7 Best skin and hair care in your 40s from a famous dermatologist

As a beauty editor, I hear/read many recommendations about the best skin and hair care on a daily basis that in one way or another I try to internalize, but not all of them I manage to turn into a habit. However, there are some that are burned into the fire that I repeat as a mantra because I am aware of their necessity and effectiveness. This is precisely what happened to me after reading the book by the famous dermatologist Pedro Jaén, Una piel para toda la vida (Ed. Espasa). In its pages, I have found many tips that I promise these 7 recommendations are the ones that work best for me at age 40 to care for skin and hair.

Less is more

It is not necessary to do extensive routines to have well-cared skin. In fact, reducing the number of steps ensures that they are accomplished and accomplished well. Doctor Jaén recounts it in his book: “One of the things that most surprises our patients in consultations is the simplicity of the habits that we propose and the few products that we prescribe”, he affirms. And he warns: Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be expensive. “The most effective active principles and guidelines for caring for the dermis depend more on perseverance and awareness of putting them into practice every day than on spending a lot of money,” he adds.

Stretch marks must be photoprotected

In one of the chapters of the book, the doctor explains how pregnancy affects the skin and confirms that stretch marks are difficult to avoid, although they can be prevented from being very pronounced using creams with gotu kola, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. And a curious detail: the reddish stretch marks are recent stretch marks and “can be completely resolved with relative ease if they are treated on time.” And one way to do it is using photoprotection since stretch marks, says Jaén, tend to hyperpigmented when exposed to the sun.

Vitamin C always

Using a vitamin C serum every morning has been a no-brainer for me since I turned 40. Although it should be even earlier because, as the expert affirms, from the age of 30 using an antioxidant shield every morning to counteract free radicals is very necessary. “From this age, antioxidants are essential to keep the skin hydrated, soft and elastic.” Although there are other types of antioxidants, Jaén confirms that serums with pure vitamin C are the most effective, used every morning before a good sunscreen.

Recommendation to synthesize vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread fact, also in Spain, a country where we enjoy more hours of sunshine than the rest of Europe. And although there are certain bad nutritional habits that affect this lack, the reality is that the little time we spend outdoors influences it. Pedro Jaén confirms that type B ultraviolet radiation is adequate to synthesize this vitamin and recommends using photoprotection all year without excuse and repeating this trick to synthesize the daily amount we need: exposing yourself to the sun without protection on your arms or legs for 15- 20 minutes daily. “We can even do it while being close to a window because exposing ourselves to the sun does not mean that we will scorch under the sun.”

Do not reuse sun creams

I had assumed that photoprotector is the No. 1 cream, the one that I could never give up even if I had an austere and minimalist beauty routine. He had already heard that reusing sun creams was not a good idea, but Dr. Jaén dedicates an interesting section to this malpractice. “The normal thing is that time has oxidized the ingredients, turning the product into a cream with no protective effect,” he explains. For this reason, as the summer ends, I use the sunscreen on my face until it is exhausted and I discard the body creams that I will not use in the coming months.

Cutting the ends does not make hair grow healthier

I have grown up hearing that “cut the ends so that your hair grows faster and better”. And I have even repeated it to my daughters with the same vehemence. However, the doctor confirms that cleaning the ends of the hair has only a cosmetic effect and will not make the hair grow faster or in greater quantity. “Doing so does not increase capillary density,” he concludes.

Sulfate shampoos don’t have to be harmful. 

When talking about myths related to hair, the doctor mentions the “panic” people have about sodium lauryl sulfate, present in most personal hygiene products. However, its function seems simple. “It is in charge of thickening the liquid element so that it can be handled and spread easily and, in addition, it is responsible for shampoos, bath gels and toothpastes foaming”. And by the way, it also closes ranks with respect to washing your hair daily, it can be done if needed or simply if you want, as long as you use a suitable shampoo. Dermatologist word.

This article was originally published on VOGUE Spain