Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Approaching 40, what should I be using and taking?

45 replies

ILoveCatsAndKittens · 20/03/2026 20:18

Hello!
I need some health and beauty advice please?
I will be 40 next year, dont really wear much make up, cleanse and moisturise morning and evening, dont take any vitamins or supplements, do a hair mask once a month.
What do I need to be doing and taking?

Ive tried googling but got so overwhelmed with so many different and conflicting info!

What do you wise mumsnetters all do? What facial, beauty products do you use? What vitamins and supplements do you take and recommend?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Miranda65 · 21/03/2026 10:02

I'm 60..... I've never "taken" anything. If you are generally healthy, you don't need supplements etc..... why do you want to complicate and medicalise normal life?

frostynicks · 21/03/2026 10:06

Sorry to hijack but can anyone recommend a good collagen powder? There’s so many brands. As cheap as possible without compromising on effectiveness!

LysistrataSusanCarter · 21/03/2026 10:19

NorthernDancer · 21/03/2026 08:59

Don't smoke
Don't drink to excess
Keep your teeth!
Eat well
Take exercise
Maintain your social networks
Moisturise
Moisturise
Moisturise

This pretty much sums it up I think. Great advice.

I’d also add keeping your brain active in a way that’s enjoyable to you- reading, crosswords, galleries, choir, learn a language (or in my sister’s case, embark on a never ending research thesis about an obscure medieval mystic.)

aWeeCornishPastie · 21/03/2026 10:23

@PuzzledWatermelon

how much roughly does all of those Medicare products cost you ? I am interested in buying thanks

Lottapianos · 21/03/2026 10:30

'What is better, bovine or mineral collagen? I am reading mixed things on both'

Collagen as a supplement is a scam. You can get better results by just eating more protein

I agree with all the 'boring' advice about nutrition, sleep, water, exercise. Specifically, you need to eat - plenty of plants, fibre and protein. Every day. So many women have had their heads ruined by diet culture and try to exist on as little food as possible. You can't function optimally, in any sense, without adequate nutrition

I would also add, get clued up about perimenopause, if you haven't already. The Balance app is an excellent resource. It means that when you do start noticing symptoms, you will be aware of treatment options and be less likely to spend years suffering unnecessarily. Information is power

Gwenhwyfar · 21/03/2026 10:40

What supplements you need depends on what you might be missing.
The only thing most people are missing is vitamin D.
Then it depends on any health problems or dietary issues you have. I'm pescatarian so I take a women's multi-vitamin mainly for the iron as I can't digest iron supplements. I take vitamin D and I take omega 3 as while I do eat some fish it's not as much as advised.

I do take collagen, but I'm not really convinced it does anything. I take probiotics because I have digestive issues. I take ashwaganda because I don't sleep well, but it doesn't really work.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/03/2026 10:41

Miranda65 · 21/03/2026 10:02

I'm 60..... I've never "taken" anything. If you are generally healthy, you don't need supplements etc..... why do you want to complicate and medicalise normal life?

For some of us it's very difficult to get everything we need through diet. Also, as we get older absorption isn't always as good.
Great for you if you're not deficient in anything though.

Whowhenwhatwear · 21/03/2026 10:45

Pineneedlesincarpet · 21/03/2026 09:38

I read somewhere that you have to take a huge amount of collagen for it to make any difference at all and most supplements aren't strong enough. I have started taking twice the specified amount of my collagen supplements but obviously feel a bit guilty that I am breaking the rules and possibly also doing myself a mischief.

It's all so confusing isn't it. I haven't started taking collagen yet, but some of these responses, especially the ones about losing collagen as you age, are making me think hard about it.

@ILoveCatsAndKittens buy a good Spf, and use consistently.

Vitamin C serum under the spf.

In the evening I use Rosehip oil instead of retinol, as it's high in vitamin A without the irritation of retinol. So results take longer to see and no damage to barrier. I've decided not to use retinol for now as I've read it can weaken skin barrier.

Facial massage is something I'm trying to do more regularly, just a few minutes a day with the rosehip oil.

water, sleep and exercise I'm working on more consciousy now because whenever I've been consistent with that I've seen the results. Physically and mentally.

TurnOnTheCharm · 21/03/2026 10:56

Eat avocados

ILoveCatsAndKittens · 21/03/2026 10:59

@BretonStripe i am currently having blood tests every 3 months due to borderline underactive thyroid. High cholesterol was picked up last year so ive made changes and its now come down which I am pleased with.

OP posts:
ILoveCatsAndKittens · 21/03/2026 11:08

Lottapianos · 21/03/2026 10:30

'What is better, bovine or mineral collagen? I am reading mixed things on both'

Collagen as a supplement is a scam. You can get better results by just eating more protein

I agree with all the 'boring' advice about nutrition, sleep, water, exercise. Specifically, you need to eat - plenty of plants, fibre and protein. Every day. So many women have had their heads ruined by diet culture and try to exist on as little food as possible. You can't function optimally, in any sense, without adequate nutrition

I would also add, get clued up about perimenopause, if you haven't already. The Balance app is an excellent resource. It means that when you do start noticing symptoms, you will be aware of treatment options and be less likely to spend years suffering unnecessarily. Information is power

Thanks for this! I havent read anything about perimenopause yet, I have in my head im too young just yet so no need to. But one of my friends who is 40 is going through it now so I need to get my hand out the sand and start researching! I shall download that app thank you!

OP posts:
EnjoythemoneyJane · 21/03/2026 11:20

I’d be slightly wary of too much running, especially if you’re doing it on pavements and roads. I was a regular cross country runner throughout my 40s and early 50s (8-10km, 3-4 x pw) and I really loved it, but now, at 59, one of my knees is pretty buggered.

I still run a bit, but only on a treadmill and never more than 5k. I know lots of women continue to run happily into their 60s and beyond, but if running is your thing I’d start to take good quality joint supplements as a priority - glucosamine, condroitin, cod liver oil and creatine to help build muscle.

As a pp said, your face is going to do what it will according to your genetics and sun exposure, and no amount of expensive unguent will change that, although I do think daily facial and lymphatic massage helps a bit.

From a vantage point of 20 years your senior, I’d say that the most important thing is to do everything possible to maintain your mobility, flexibility and strength, but don’t be reckless with it. Weights, Pilates, walking, good diet. You don’t realise how vulnerable/miserable it makes you feel to be incapacitated or in chronic pain until it happens to you, and it’s the quickest destroyer of your confidence and quality of life.

I’m a lot less gung ho now in my approach to physical fitness because I know I’m not invincible, that it’s not necessarily a good thing to ‘push on through’ when your body wants to stop, or you can’t quite get into that yoga position, and that - as with most things in life - moderation and mindfulness serves you better than overdoing it.

henlake7 · 21/03/2026 16:57

yup, its mainly SPF/staying out the sun and not smoking.
Unless you are talking surgery or tweakments then the rest is mainly genetics.

binnibonnieboo · 22/03/2026 06:43

I'm 60, do absolutely nothing in the line if creams, supplements, Botox etc. I don't even moisture at all. I look absolutely fine. Frequently get told I look young for my age. I didn't think I do. I have jowls, so what? I'm an older person. Honestly stop giving it so much head space and focus on more important things. You will get older, you will look older, who gives a shit? Your still alive and off you eat well and exercise hopefully you will stay healthy as long as possible, nothing else matters. Sorry for all the typos, I'm finding the app very unresponsive and I can't go back and fix them, but you'll know what I mean.

RS1987 · 22/03/2026 07:05

Hyralonic acid serum - make sure you’re eating enough protein and resistance training is a good idea at our age.

PrioritisePleasure24 · 22/03/2026 07:27

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 21/03/2026 09:22

Personally I don’t bother with collagen supplements - the results have been overhyped and don’t doesn’t justify the cost.

Fine if you want to improve your joints/hair/nails, but there’s no good evidence that it targets skin elasticity or wrinkles. For that you are better off with topical retinol.

Also, some people find hyaluronic acid quite drying, it may depend on your skin type. It’ll probably be a bit of trial and error to see what works for you.

This all day long. I tried it. Did nothing. Eat more protein your body breaks it down to amino acids anyway and it doesn’t necessarily go to your collagen. It goes where needed. Most of the studies are done by brands. Anecdotally people praise it but is it placebo affect or more protein rather than ‘collagen’. Apparently some data shows type 2 may help joints but it feels like it’s another thing pushed towards women. Men’s stores deplete too but you don’t see it pushed towards them in the same way.

As for @ILoveCatsAndKittens questions. there’s no miracle but i’m nearly 47 and im looking towards longevity. So lots of plants legumes, nuts and seeds etc (20-30 week rule, you’ll be amazed what counts.. Lean protein: I don’t label food as treats or good or bad. If i want crisps i eat them. I add lots of healthy bits in instead.

Supplements are menopace vitamin complex, vit d and magnesium: feel i benefitted of that more at the start so i dont take it as regularly for sleep.

Move move move, bit of cardio, defo weights and increase the heaviness. Get out in nature. Get morning day light into your eyes.

Skin wise im using inkey list which is budget and im a lower earner so its great. Im currently using.

Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex.
Bio active ceramide moisturiser
Retinol
hylaronic acid
caffeine eye cream day
Suoerdrug b eye cream at night ( has niacinimide)
Any face spf which suits your face

flowersmakemehappy · 22/03/2026 07:43

I turned 39 yesterday so I find myself in a similar position to you :) For everyone who said a good SPF, any recommendations?

user593 · 22/03/2026 08:42

@flowersmakemehappy I really like Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF50. It’s £13.95 for 50ml at Boots at the moment. I’ve used a lot of more expensive ones in the past but this is by far better.

Ninerainbows · 22/03/2026 08:53

I'm 42 this year.

My advice is:

Sunscreen
Water
Exercise (I have taken up running about 10k a week)
Magnesium Glycinate if your sleep goes out of whack - has massively helped my insomnia

1emma19 · 30/03/2026 20:50

I'd like to add to get a higher SPF like 30 or 50. Hope this helps!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread