Age is such an interesting topic depending on which side of the fence you're on. In my 20s and 30s if you asked me how old I was, I was quick to proudly inform you of my real age, whether it be 27 or 34. However as 40 began to loom closer, reality started to set in! Time is a thief ladies, not only with life in general, but more specifically with our skin. I mean seriously, how does all of this work? Do the collagen fairies magically appear on your 40th birthday and gift you with deeper laugh lines and crow's feet? Well, I'm here to help you outsmart those fairies with a few key tips on how to step up your skincare game in your 40s and 50s.

At this age, we are probably taking better care of ourselves than in decades past. We are eating healthier and settling into a more peaceful and relaxed lifestyle. However, gravity has also reared its ugly head and there are days you wake up, look in the mirror and think, "Hey, that laugh line wasn't as deep last month!" This is also the decade when the skin's evenness and radiance becomes a concern.

Now is the time to step up your skincare and makeup game. Invest in targeted treatments for dark spots and dull skin. And, it's time to retire that trusty powder foundation that served you well in your 20s and 30s. You need a new formula that will not only conceal the signs of aging but also give your skin a more youthful glow.

Skincare Essentials: Get products like Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution on your radar to help diminish dark spots and support a more balanced skin tone. Don't scrimp on foundation! Try Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation. It goes on like butter and makes your complexion appear flawlessly smooth. It's also important to get the blood and oxygen flow going in your skin. Do this by using using circular, massage-like motions when cleansing the face. And for an added circulation boost, place your eye cream, face serum and/or face moisturizer in the fridge for a refreshing sensation. That should wake up your skin!

With age comes wisdom. You've learned quite a few things about life and yourself, especially the beauty of aging gracefully. You grasp the importance of wearing SPF, re-applying it and keeping your face out of direct UVA/UVB rays. The biggest battles you're facing now include sagging neck lines, drooping eyebrows and hooded eyelids. Another area that's all too often ignored by women as they age are their hands. Aging hands and sunspots on hands can often be a dead giveaway to your age! And, why should people have so much info about you? That's your business.

The best courses of action for this chapter in your life is to blur and firm. Make a point every day to incorporate products that will soften your lines and improve your skin texture. You're probably dealing with dehydrated skin, so boost your moisturizing routine to keep your skin supple and lovely.

Skincare Essentials: Go the rebuilding route with your face and neck. Try a two-in-one product like L'Oréal Paris Revita-Lift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Face & Neck Contour Cream, which promotes stronger, smoother, firmer skin especially around the neck/jaw line after just four consistent weeks of use. The line also includes Miracle Blur for Eyes with light diffusing pigments to help with fatigue, puffiness, dark circles and crow's feet around the eye orbital. Also, make sure to work a daily hand cream into your schedule (I love The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream), as this will provide much-needed moisture to mature skin while simultaneously helping balance skin tone.

Hey 40- and 50-somethings! What are your go-to beauty tricks? Spill in the comments below!