From Skin to Hair, These Are Beauty Secrets Women in Their 40s Swear By

Your 40s are an upgrade (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise). Perspective and experience alchemize within you, making you more self-assured and self-aware. But it can also be a time when self-care takes a backseat. PSA: It doesn’t have to! In fact, the right beauty tips for your 40s can help you feel more grounded and radiant than ever.

As we age, it’s more important than ever to nourish not just our bodies, but our souls. Investing in hobbies that make you feel like yourself. Being intentional about your time—spending less of it on your phone and more of it with the people you love. Curating a beauty ritual that helps you show up as the person you want to be. All of this is self-care, and prioritizing it becomes more and more important with every passing year.

Featured image from our interview with Molly Sims by Michelle Nash.

Beauty Tips the Chicest Women Swear By

From your morning routine to the lip color that makes you feel confident, your routines should make you feel more like you—especially your beauty ritual. This is what being ‘chic’ means to us: being curated, intentional, and wholly yourself. For inspiration on beauty rituals that nurture both inner and outer glow, we gathered the best beauty tips from the chicest women we know.

Start With a Face Massage

Staring at my puffy face in the morning? Not the best way to inspire confidence. Whether it’s a gua sha or an ice roller, a face massage promotes lymphatic drainage while giving instant sculpt. No wonder so many of the most stylish women we know start with a gua sha ritual.

“I start my morning with a simple, three-minute gua sha ritual using a stainless steel tool. The exact one I’ve loved for years isn’t available anymore, but this similar one from Isamaya x FaceGym has the same thoughtful design and edges. I pair this ritual with Oak Essentials Ritual Oil, a longtime favorite that’s never caused breakouts—I’ve easily gone through ten bottles by now.” – Diana Cohen, Founder of Crown Affair

“Sometimes when I feel a bit puffy, I will give myself a gua sha massage with my Rose Quartz Heart Facial Sculptor. It helps stimulate circulation, reduce puffiness, and naturally lift and sculpt my face. I also dry-body brush right before I shower.” – Miranda Kerr, Model and Founder of KORA Organics

“My morning rituals are doing my skincare routine and face rolling with my Golden Sculpt Face Roller. I never miss a day. Okay, I’m lying, but I will say I am pretty damn consistent with my skincare routine because it is truly the only way to see results. Consistency is key!” – Molly Sims, Model and Founder of YSE Beauty

“I started doing way more gua sha, which is an ancient Chinese therapy using a sculpted jade tool to soothe skin. It’s basically a face massage, but you get this subtle skin-chiseling effect (especially if you wake up puffy). I love the Gua Sha kit from Wilding—it comes with a detoxifying face oil. The whole thing is just gorgeous.” – Megan O’Neill, Founder of NAYLA

Try Red Light Therapy

Red light is a 10-minute ritual that makes a big difference. Red light for your face, body, or even hair is the latest high-tech beauty trend for a reason.

“My morning rituals are: Red light therapy (face and body), morning affirmations with the Superhuman app, spending time with my animals, and moving my body.” – Mari Llewellyn, Co-Founder of Bloom Nutrition and podcast host of Pursuit of Wellness

“If I get any alone time before bed, I love to do a red light therapy mask for 20 minutes right before I go to bed and drink a cup of the Moon Juice Magnesi-om.” – Molly Sims, Model and Founder of YSE Beauty

Curate an Effective Skincare Routine

“Even if you’re super minimalist or have never worn makeup in your life, like my mom, chances are there’s some lip balm or face cream or shampoo you like that makes you feel a bit more comfortable in your skin,” said beauty editor Megan O’Neill. These women have pared down their skincare routines into simple, minimal rituals that they can rinse and repeat to achieve their best look.

“I have a very minimal beauty routine in the AM. I apply Japanese Curel face cream, REL cream blush, and Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions mascara.” – Clare Vivier, Founder of Clare V

“I keep it SUPER simple, both AM and PM. I’ve learned over time that my skin looks better if I screw around with it less. Or it looks just as good with two or three products as it does with seven hundred.” – Laurel Pantin, Fashion Writer

“My beauty routine is pretty low maintenance. I struggled with cystic acne a couple of years ago, and now I have a very simple, streamlined skincare routine that includes three to four products plus minimal makeup. First, I’ll cleanse with The Inkey List salicylic cleanser. If my skin feels clogged, I use Paula’s Choice BHA liquid exfoliant, but I don’t use it every day. I then use The Inkey List niacinamide serum.” – Nicole Gibbons, Founder of Clare Paints

“I keep my skincare simple in the morning. I wash my face with MAKE Succulent Skin Wash, followed by MAKE Lactonic and Super Cell Deep Moisture Cream. Putting on makeup has been my meditation lately, it makes me feel (and look) just a little bit better.” –  Carrie Barber, Creative Director and Founder of MAKE Beauty

Perfect Your Signature Makeup Look

“Regardless of their age, most women don’t want to look overly made up,” says Bobbi Brown, makeup artist and founder of Jones Road Beauty. “They want to look like themselves on their very best day. When a woman feels good in her skin and knows she looks her best, then she is confident and happy. In my experience, the two best beauty products you can have are confidence and happiness.” Many women we look to for inspiration have a signature look that makes them feel their best.

“I like keeping my makeup simple. My current rotation includes the REFY Brow Sculpt, ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint, MERIT Blush, Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, and anything from Charlotte Tilbury. I can’t get enough of their lip products, and their blushes and bronzers are simply incredible.” – Sami Spalter, Co-Founder of FORM

“I start with Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Biscuit, then a little MAC blush on my lids. I use a MAC mahogany liner and smudge, then some mascara to finish.” – Liana Levi, Founder of Forma Pilates

“My makeup is usually a tinted moisturizer or light foundation, and then I use a bronzer all over as a blush and eyeshadow. I also use mascara and brow gel. My hair is usually in a low-maintenance hairstyle like a low bun or a braided style.” – Nicole Gibbons, Founder of Clare Paints

Never Skip Sunscreen

Skipping sunscreen is the ultimate beauty faux pas. It can make or break your routine, which is why it’s an essential for women in the know.

“Sunscreen is a non-negotiable. I get sun spots, especially on the side of my face that’s near the car window.” – Bobbi Brown, Founder of Jones Road Beauty

“If I’m going outside, I always wear at least SPF 40.” – Pritika Swarup, Founder of Prakti Beauty

Happy Hair, Happy Life

Whatever your hairstyle of choice, keeping it healthy is the name of the game. Here’s how the chicest women we know do it.

“I gently comb my hair with comb no. 001, and apply Crown Affair Dry Shampoo at the roots for refreshed volume. To finish, I twist and clip my hair with The Clips, adding a bit of leave-in conditioner if I want extra shape and body. And I never leave the house without the Crown Affair clip. Truly the best clips in the game.” — Diana Cohen, Founder of Crown Affair

“I love ROZ shampoo and conditioner.” — Odette Annable, Actress

“In terms of hair, I use Davines or Kerastase for shampoo and conditioner. One of the great aspects of being pregnant is what it does for your hair and nails! Your nails grow like weeds and you can get away with washing your hair just 1-2/week and it looks great. I use Christophe Robin’s Cleansing Mask when I have time and love Davines’ hair texturizer. You can find me wearing Crown Affair’s green silk scrunchie sometimes because it’s chic and almost exactly Táche green!” –  Roxana Saidi, Táche

Must have: A good lip balm by 

Many of our chicest know that no lip look is complete without nourished lips. This can mean peptide-infused lip balms or simple, natural formulas. Pro-tip: Many of the chicest women we know keep a lip product on their nightstands and in their go-to bags.

“I always have a lip balm or two — my current favorite is Lip Cocoon from Iris&Romeo.” – Diana Cohen, Founder of Crown Affair

“I’m allergic to beeswax, so I have a few very particular lip balms I love. My three favorites are ILIA Lip Wrap Reviving Balm, La Bouche Rouge Lipstick, VMV Hypoallergenics Boo Boo Balm.” — Laurel Pantin, Fashion Writer

“I never leave the house without: Rhode lip treatment.” — Jennie Yoon, Founder of Kinn

“[On my nightstands is] my Hydroflask with ice water, Clearstem lip balm, and a red light lamp,” – Mari Llewellyn, Co-Founder of Bloom Nutrition & podcast host of Pursuit of Wellness