Grooming Guide for 40+

Mature skin may not be as elastic or as smooth, but you do have a good deal more character with 40+ skin. Mature skin has its drawbacks, sure. If you work with it well and don’t treat it like it’s half its age, you’ll have satisfactory results as you age.

Hair

Male-pattern baldness is the most common hair loss pattern among men, so breathe. You’ll need to decide what you’re going to do about balding, because it definitely doesn’t wait for you to decide. Speak with your doctor if you’re not ready to say goodbye to your hair. Doctors do have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to hair, and that includes either prescription medications or hair transplantation. However, shaving your hair completely might be the best decision you’ve made in years. Avoid the dreaded comb-over at all costs. It’s not attractive and screams “desperate middle-aged man!” Unless that’s what you’re going for, of course.

Now’s the time to embrace your gray hair or not. Depending on the extent of your balding, it might not be your first concern, but dyeing your hair can get tedious. It may be best to decide earlier on how you want to handle your graying hair, and stick with it. It can be hard to explain at the office why you look different, especially if you’ve gone from dark brown to gray in a short time! Consult a professional for all dyeing needs, including facial hair.

Don’t forget to tweeze nose and ear hairs. The older you get, the more you’ll be sprouting.

Skin

Your skin will look more deeply lined as you head into your 40s and beyond. You’re probably surprised at how differently your skin responds to weight loss. If you’re trying to trim up (aren’t we all?) you may want to aim for a more gradual weight loss to avoid sagging.

Try not to get stuck in a grooming rut when you’re in your 40+ years. A lot of skincare professionals recommend that you switch your products regularly to avoid having your skin get accustomed to specific treatments. You’ll notice that some new products will work very well on your skin, but may lose their effectiveness over time.

Go beyond the basics at this age to protect yourself for years to come:

• Cleansing Cream: Notice the ingredients in your cleansing creams. pH balanced and gentle cleansing milks may be better than those that include menthol, lime, lemongrass, and lavender.

• Sunscreen: You’ll notice sun spots cropping up on your arm and face, so it’s more important than ever to wear sunscreen. Look for one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Fade existing sun spots with alpha hydroxy cleanser and lotion.

• Moisturizer: Moisturize your skin to make it look much better. While you may not be able to reverse deep wrinkles, creams add a lot of suppleness and can reduce the look of fine lines.

• Anti-aging Night Creams and Serums: Okay, it’s not absolutely necessary, but it can certainly help.

Teeth

Get your gums examined for health at the dentist’s office. The onset of gum disease at an age of 40+ could mean teeth pulling or root canals, which could leave you in dentures later.