Looking your best as you approach 40...

[dontcryitsonlyajoke]

So I've got a year to go to my 40th. My 30s has been all about huge changes - physical, emotional and career - due to 4 pregnancies, 3 babies, 3 years of breastfeeding and associated weight loss and gain.

The birth of my youngest a year ago brought unbelievable sleep deprivation and has aged my face significantly. I used to look young for my age but I look every day of my 39 years now!

I want to hit my 40s in a much better frame of mind - it's going to be the selfish decade where I reclaim a lot of "me".

So I want your tips on how to get myself looking and feeling better. The baby steps I've made so far are:

1. Good cleanse/serum/moisturise routine in place for the last 2 years but nothing more - no variants beyond my morning and night routine
2. finally found a hairstyle that suits and I think I can keep
3. started filing and clear varnishing my bitten-for-30-years nails so they're starting to look better (though still very weak
4. 2 litres of water most days
5. good exercise routine

What else would you suggest I do?

Great thread! I'm nearly 38 and recognise comments here.

One thought though. I went to a personal shopper in JL a couple of years back. Awful. She was lovely but I'm short with small feet and she just didn't have things to fit me so basically gave me bigger things so "I could get the idea". I also look dead in black but nearly everything she gave me was black despite me saying I wanted to try and avoid it. Overall, a lovely time out but as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Long and short, I thought it would change my life. It really didn't. Instead a fantastic bunch of friends gave me advice and suggestions and that's been far more successful.

kello I get it off ebay. It is Johnsons and Johnsons but from India. It is shipped by a UK seller. Retin A is the only proven product to combat ageing and reverse it a bit too. It won't do what Botox does if you already have deep lines but it will sort pores, fine lines and brighten up the skin. It will also stop you ageing as fast.

I look about 5 years younger after the facial - smoother and plumped! Clearly the effect won't last but I now know I need a more effective skincare regime. Bucketloads of hyaluronic acid and probably some retin A I suspect

Re clothes - I know exactly what suits me but it's quite hard to find the right shapes. I have large boobs (34H) and a narrow waist but then big hips. Slightly more pear than hourglass. I look awesome in a deep scoop neck slim fit too, blazer to broaden the shoulders and skim the hips and then A line skirt or straightish trousers.

Surprisingly hard to find deep cut enough tops. Crew necks are so in. And heavy knits look terrible - it needs to be fine. Tea dresses look brilliant provides the neck is open enough and skirt not too short. These are all quite hard to find in colours that also suit me.

Consequently I stray in colour and/or style and never quite look right. I need to just accept what suits, save money by not buying the wrong thing, and then splurge on the right thing. Ingrained habits need a lot of work! But at least I do know what I need to find.

Sanity - I want to look better on my 40th (and 50th!) than I do on my 39th that's for sure.

I'm very keen on trying tooth whitening. My teeth are typical British teeth. Might look into straightening too, though really don't want train track braces.

Thanks for that code, PrimalLass, I've just put in an order for my second bottle of Hylamide.

I've just bought some retin s cream because of this. I'm thinking about fillers - I'm the same age as you and my mouth is slowly developing "puppet lines", they are quite marked on my older relatives but I just need a little pro up to stop it looking slightly sagging at this point. Any ideas? I have had a good clinic recommended and going to pop in tomorrow to try to make an appointment.

Following! Am also approaching 40, youngest DC about to start FT school, time to start reclaiming me!!

Also watching with interest...

Me too!

Also watching with interest!

Thanks for that code primal lass, I'd just run out of Hyaluronic molecule so it was very timely!

I'm thinking about fillers - I'm the same age as you and my mouth is slowly developing "puppet lines", they are quite marked on my older relatives but I just need a little pro up to stop it looking slightly sagging at this point. Any ideas?

Try using NIOD lip bio lipid concentrate before you opt for fillers. It's seriously good and you don't run the risk of fillers turning out lumpy or migrating (I've had this and it's hideous).

Some more info on it here:
britishbeautyblogger.com/article/niod-lip-bio-lipid-concentrate-2/

And here:
www.victoriahealth.com/editorial/tag/niod-lip-bio-lipid-concentrate

Thanks cola I will have a look.

Just ordered the lip bio concentrate.
Can't wait!

Cola thanks but it isn't what I need - my lips are full and I don't have fine lines, which is what I think this is for, unless I read it wrongly. My problem( if it's that) is between my nose and my lips - it's not actually puppet lines so far but I can see where they are starting and I can see older relatives so I guess it's genetic.

Black is very ageing as you get older as it drains the colour from your face. I had my colours done some years ago and it definitely helps me look fresher.

I've made a clinic appointment for a consult next Saturday (eek) so I will see what they say.

Get a fringe! I had several fine lines on my forehead, and had one cut on a bit of a whim and it really does take years off your face. Also, I had a bit of a health kick a few months as I went to the baftas with work. Upped my fruit and veg a lot, had a lot of deliciously Ella smoothies etc and it made a big difference to my skin.
Apart from that, sali Hughes did a great video on guardian about looking less tired. I followed it to the letter during ds four month sleep regression and looked a lot better, even if I still felt bloody exhausted.

www.salihughesbeauty.com/videos/guardian-video-hide-tiredness/

Navy is my new black (am about to turn 42).

I've aged about 10 years in the last five I swear. I was getting asked for ID well in to my late 20s but it's definitely caught up with me. Karma's a bitch.

Worst thing right now is the crepey neck I'm starting to get, it's a loose vertical bit. Awesome.

My skin looks pretty good on my face though, SPF all year round which I've done since I was in my early 20s, I started using glycolic acid about a year ago and I've just started using glycolic toner and serum, and Retin A.

I am careful not to get skinny and scrawny as that is very ageing so make sure I eat plenty (what a shame) to counteract the exercise I do!

marking!

There is no risk of me looking scrawny at least

where can you buy hyaluronic acid supplements, other than NOID? I mean, I can see that I can buy them anywhere it seems, but how do I know if it's good quality? I can't really afford £38 during the summer holidays just bought some retina a serum-

Eyelash tinting! Makes your eyes stand out and look really bright. I had booked a consultation for botox last month but after a lash tint and and an eyebrow shape I decided I didn't need it.