Now that I am 40...

[Pratai]

I have been a long time reader of these pages and I have been inspired by all of your collective wisdom.
Now that I am 40 I have decided to look after myself a bit more and to take more care of meh appearance, clothes, hair, skin etc.
So today I have had a pedicure and have my toes painted. Will wear nice summery clothes this year for a change.
I also want to invest in some face creams or serums. I have combination dehydrated skin. Work in very dehydrating environment. Is their anything that you recommend that doesn't cost a small fortune?
Also I have lots of tiny spots on my upper arms. Anyone with a similar problem got any ideas of how I can sort them out. I want to be able to wear short sleeves this summer.
I am also trying to lose a few pounds as at nearly 14 stone and 5ft 7 I am not exactly in the best place.
Anyway something has clicked this weekend and I am off to become more comfortable in my own skin.
If anyone has any advice please I would be greatful.
Thanks - now that I have committed it to text this new start feels more real.

I am 41. Best change I made in my life at 40 was walking an hour each day. Not only dies it make me happier but i feel fitter, look better and have toned up a bit.
I double cleanse every night and wear estee lauder night repair serum both day and night. I take 4 capsules of evening primrose a day and 4 fish oil capsules. This has made a massive difference to ny skin and hormones. Have you ever had your eyebrows threaded??? This is also a game changer and really frames your face.

I swear by E45 for dry skin!

Also agree with exercise - I'm in a walking club and do spinning classes at the gym.

Thanks Netty and Jean.
I am aiming to get a little bit of walking in. Although with small children it is difficult as my dh and I don't sit down to have dinner until 9. But now that the summer is here there is no excuse for me not to go walking after dinner. I leave for work at 6am so don't really want to make time in the morning. I will look at getting a serum and I have made a promise to myself to cleanse. No shortcuts any more. I have E45 so I just need to use it.
Thanks for the replies ladies.

I'm a few months off 40 with a 10 month old DS and I look and feel fitter and slimmer than I have in a long long time. Like Nettyi double cleanse and use Estée Lauder serum, and a loreal one during the day. I power walk for an hour a day, half hour to and from work. What's really made a difference is green smoothies for breakfast I think. This morning I'm on avocado, pear, spinach, grape, flaxseed and coconut milk. It gives me an amazing burst of energy, lots of vitamins and tastes great. I make up batches, a week at a time, and put the bags in the freezer. That way I just grab one in the morning, add water, chuck it in the blender and minutes later it's ready.

Serum seems to be very popular. Excuse my ignorance but do I need to have a moisturiser with it? Before or after?
And I really need to get more exercise. I am out of the house from 6am to 6pm, then spend time with kids, then bed for them at 8.30 and make dinner for dh an myself. We make lunches, get clothes ready for morning at that time so it will be late before I can go for a walk but I really need to fit it into my day.
I am off today so I am planning the new me!

Serum can target your dehydrated skin. I use a Vichy one called Aquilia Thermal from Boots that is a bit cheaper then Estée Lauder. My routine in the morning is:
Cleanse with a Mircellar Water
tone with an exfoliating toner
Serum
Moisturiser
Sunscreen
Make up

Evening:
Cleanse with mircellar water
Cleanse with cream cleanser and hot cloth
Tone with exfoliating toner
I have break outs on my chin, so I am using a cream on that area
Serum
Night cream

I need to start the walking too!

I actually bought a serum in aldi this morning. Figured it will get me started until I have time to make a list of products I need and then go and get them.
Lovewearingjeans can I ask you what exfoliating toner do you use?

Olay is much underrated.
I have recently changed from high end to some Olay products- Total Effects or Regenerist especially, and been impressed.
You can get all from Amazon for about half price.

I don't think serum is a 'must have' . It's fairly new to skincare and although it makes skin look softer, I don't know if it really has any great anti ageing qualities that a moisturiser and sun block don't.

Exfoliate your upper arms with a loofah or a good scrub and use body lotion. There is a medical term for lots of little pimples and I think you can get prescription treatment if it's really bad.

Diet can make a huge difference- sugar is terrible for skin, so cut right back to 5 teaspoons a day in total- count what is in bread, cakes, drinks, etc. ( 1tsp =5grams.)

I think you could also exercise more and add in foods that are good for skin such as avocados, olive oil, some nuts and oily fish.

Sunblock (and don't smoke or sunbathe, obviously).
Exercise - I don't bother with a gym. I just try and walk.
Eat well - for me that includes coffee and chocolate but I rarely drink alcohol now.
Get a good haircut.
Work out what colours suit you.
Learn to love the sleeve or just let your arms be - who cares, life is short.
Serums, meh.

Netty how have the capsules helped with the hormones? I'm interested in this although I take other medication so not sure if it would be ok to take them..

Daily body brushing and body lotion helped my bumpy upper arms. I also believe but perhaps I am imagining it that it helped reduce cellulite on my thighs.

I do think now that I'm 40 that I will always exercise - it has become a way of life to be fit and I honestly believe I look better now than ever. Apart from anything I am happier and healthier with decent skin and also slimmer

Thanks for all the advice.
I really am a novice at all this kinda stuff but I have vowed to make and effort for myself this year. I will also look into the body brushing as my arms are not the nicest to look at and I am conscious of them. I have also been recommended moisturiser with urea in it so I will be adding that to my list too.
I have started taking fish oil capsules and a multivitamin since January and I think my hair is getting a little stronger.

Try a nice serum under your moisturiser (I like the lancome visinaire one) and a face oil at night -the kiehls midnight recovery is lovely!

As for bumpy arms, do you exfoliate? Maybe try one of those body puffs in the shower, or a shower scrub? I don't know if it's still available but garnier used to do a rally good inexpensive sugar scrub that came in a yellow tube...

I find that my bumps on my upper arms go in the summer months when I expose them to the sun.

I use Pixi Glow Tonic. I got it from Amazon.

I think creams containing urea and AHAa are meant to be good for Keratosis Pilaris (it's a common cause of bumps/chicken skin on the upper arms)
Something like this and I think Avene do some as well. although I haven't tried them I'm afraid, was researching for a friend.

Keratosis on upper arms will go if you use a cream contains urea. Foot cream contains urea and is cheap at aldi.

Serum bollocks
its just moisturiser

As the song goes
wear sunscreen and shades

Jemster the capsules have made a massive difference to my skin and hormones. I suffer so bad with pmt and periods and I'd tried alk healthy options from my health food store until my female dr recommended the evening primrose. Ive done a lot of reading about it too and i couldnt live without it. Its very anti inflammatory so really helps with swollen boobs and tummy and just keeps me balanced. ..also helps with sleep. Have a google and read up but I'm delighted.

Well floismei have decided to let my arms be. Was out with the kids every evening and just wore sleeveless tops. Arms looking little bit better whether from the sun or the urea cream.
Have hot cloth cleansed every morning and night and applied serum (cheap aldi one) and moisturiser every night.
Have booked to get eyebrows done and have a list of products I want to get at the weekend.
No walking done and diet was poor with cake in work most days. Will have to improve on these.
Thanks for all the replies. All words of wisdom welcome.
The most important thing for me is that I have made a start and hopefully I will build on it over the next while.

Well done so far ??

My comment would be to try to eat earlier in the evening- I get that you want to spend time with the children after your long day at work but is there any reason why you can't eat before they go to bed? Eating late means the food hardly has time to digest before you sleep and as you say leaves little time for any exercise. Otherwise could you pre-prepare food or use a slow cooker to make sure you can eat immediately they go to bed rather than just starting cooking then?

Oh and I have discovered Micellar water which is a great first step in the evening cleansing - takes off the majority of makeup before I hot cloth cleanse and I really feel the difference!

My arms are better after three days of exposure to the sun. Happens every year .

Netty36, mind if I ask what brand EPO/ dosage you take and if you take every day? Also, how quickly you saw benefits with regard to PMT? Thanks