One thing I’ve learned after 40?
Not every beauty product needs to cost a fortune…
…but there ARE certain products worth investing in.
As I’ve gotten older, my beauty routine has become less about chasing trends and more about finding products that truly help me feel:
✨ healthy
✨ glowy
✨ confident
✨ and polished without looking overdone
And honestly? Summer beauty after 40 is a completely different game than it was in our 20s.
These days I care much more about:
✔ skincare
✔ hydration
✔ SPF
✔ texture
✔ glow
✔ and simplifying my routine
As part of my Summer Over 40 series, I thought it would be fun to share my current favorite products to save or splurge on to make YOU look and feel your best this summer!
✨ SAVE vs. SPLURGE summer beauty routine
Sometimes the drugstore find is JUST as good…and sometimes the splurge is absolutely worth it. But, how do you know what is worth the splurge and where to save? Well, keep reading!
✨ SPLURGE: ZO Skin Health
If there’s one area I truly believe is worth investing in after 40, it’s skincare.
Over the past few years, I’ve become much more focused on improving my actual skin instead of simply covering things up with makeup.
One line I genuinely love is ZO Skin Health.
Yes—it’s definitely a splurge.
But for me, it’s been worth it. (I mean, we are talking about YOUR FACE here, after all!)
I’ve noticed improvements in:
✔ texture
✔ brightness
✔ smoothness
✔ overall glow
And during the summer months, healthier skin means I can wear LESS makeup—which honestly is the ultimate goal at this stage of life.
My favorite ZO products right now are:
✨ Exfoliating Cleanser
✨ Exfoliating Polish
✨ Daily Power Defense
I use this three step skincare routine every morning and every evening adding the ZO Radical Night Cream Repair in every other night or as tolerated. (The retinol in this product is the real deal and has to be used very sparingly until you build up tolerance to it. It also makes your skin extremely sensitive to the sun so if you use this product be sure to wear your SPF on your face!)
These products help my skin feel fresh, smooth, and radiant heading into summer. Shop my fav Zo Skincare Collection.
💄 SAVE: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination Radiant Full Coverage Foundation with SPF+50
This is one of my holy grail beauty products for women over 40.
As we age, heavy foundation can start settling into fine lines FAST—especially in summer heat and humidity.
I love this CC cream because it gives:
✨ beautiful coverage
✨ SPF protection
✨ hydration & anti aging serum
✨ and a healthy glow
without looking cakey or heavy.
Honestly? Any product that combines makeup, skincare AND sunscreen deserves an award in midlife. 😂
And compared to many luxury foundations, at $39, this one is actually pretty affordable for how well it performs, especially given the fact that it really combines three products (foundation, SPF and anti-aging serum) into one! . Shop IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination
✨ SPLURGE: Rodan + Fields Lash Boost Serums
Ladies… if your lashes have become thinner or shorter over 40, you are NOT imagining it.
One product category I’ve found genuinely worth the investment is lash serum.
I personally love Rodan + Fields Lash Boost because it helps my lashes look:
✔ fuller
✔ longer
✔ healthier
This product works so well that I actually stopped getting lash extensions after consistently using it. (Which actually in the long term SAVED me money!)
The trick is that you have to use it consistently (nightly) and you have to be patient and give it time. I typically start seeing results in 4-6 weeks after daily use.
At $155, this is definitely a beauty splurge - but it’s worth it when you think about lash extension fills costing $50-$60 every few weeks! One tube of serum typically lasts me over three months… you really only need to apply a very thin layer (apply like eye liner to the top lash line).
And during summer especially, having fuller lashes makes me feel more polished even on minimal makeup days. Shop R+F Lash Boost
✨ SAVE: St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Face Mist
One beauty habit I’ve completely changed after 40?
Trying to tan my face in the sun.
These days, I’m much more focused on protecting my skin while still getting that healthy summer glow—and the St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Face Mist has become one of my favorite ways to fake it naturally.
I love this product because it gives:
☀️ a gradual sunkissed glow
☀️ hydration
☀️ a natural-looking tan
☀️ and works beautifully on mature skin without looking orange or streaky
It also contains hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, which makes it feel more like skincare than traditional self-tanner. At only $24 for a travel size bottle, this will last you almost all summer!
During summer, this is one of my favorite little beauty tricks because it helps me look more refreshed and glowy—even on no-makeup days. Simply spray a light mist over your face and décolleté for a sun kissed glow!
And honestly?
At this stage of life, I’ll take “rested and sun kissed” over baking in the sun ANY day. 😂
✨ SPLURGE: DRTMLGY Brightening Eye Masks
Can we talk about under-eyes after 40 for a second? 😅
Because between stress, hormones, lack of sleep, and life in general… the under-eye area suddenly becomes VERY high maintenance.
One product I absolutely love for tired-looking eyes is the DRTMLGY Brightening Eye Masks.
These little caffeine-infused patches help:
✨ de-puff
✨ brighten
✨ hydrate
✨ and make me look more awake and refreshed especially before events, photos, or even mornings after a girls’ night out. 😂
At $47 they’re definitely more of a splurge beauty item for me—but honestly? They feel like a mini spa treatment at home. One trick is to store them in the refrigerator so they are nice and cold! Put them on while you have your morning coffee for 10-15 min and you will at least look like you got 8 hours of sleep!
And sometimes after 40, looking rested is half the battle.
✨ Beauty After 40 Looks Different
Beauty over 40 looks different not because we want to look like our 20 year old selves again, but because we want to look and feel like the best version of ourselves in THIS season of life. And and this stage of life, beauty becomes less about perfection…and more about feeling GOOD and CONFIDENT in your own skin.
It’s about:
✔ taking care of yourself
✔ investing where it matters
✔ simplifying where you can
✔ and embracing the woman you’re becoming
Because the goal isn’t looking 25 again.
The goal is looking healthy, radiant, confident, and fully alive after 40.
And personally?
I think that kind of beauty hits differently. 💛
✨ Let’s Talk Beauty Over 40
Now I want to hear from YOU.
What beauty products are worth the SPLURGE for you…
and where do you prefer to SAVE?
Drop your favorites in the comments because I’m always looking for new recommendations for women over 40!