The New Rules for Happy Skin (especially over 40)

It All Stops Working...

You’ve spent the last 30 years figuring out what works for your skin – and then, out of nowhere, it just stops working.

The bad news? There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. No miracle ingredient. No celebrity-endorsed wonder cream that magically sorts everything out.

But I am pretty confident I can get you back to a place where your skin feels more comfortable - leaving you to feel like you.

This list is based on what I’ve learned over the years — not from the 60 awards (lovely though they are), but from real conversations with my customers. Figuring out what works — and what doesn’t — with a little help from my own skin now that I’m in my 50s.

This is what I see again and again.

So many women (especially around midlife) tell me their skin has completely changed.
The products they once loved are suddenly irritating.  Their skin feels tight, dry, red—or it’s just stopped responding.

And the beauty industry doesn’t make it easy. It sells us the dream — miracle cures and 20-step routines — then blames us when they don’t work. Or worse, tries to sell us something else.

And after helping thousands of women—many in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond—here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need more products. You just need the right ones.

1 - Less is More - Focus on the Basics

The more you throw at your skin, the harder it is to see what’s working and what’s not. Many of my customers come to me with stressed, extremely sensitised skin after using layer upon layer of irritating products: retinols, fruit acids, AHAs, BHAs, stripping cleansers, harsh exfoliants.

I always suggest starting over with the basics: a gentle cleanser and a pure, nutrient-rich face oil serum. That’s why I created this kit — as a simple reset.

I always suggest paring it back to basics if you are finding your skin is misbehaving.  Start with a pure, nutrient packed face oil serum to suit your skin and a gentle cleanser.  You can then build out from there.  I have created this kit for that very reason.

2. Quality over Hype.

When skin starts acting up (especially during or after menopause), it’s often a sign that the barrier is compromised. That’s where natural plant oils come into their own.

They’re not just gentle — they’re deeply restorative.

I use organic plant oils despite being many times more expensive because they’re free from pesticides and chemical residues, and they retain more of their natural nutrients. That means more nourishment, more antioxidants, and more skin support.

I also focus on cold-pressed oils because they’re extracted without heat. That preserves all the vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants your skin needs to feel soft, comfortable and healthy.

Think jojoba, rosehip, hazelnut, blackcurrant seed — oils that help rebuild the skin barrier, calm irritation, hydrate deeply without clogging, and soften the look of fine lines. Unlike synthetic mineral oils, they actually do something.

For older skin that’s feeling dry, tight, or reactive, these oils act like a comfort blanket. They help rebuild and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, calm irritation, deliver long-lasting moisture without clogging pores, and soften the look of fine lines by improving elasticity and smoothness.

Unlike synthetic mineral oils these actually do something. And when they’re organic and cold-pressed, they retain the nutrients your skin needs most.

3 - Emollient-Rich Oils for Very Dry Skin

If your skin feels very dry or tight, which is the most common complaint I hear, it’s likely your skin barrier is struggling to hold onto moisture.

Focus on emollient-rich, ceramide-boosting ingredients that soften, smooth, and cushion the skin. Emollients form a protective barrier to lock in hydration and support repair.

Look for ingredients like shea butter, mango butter, avocado, camellia, and jojoba oil, all chosen for their ability to hydrate and nourish dry, mature skin.

4 - Plant Oils to Balance Red-ness, Breakouts

If you're struggling with redness, hormonal breakouts, or extreme sensitivity, your skin needs soothing, balancing support.

A healthy skin microbiome plays a big role here, and harsh ingredients like detergents and alcohols can disrupt that balance, making things worse.

We use a synergy of plant oils chosen to support reactive, breakout-prone skin. These oils help improve cell turnover, strengthen the skin barrier, reduce moisture loss, and calm inflammation.

Jojoba oil mimics your skin’s natural sebum, helping to regulate without clogging. Raspberry seed and marula oil are brilliant for calming redness and inflammation. If you’re dealing with oiliness too, hazelnut oil is naturally astringent and helps balance without stripping.

5 - Take Control - You’re the Expert on your Skin Now.

The beauty industry has spent decades selling older women a fantasy, miracle cures, overnight transformations.

But real power comes from understanding your skin, what it likes, what it doesn’t, and how to support it, not fight it.

Once you tune into that, you’ll find what works is surprisingly simple.