Want to keep your hair and skin in great shape at every age? Of course you do! Check out this grooming guide for your 40s, and our other guides for your twenties, thirties, and forties...
The good news first. Guys today have cast off most Mad Men-style vices that can age a person prematurely. Except for bourbon. Always say yes to bourbon.
If you’ve been exercising, eating right, and yes, looking after your skin, your forties should be pretty smooth sailing for your face and body. To keep it that way, follow the pointers below.
Below, the guys’ guide to grooming for your 40s to stay looking your best:
1. Whiten Up
You could swear off wine, coffee and cigarettes and still have yellow teeth by now. Thankfully, this is one of the easiest cosmetic problems to fix. You’ve even got your choice of two paths: at-home remedies, or professional care.
Crest 3D Whitestrips, $20
Keep your smile bright.
If you’re going the at-home route with teeth whitening strips, be sure to also invest in whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss. This is a real 360-degree DIY situation.
Doing all that will help with upkeep between whitening sessions. Oh, and don’t fall asleep with them on, and don’t use them more than twice a year.
The professional route is faster and gives better results. It’s also pricier, costing around $400-600, depending where you live.
The peroxide gel most dentists use is similar, but more powerful than the stuff you’ll find on drugstore strips, and while it may take more than one session to get the desired look, you get what you pay for.
If you do see a professional, make sure you talk about what kind of white you’re looking for — no one wants to end up with glow-in-the-dark fluorescent choppers. Leave that to Ross on Friends.
2. Hold On To Your Hair
Hims hair regrowth treatment
Grab it now if you need it.
It’s time to take stock of what’s still up top. Now, if you’re one of those blessed dudes with a full head of hair in his forties, you can go ahead and skip this section.
If, however, you’re one of the millions of guys whose hair is thinning at the crown or receding at the hairline, there are some great steps you can take now.
The most effective treatment is a minoxidil or finasteride prescription.
A few caveats: hair loss treatment is rarely covered by insurance, so expect to pay about $100 a month out of pocket, and 1.5% of guys have complained about ED as a side effect.
RELATED: How long does finasteride take to work?
It’s a small percentage, but a full head of hair only gets you so far if the plumbing’s not working downstairs, so check with your doctor before you start taking anything.
3. Don’t let your eyes give away your age
Sweet Chef turmeric + vitamin C eye cream, $18
If circles and puffiness were big eye issues in your thirties, by your forties you’re probably going to contend with wrinkles. That includes crow’s feet (the squinchy wrinkles at the corners of your eyes) as well as folds directly under the eye.
Instead of lighter gels and sticks, this is the time to start using a heavier duty eye serum. You’ll get a serious dose of moisture, sealed in to keep wrinkles in check.
When you’re putting on any kind of eye product, dab it under the eye and on the eyelid, and work it in gently. Since the skin around the eye is some of the thinnest on your body, handle with care.
4. Adjust your skincare routine
Paula’s Choice toner, $35
After cleansing, apply toner to a cotton pad and gently stroke over face and neck. Don’t rinse.
As guys age, their skin tends to get thinner, dryer, and more sensitive. This means the rigorous cleansing regimen you took up in your oily, acne-prone twenties may not be doing you any favors today.
If your skin looks flaky or red, cut down on exfoliation and wash your face only once a day.
In the morning, your face shouldn’t be all that dirty (you wash your pillow cases regularly by now, right?!), so it’s better to do this in the evening. You’d be surprised how much grime attaches itself to your skin during a day.
In the AM, then, just wash up with warm water and a washcloth.
Or try using a gentle toner, which is less intense than a normal cleanser but still clears away dirt and oil. Paula’s Choice is especially good for sensitive skin.
5. Drop Some Acid
La Roche-Posay Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum, $40
Apply after you wash your face, but before you put moisturizer on.
No, not that kind of acid (didn’t you get that phase out of your system in your twenties?) We’re talking about hyaluronic acid, the difficult to pronounce, easy to procure skin-saver that guys pushing forty should all keep close.
This near-magical ingredient works wonders in two ways.
First, it delivers moisture like nobody’s business: one gram of HA can hold up to six liters of water, which is great for guys whose aging skin is drying out. Second, it helps to strengthen the barrier between the outer layers of your epidermis and the environment. That way your skin retains moisture longer, while looking smoother and less craggy.
Hyaluronic acid is one of the hottest products in the grooming market today, so now that you know the phrase, you’ll probably start spotting it everywhere.
Look for it in a serum or a moisturizer, and make sure it’s not listed at the end of the ingredients. If it is, it’s probably just a nominal amount, and not actually all that helpful.
More guys’ grooming resources from SG HQ
The Fragrances Women Love to Smell on Men
How to Use Self Tanner Without Looking Like a Jersey Shore Bro
