Three Essential Skin-Care Products If You’re a Reformed Sun Worshipper
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Welcome to Wrinkles Week on the Strategist, where we’re deeply vetting skin-care solutions for anyone who’s looking to smooth fine lines and wrinkles (or prevent them showing up in the first place). For more, head to ourWrinkles Week hub.
Props to you for stepping away from the Bain de Soleil, but calling it quits doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. “If you spent your teens and 20s ‘laying out,’ the Piper is here to get paid,” says Dr. David E. Bank, director of the Center for Dermatology and Laser Surgery in Mt. Kisco. The minimum down payment: daily UV protection with SPF 30 or higher to prevent further damage to your skin. To keep things simple, we’ve picked the three products for sun-damaged skin that’ll have the most impact. When you’re having a skin issue you don’t need to start your routine over from scratch (in fact, you probably shouldn’t). Too much change when you’re already in the middle of an issue can be overwhelming for both you and your skin.
Want to explore another skin-care type?Choose one here.

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“Elta MD is a huge favorite among dermatologists,” says Bank, who likes the brand’sUV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40due to its hyaluronic-acid moisture boost and sheer finish in both the clear and tinted versions.

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Vitamin C is one of the hardest-working ingredients for repairing the lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation of sun-damaged skin: “It aids in sun protection as an antioxidant; it brightens and evens out the skin tone; and it helps maintain any improvements you’ve done with in-office treatments,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a dermatologist in New York and New Jersey. Garshick recommendsSkinbetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum: “In your 40s, you may be starting to deal with rosacea and sensitivity,” she says, and this formula contains additional antioxidants that help quell redness.

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You didn’t think you’d get through this article without reading about retinol, did you? You’ve heard it a hundred times, but retinol really is the gold standard for treating sun-damaged skin at home, tackling lines, wrinkles, texture, and dyspigmentation. Your 40s is a time when you might bring in the big guns of a prescription-strength retinoid, but if you prefer the comfort and cost of an OTC retinol, it’s okay:Dermatologist Dr. Angelo Landriscinashares that “there was a small study that found that people who were on lower percentages of retinol ended up having the same results as people who were on higher percentages; it just took them longer to get there.” His recommendation:No7 Pure Retinol Night Repair Cream, a thick, luxurious treatment with 1 percent retinol.
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