The 3 Products Your Skin Actually Needs After 40
If your skincare routine after 40 keeps getting longer but your skin isn’t improving, you’re not imagining it. For many women in perimenopause and menopause, more products can actually make skin worse instead of better.
In this episode, Chalene Johnson breaks down why most anti-aging skincare routines stop working after 40 and what actually matters if you want smoother, healthier, more hydrated skin. After researching the science and talking to experts, she simplified her routine down to just three essential products and the results completely changed her skin.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Why does my skin suddenly look thinner, drier, and more sensitive?
What is the best skincare routine for women over 40?
You’re going to get clarity.
Chalene explains how hormone changes, especially declining estrogen, impact collagen production, skin thickness, and your skin barrier. You’ll learn why layering more products doesn’t fix the problem, and how focusing on the foundation of your skin is the real game changer.
She also walks through her exact 3-step routine, including tretinoin, estriol cream, and barrier repair, and how alternating activities can improve results without irritation.
This is about working smarter with your skin, not doing more.
💬 How many products are in your routine right now, and do you feel like they’re actually working?
💥Hang out with Chalene on her Private Podcast Patreon!! To Join Go to
🎯 Book a virtual visit with MIDI Health 👉
🥰Chalene’s Favorite Skin Care Products
Estriol Cream & Tretinoin (Retin A) 👉
OneSkin Gentle Cleanser – Use Code Chalene
Vanicream Moisturizer – Local Drug Store
🤓What Chalene Talks About
Why skincare stops working after 40
The real cause of dry, thin, sensitive skin
Why more products can damage your skin barrier
The biggest mistake with layering skincare
How hormones impact collagen and skin thickness
The simple 3-step routine that actually works
How tretinoin improves skin texture and tone
What estriol cream does and why it matters
Why alternating actives works better than stacking
The drugstore product dermatologists swear by
🤓Watch Next!
5 Biggest Makeup Mistakes Making You Look Older
Doctor Reveals MUST TAKE Supplements /Skincare to Reduce Wrinkles
I Tested Every Red Light Therapy Device So You Don't Have To…
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Why Your Skin Suddenly Changed After 40
01:01 The Only 3 Products You Need
05:00 What Menopause Does to Your Skin
09:00 The 3 Step Skincare Routine That Works
10:52 Tretinoin for Wrinkles and Texture
13:30 Estriol Cream for Collagen
19:45 How to Protect Your Skin Barrier
22:21 The Best Moisturizer for Aging Skin
Cameron Long
Cameron is a seasoned CFO and CPA with 31 years in finance. He created the AI Trader's Playbook to help everyday investors use AI to find high-confidence trades — in minutes, not hours.
Read More About Cameron → Get the AI Trader's Playbook
At first I wasn’t too sure about your facelift but well the more and more time goes on the better
69. You’re fun
Thank you!! 😘
Be honest… how many products are in your nighttime routine right now?
A. 1–3 (keeping it simple)
B. 4–6 (a few extras)
C. 7–10 (don’t judge me)
D. Over 10… I’ve been influenced
I born raised and still live in Michigan
I am level 72
I also vouch for a good Vit C cream in addition to the other 3. So awesome, Chalene! We love you!
You look fabulous, and I appreciate all the research backed and honest information you provide on every topic that influences how we can live our best lives. I had a face lift in my mid 60s and wish i had done it earlier. I think it was mainly worrying about taking off from work to recover, so i waited until I was no longer working. But you are absolutely right about skin care, because i would not have been able to have a face lift if i had not been taking care of my skinmfor many years. The face lift really helped with lifting my face structure. I almost felt guilty when someone I didnt know would compliment my appearance, as if i had to inject a confession that i had surgery. It was my husband who pointed out that i always took care of myself and that contributed to looking and feeling good whether i had surgical procedures or not.
Love this!!
Hello darling!
So glad you are covering this topic – I am 48 and in the same boat – falling asleep as I am doing my evening routine – all top, medical grade products.. many well over $300 price tag for 30 day supply.. I have now narrowed it down to 8 – still too many…
I do use tretinoin 5 times a week (ai try to give one or 2 nights off as I noticed that it could have an impact on a barrier.. My other non-negotiable is TNS by skin medica – am and pm..
I’m only 3 minutes into the video but I want to say I love that you made a video on this because I’ll be 55 this year and I’m so sick of all the products! But I went to get HRT my third round from a brand new girl cuz the other two girls had quit and I told her nothing is working on my skin 5 grand on Scarlet prf it did absolutely nothing and she said yeah if your estrogen isn’t at goal none of these procedures will work and I was like what?! Are you freaking kidding me nobody’s ever told me that no wonder nothing’s working she said yeah your estrogens low and the two girls prior to her didn’t even give me estrogen I’m like WTF so we’ll see what happens now I was spending thousands and getting no results😢 now I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the video❤
Good morning! I turned 55 in February. And I recently joined you a few months ago. Love your content and your positive fun loving personality! I’m learning lots of great info and couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I believe I remember working out at home to your step aerobics videos. That was you right? I enjoy watching you so much. You really do brighten my day! Thanks for being you Chalene!❤
Thank you! Yes I have done workout programs in the past!!
You’re so sweet ❤❤
You just looove showing off that ice smooth forehead don’t cha? 😂😂 You look. Eautiful…as always.
You look great, im level 50. How much for facelift?
Level 56. I looked forty until I got breast cancer at 51 and chemo plunged me into menopause. I desperately need estrogen but the endocrinologist is loathe to put me on HRT. I only use 3 products. Thank you 💖 from Australia xx
Hi Chalene, I started with .05 Tret and later moved up to .10. Love this stuff.
What’s more important if you can only afford to buy something once a month
Hi Chalene. A while back you talked about using a vibration plate. Are you still using it? And, do you have a recommendation for a specific vibration plate? Love your content! Thanks!