Sudden skin aging

[Nogoodwithgoodbyes]

I'm almost 40 but I'm shocked at my skin:

Basically, I've had crow's feet and lines on my forehead for a good few years and I'm okay with that. I have always taken pretty good care of my skin (cleanser, spf during the day, occasional mask and I use serums periodically). The skin on the rest of my face has always been pretty good and people used to comment on how good my skin is.

Just very recently, I've noticed fine lines all over my cheeks, as in, when I smile you can see the lines from the side of my mouth to the side of my eyes. They're very fine/early stage right now but it's actually made me so sad, I've cried. I'm going through marital separation and it never even occurred to me to worry about my skin (bigger fish to fry) but gosh, this is really bothering me.

Any tips, please? What's the best skincare? Has this happened to any of you? I'm considering giving up alcohol as I hear it ages the skin. Both of my parents have amazing skin, so this is definitely not genetic.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Red light led mask, powdered vit c mixed in your moisturiser and no booze. Eat properly.

Sorry your getting divorced.

[PickleBottomNo3sMum]

I’m a bit over 40 and have noticed this too....suppose it’s inevitable and comes to us all at some point. I’ve started using Retinol (The Ordinary), it’s early days but I think I’m seeing some results.

Sorry to hear about your marriage, it’s shitty and a v stressful time, I’ve been there. A huge chunk of my hair went grey but bizarrely it is back to it’s usual colour now. So it may be a combo of getting a bit older plus stress. You need to take good care of yourself at the mo, alcohol is not going to help anything. Eat healthy, try and sleep well and try to do some exercise.

[Delatron]

Sorry you’re going through a divorce. Stress can really show up on your skin and it may only be temporary.

However, when I got 40 I had to really step up the skincare. This is what helped:
Retinol.
SPF 50 everyday
A good vitamin c serum.

I also had a series of laser facials to stimulate collagen.
I use a LED light therapy mask.

Loads of water. Lots of good fats; nuts, seeds, avocados, salmon. Lots of fruit and veg.

[lurkingfromhome]

Sorry to hear about your divorce. I feel your pain. I've had a fairly stressful and exhausting few months too and swear I've aged 40 years, face-wise. I keep catching sight of myself and wondering who the haggard old crone is. I eat well and don't drink.

Please tell me more about the LED light therapy mask, people who use one - do they really work and did you just buy a cheapo one off Amazon?

[MINEareCRAFTy]

Get yourself a really good routine, I started during a separation and it's done wonders. Hot cloth cleanser, a decent serum, cheap moisturiser (they don't have actives in) and then some oil at night (drops of youth at body shop is supposed to be good). I use Sunday Riley but it's pricey. Spend your money on actives such as retinol and serums. Buy a decent glycolic acid. Don't bother with masks and don't dip in and out of a routine. Follow Caroline Hirons and yes yes yes to water. Bucket loads. Or eat your water as in fruit and veg. You want glow so go to make Up counters and buy glowy foundation and apply with brush. Do this and in 3 months you will look fab. I promise. I was you.

[Delatron]

@lurkingfromhome My LED mask was a bit pricey from Current Body. But I saw lots of recommendations for it. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks so too early to tell. I’ve seen people on here recommend the cheaper ones you can get on Amazon.

[Nogoodwithgoodbyes]

Thanks, everyone. I hope some of what you have all suggested works as I actually cried when I caught sight of myself in the rear-view mirror on the way home from work today. When I'm talking to people, I'm wondering if they're thinking 'the state of her skin.'

I have been drinking a good bit of wine as there always seems to be an excuse to: Friday night, work stress, catching up with friends etc. but I think I will take a break from booze. I wonder how long of a booze-break the skin would need to improve?

My bodily skin is in much worse shape than usual too; so it looks like it's all just taking its toll.

I'll look in to one of those LED masks and I've checked out Caroline Hirrons. Hopefully it's not too late!

[Lily193]

Try some skin supplements to give your skin a boost whilst you're getting back on track, or at least a good multivitamin supplement. I notice a difference to my skin, hair and nails when I take them. Don't forget harsh winter weather really takes its toll on your skin too and can leave it drier than usual.

[Fluffycloudland77]

My led mask was a beauty star one off amazon.

[Nogoodwithgoodbyes]

@Fluffycloudland77
Have you noticed results with it?

[Nogoodwithgoodbyes]

@Lily193 Thanks. I took some skin supplements in the past. They were mighty expensive but probably time to boost the system with a tonic or multi-vit all right.

[mnthrowaway202020]

Would you could consider Botox/filler?

Particularly mid face filler

[Fluffycloudland77]

Yes, I got cystic acne & blasted red light on it daily, I haven’t got any pitted scars.

[ClaraTA]

Hiya, I had a similar issue. Turns out my skin was dehydrated and I was recommended essential moisture by alpha H. I've added a hydrating serum too and it's really helped. Maybe try focusing on hydration before some of the other stuff?The Caroline Hirrons facebook group is really helpful. Hope you feel better soon 🙂

[Elieza]

A good serum and the only thing I found helped me was something with retinol (the more yellow the product the more retinol is in it as it’s naturally yellow in colour).

Use a low dose first always at night so it’s absorbed by morning and increase gradually or you’ll itch and your skin will flare up. You must use sunscreen with retinol products or you will damage your skin permanently.

Drink lots of water.

[Branster]

Honestly I do t see how Botox can do much about the lines described here. Once you said the skin on your body is not great either, I wonder if you need to up your hydration game overall.
Stay away from very hot water (weird but it dries the skin), apply a hydrating cream on your body every evening or an oil over damp skin. It doesn’t matter what cream or what oil, just get started so it becomes second nature then you can fine tune later. Remember to exfoliate once a week. Forget about fake tan, it is drying.

Hydrate your face too. Use a flower water based toner/essence as often as you can or chamomile tea or any gentle tea.

Avoid harsh and drying face masks (clay etc unless you add a nourishing element afterwards).

Hylauronic acid only works if there is water it can ‘feed’ off so in a dry room with central heating it will do the opposite of what it’s supposed to do. Same with glycerine. When using these you need damp skin as a base.

Once you address dryness, you can start looking at plumpness.

[Didiusfalco]

I’d bet this has a lot more to do with stress from your marriage breakup than age if it’s happened suddenly. Forget all the lotions, are you eating properly, staying hydrated, sleeping enough? Probably not. Get some vitamins and start to look after yourself. Sorry about your stressful situation

[Nogoodwithgoodbyes]

Thanks for all of the advice. Every time I look in the mirror, I feel like crying. My skin looks worse than my mother’s! I will get the essential moisture by Alpha H. I had adult acne & was prescribed a topical antibiotic, so I worry that it caused the lines & dehydration. I used it for a year. However I’ve googled the heck out of it and there’s nothing to suggest the product I used causes wrinkles, only dryness. I’m not using it anymore though.

I wasn’t taking good enough care of myself but I’m focusing on it now, that’s for sure: healthy-eating, sleep, exercise and intensive hydration of the skin.

I’ve been putting coconut oil on my skin for the past few nights and I’ve ordered some anti-aging night cream.

I’ll also order a hyaluronic serum & a vitamin c serum. Is the hyaluronic one best in the morning and the vitamin c at night? I use Johnson’s baby oil after my showers but bodily skin is still dry, itchy and patches of eczema (new).

I am going to quit alcohol. I wasn’t drinking massive amounts but was having a glass or two most nights and the occasional blow-out.

I really hope this isn’t irreversible as with all that’s going on, looking so bad has kind of made me feel extraordinarily low! I really appreciate all of your advice.

[Nogoodwithgoodbyes]

I’m a bit scared of retinol but I’ll look in to it when I can afford a facial and do it with a beauty expert’s advice, as it sounds important to get right.

[ClaraTA]

Here's the Alpha H product: www.qvcuk.com/Alpha-H-Essential-Hydration-Cream-50ml-Duo.product.235659.html
Sorry, got the name slightly wrong! You can get it quite cheap on ebay 🙂

[ClaraTA]

And big hugs! It definitely will get better ❤

[eurochick]

Are you hydrating yourself from the inside out? Loads of water and not too much caffeine or alcohol?

[Deux]

You could try adding some hyaluronic acid to your routine. Apply it when your skin is still damp and then put your moisturiser on top. Neutrogena Hydraboost is reasonably priced and widely available.

Also have a look at at-home dermaplaning. It will get rid of the velous hairs and exfoliate allowing light to reflect off your skin.

There are some good YouTubers out there who are proper dermatologists. Funnily enough dermatologists seem to have fairly simple skincare routines unlike skincare floggers who slap on all sorts.

Dr Sam Bunting is British and Dr Dray is American. The latter talks a lot about what does and doesn’t work based on the products’ ingredients.

[abstractprojection]

I was only 30 when I separated from my husband two ago. But I look at photos of me during this time and I think I looked haggered. I barely ate or sleept for the first six months and was very tired, underweight and probably dehydrated and malnourished.

Maybe it was the toil of that time period or just entering my 30s but I went from no lines at all to very fine lines under eye and top of cheeks, slight frown lines and a little 'scrunching' on the fore head, and a deeper line on lower cheek.

I'm taking much better care of myself now from skincare to diet, and I actually look way better then I did before because I now spend money on myself, have more confidence and am generally happier, healthier, more loved person both by myself and my new partner.

But I have had to accept that these lines, are now part of my face. I try and remind myself that no one looks at my face that close, or under a magnifying mirror and that I probably see them as a lot worse then they actually are. They are also mostly 'smile' lines and I have smiled a hell of a lot more the last two years then I did before!

I do recommend things like retional night cream, glyoclic acid and treatments (I've had a couple of peels) which have really helped me get my glow back and skin look and feel healthier.

[septembersunshine]

Op, this happened to me too. Just over 40. I had very young looking skin and then one morning I woke up to proper crinkles on the top of my cheeks. So sad about it! I keep checking them out in the mirror wondering if they are getting worse. I have tried a lot of stuff to help with this (oils, serums, everything!) but then I realised the skin is just older and my cheeks have fallen slightly too. I would follow the advice above. Try retinol, vit c, good moisturisers and never forget your spf but I have found the best thing for me is running 2/3 times a week. Seriously! It gets the blood flowing up there, seems to give me a glow. Relieves stress. Nice to have time alone (mum of 4). Plug in your ipod, get the trainers on and give it a go. So sorry to hear about your divorce x