14Popping your pimples.Antonio Hugo Photo//Getty ImagesYes, 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.”Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Introducing too many new products at once.Nadia Audigie//Getty ImagesDr. 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.16Using abrasive scrubs.Oleksandra Yagello//Getty ImagesDermatologist 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.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Consuming too much alcohol.Olga Pankova//Getty ImagesMaking 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.18Not moisturizing enough.Alexandr Dubynin//Getty ImagesAs 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.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Sleeping on cotton pillowcases.Peter Dazeley//Getty ImagesWhile 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.20Inconsistency.Fiordaliso//Getty ImagesLike 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!Sidney Lee is the Editor, Deals and Trends, for Best Products, Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Biography, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, and Oprah Daily. She loves keeping up on the latest social media trends and viral pop culture moments to recommend only the best products to readers. Previously, Sidney was the Assistant Home Editor at HGTV Magazine as well as contributing editor at Food Network and The Pioneer Woman Magazines, covering home, food, style, and more. She is based in Manhattan, and outside of work you can find her trying all the latest restaurants the city has to offer.