As our skin changes through our 40s and beyond, the right skincare becomes less about “anti-ageing” and more about nourishment, hydration, and resilience, especially during winter. 

This week, biobod founder Natalie Butler shares the key ingredients that support healthy, thriving skin during perimenopause, plus simple ways to strengthen your skin barrier naturally.

"Many women notice products they once loved suddenly feel irritating, their skin feels thinner or drier, or recovery after breakouts or flare-ups takes longer. As many things shift with age, so does our skin," says Natalie.

Two major things are happening in the background:

• Barrier function changes with age, which can show up as dryness, reactivity, tightness, and that “my products suddenly sting” feeling.

• Collagen and other structural components naturally decline, which can make skin feel thinner, less bouncy, and slower to recover.

During menopause, changes in the outer layer of the skin have also been linked to shifts in ceramides and barrier lipids, which directly affect comfort and water retention.

So, if you’re building a routine for thriving skin over 40, I’d focus on ingredient families that do three things well:

• Rebuild and protect the barrier

• Calm inflammation and reactivity

• Hydrate deeply without overwhelming the skin

Below are the hero ingredients I rate most highly, along with examples of where they appear in biobod formulas.

1) Microbiome supporters

If your skin is fussy, reactive, or “randomly breaking out” after 40, the microbiome and barrier are often part of the story. This is why I love a prebiotic + postbiotic + probiotic approach.

Prebiotics and postbiotics

In biobod’s Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum, you’ll find Inulin (a prebiotic) and Lactic Acid (a postbiotic) alongside hydrating and calming actives.

In the Gentle Rice & Oat Cleansing Powder, there’s also Inulin (prebiotic) and Lactic Acid (postbiotic), designed to cleanse while supporting balance.

2) Best hydrating ingredients for women over 40

I’m obsessed with hydration that feels weightless, layers easily, doesn’t peel under makeup, and doesn’t trigger sensitivity. Fine lines appear softer when skin is properly hydrated.

Try the hydration system of Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), and Betaine found in Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum. Here’s why they work so well:

• Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium PCA help bind water to the skin so it looks plumper, bouncier, and feels more comfortable.

• Glycerin and Betaine support hydration without that cloggy, heavy feeling — which is key when skin is both drier and more reactive.

How to use them for best results:

• Always apply hydrating products to damp skin

• Seal hydration in with a barrier-supporting lipid step (more on that next)

3) Barrier-repair oils and lipids for ageing skin

If I had to pick one category that changes everything for women over 40, it’s this. Barrier lipids help reduce water loss, improve comfort, and make skin more tolerant over time.

Squalane

Plant-based squalane closely mimics the skin’s natural oils, helping to soften, smooth, and support the barrier without feeling heavy or greasy.

When paired with omega-rich oils, it replenishes essential fatty acids that the skin gradually loses with age, improving elasticity, comfort, and resilience.

Omega oils and lipid supporters your skin needs

Bioactive oils like Jojoba, Grape Seed, Hemp Seed, Meadowfoam, Sunflower Seed, and Oat Kernel Oil act as daily reinforcement for mature skin that’s starting to feel drier, thinner, or easily inflamed.

You’ll find plant-based squalane and this blend in biobod’s biobod’s Barrier Restore Nutrient Oil.

Lanolin, strategically

For very dry or compromised areas, biobod’s Probiotic Salvation Balm includes ultra-pure medical-grade lanolin alongside oils and butters such as Jojoba, Castor, Olive, Shea, and Mango Seed Butter.

This isn’t necessarily an all-over, everyday step for everyone. Think of it more as a targeted barrier shield for lips, cracks, irritation patches, windburn, or post-treatment skin.

4) Calming ingredients for sensitive and menopausal skin

As soon as we hit 40, many of us assume we need “stronger” or more “active” products like retinol and glycolic acid. These absolutely have a place when used correctly. However, more often than not, our skin simply needs gentler products used consistently.

Here are my favourite calming ingredients:

Centella asiatica

Centella is one of my top picks for reactive, redness-prone, perimenopausal skin.

It’s clinically shown to help soothe skin, support wound healing, and calm rosacea- and acne-prone skin. You’ll find it in Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum.

Colloidal oats

Colloidal oats soothe skin by calming irritation, easing redness, and reducing that tight, itchy feeling. They also support the skin barrier, helping it recover faster from stress and retain moisture more effectively.

You’ll find them in the Gentle Rice & Oat Cleansing Powder.

Turmeric root extract

Turmeric root extract helps calm skin by reducing visible redness and soothing low-grade inflammation, which often becomes more noticeable after 40.

Its natural antioxidant properties also help protect the skin from daily environmental stress, supporting a more even and resilient complexion over time. Used consistently, it helps skin feel calmer, more balanced, and better able to recover without irritation.

The ingredient checklist to remember

When choosing skincare over 40, look for:

• Skin-identical hydrators like Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium PCA

• Microbiome-supporting prebiotics and postbiotics

• Barrier lipids such as Squalane and omega oils

• Calming botanicals like Centella, oats, and aloe

• Antioxidants to support long-term skin health

Thriving skin isn’t about reversing time. It’s about supporting your skin so it can do what it’s designed to do — regulate itself comfortably and confidently at every stage of life.

Glow over 40 doesn’t come from aggressive exfoliation. It comes from supporting healthy skin turnover without damaging the barrier.

About the author

Natalie is the founder of biobod, an Australian skincare brand focused on barrier health, microbiome balance, and calm, resilient skin. biobod was created to support sensitive, reactive, and changing skin using biocompatible ingredients that work with the body, not against it.