Rank 01
Strength: up
Paula's Choice
1% Retinol Treatment
Score8.9/10
Price$89
WhereAdore Beauty
Clinical-level 1%, buffered with peptides. For when The Ordinary has run its course.
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Best skincare for your 40s.
Your 40s is where hormone-driven skin change accelerates. Peptides, retinol-escalation, and barrier-rebuilding move the needle more than 'anti-ageing' marketing claims.
Verdict
What is best skincare for your 40s?
The best skincare for 40s in Australia is the Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment at AU$89. If you've been on 0. Scored 8.9/10 by GLOW editors after testing against 4 products in the category.
- Strength: upPaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment, AU$898.9/10
- Keep: vitamin CSkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, AU$2159.4/10
- Add: richer moisturiserAesop Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream, AU$958.5/10
- Add: deviceNuFACE Trinity, AU$4959.0/10
Editor's Pick
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment
If you've been on 0.5% retinol and tolerated well, your 40s is when to consider 1%. Paula's Choice 1% Retinol is pharmaceutical-grade strength, clinical results, buffered with peptides.
$89 AUD
Shop at Adore Beauty| Rank | Product | Best for | Score | Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Paula's Choice 1% Retinol TreatmentPaula's Choice · Retinol | Strength: up | 8.9/10 | AU$89 | Adore Beauty |
| 02 | SkinCeuticals C E FerulicSkinCeuticals · Vitamin C | Keep: vitamin C | 9.4/10 | AU$215 | Adore Beauty |
| 03 | Aesop Primrose Facial Hydrating CreamAesop · Moisturiser | Add: richer moisturiser | 8.5/10 | AU$95 | Adore Beauty |
| 04 | NuFACE TrinityNuFACE · Microcurrent | Add: device | 9.0/10 | AU$495 | Adore Beauty |
The Ranking
From 4 tested
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Rank 02
Keep: vitamin CSkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic
Score9.4/10Price$215WhereAdore BeautyThe benchmark vitamin C. 15% L-ascorbic acid + vitamin E + ferulic. Stabilised, clinically studied, expensive.
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Rank 03
Add: richer moisturiserAesop
Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream
Score8.5/10Price$95WhereAdore BeautyAussie botanical icon. Rich but non-comedogenic, primrose oil + sodium PCA, distinct herbal scent.
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Rank 04
Add: deviceNuFACE
Trinity
Score9.0/10Price$495WhereAdore BeautyThe microcurrent device that started the category. Tones facial muscles, visible lift over 60 days.
4
products tested
8 weeks
Review period
3
Skin types tested
47
Humidity readings
Common questions
Does menopause change skin?
Yes, oestrogen loss affects collagen, elasticity, sebum, and water retention. Skincare strategy needs to shift.
What's worth adding in my 40s?
Higher-strength retinol if tolerated, peptides, and often a home-use device (LED or microcurrent).
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