There’s a certain love and steadiness you grow into in your forties.
A deeper confidence.
A different kind of gratitude.
Wins feel bigger. Losses feel clearer. You trust yourself more. You know your body better.
Which is why it’s almost funny that right when you’re feeling grounded, your skin starts doing its own thing.
One morning you catch the mirror and think:
“Has my skin always looked this thin?”
Or “Why does my face react to stress so quickly now?”
Or “My skincare routine hasn’t changed. So why does my skin feel different?”
You’re not imagining it.
And nothing about it means you are losing your glow.
What you’re noticing is something scientists now call inflammaging.
It’s a mix of low-grade inflammation, hormone shifts, and nervous-system stress that shows up through the skin after 40. Not in a scary way. In a “your body is signaling you” way.
Once you understand what’s happening under the surface, you understand how to calm it.
Ready to calm inflammaging at the source? Try the Frankincense Ritual →
Why Skin Feels Different After 45
Yes, estrogen shifts play a role.
When estrogen naturally fluctuates, collagen, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid shift too. That can make skin feel a little drier or thinner.
But the bigger driver for many women is low-grade inflammation, also known as inflammaging.
Think of it as the slow, background inflammation that builds quietly over time and makes the skin more reactive. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It means your skin is more sensitive to the stressors you could ignore in your twenties.
Researchers describe inflammaging as oxidative stress, tiny inflammatory messengers, and glycation all working together¹. These changes influence firmness, brightness, and how easily your skin stays calm.
You don’t feel this inflammation directly.
You see it through dryness, sensitivity, or slower renewal.
And it responds beautifully to the right calming rituals.
Inflammaging: The Silent Skin Agitator
Inflammaging isn’t a diagnosis. It’s simply what happens when your body is juggling stress, sleep changes, perimenopause, and everyday life in a different way than it used to.
The easiest way to understand it:
Your skin is working harder to stay balanced while having less automatic support underneath.
Research has shown that chronic micro-inflammation can weaken collagen and make the skin barrier more fragile². That’s why products you used to tolerate without issue might suddenly sting or feel too strong.
Signs of inflammaging often include:
• redness that shows up faster
• puffiness that lingers
• fine lines appearing more easily
• more sensitivity to products
• slower recovery after stress
The biggest amplifier is stress.
And that leads us to the most overlooked piece of midlife skin:
Your nervous system.
The Skin–Brain Connection: Why Stress Shows on Your Face
Your skin is wired directly to your nervous system.
That’s why emotional stress shows up physically so quickly.
When stress rises, your body releases cortisol and neuropeptides like Substance P. These can spark redness, dullness, and sensitivity³. It’s your skin reacting to the same stress your mind feels.
Under the surface, tiny receptors called TRPV1 channels act like alarm bells. When they stay activated, the skin has a harder time calming down.
That’s why your skin might flush faster, react to products more easily, or look tired even when you’re doing everything right.
The skin-brain axis becomes more sensitive after 40, which is why nervous-system care becomes just as important as moisturizers.
This is also why simple topical rituals that calm both the skin and the nerves are so effective.
Nature’s Answer to Inflammaging: Frankincense + Castor Oil
You don’t need more products.
You need ingredients that support both the skin and the nervous system.
Frankincense
The resin contains boswellic acids that help modulate inflammatory signals and support healthy tissue renewal⁴. Women often notice softening, calming, and a sense of grounding when they use it consistently.
Castor Oil
Ricinoleic acid has been shown to calm neurogenic inflammation and reduce Substance P, one of the main messengers that triggers skin redness and irritation⁵.
Blended together, they support:
• inflammation balance
• collagen-friendly renewal
• skin-barrier comfort
• nervous-system calm
Simple, sensory, and deeply soothing.
The Ritual Reset for Midlife Radiance
This is where you shift from treating skin to supporting your whole system.
How to try it:
Warm the roller between your hands.
Start at the chest and move slowly up the neck, jawline, and cheeks.
Use upward strokes to support lymph flow.
Pause for one slow breath when the scent rises.
Let the warmth settle before bed.
What this does:
• helps calm the skin’s stress response
• encourages flow and reduces stagnation
• supports relaxation
• helps the skin stay comfortably hydrated overnight
Short, sensory, and restorative.
This is nervous-system skincare.
Experience the nervous-system skincare ritual women swear by →
Everyday Habits That Quiet Skin Inflammation
Small habits matter more than big overhauls.
• Protect your sleep first
• Add omega-3 rich foods daily
• Keep caffeine earlier in the day
• Use castor oil as your nightly barrier ritual
• Avoid stripping acids and fragrances if your skin feels reactive
These are the things that keep your inner rhythm steady.
When your system feels supported, your skin reflects it quickly.
Make your nightly ritual the easiest habit to keep — shop the Frankincense Roller →
The Midlife Glow Promise
There is a beauty you grow into in your forties.
It’s lived-in confidence. It’s knowing yourself. It’s the glow that comes from being rooted.
Yes, your skin may need a little extra support, but think of it as a moment you get to give back to yourself.
A moment of deeper care that supports your hormones, calms your nervous system, and works with your body instead of rushing it.
When that inner rhythm steadies, your skin responds with softness and real radiance.
Give your skin the care this chapter deserves — try the Frankincense Ritual →
References
Franceschi C et al. Inflammaging and Anti-Inflammaging. Nat Rev Immunol. 2018. PMID: 29934568
Makrantonaki E et al. Inflammation and Skin Aging. Dermato-Endocrinol. 2012. PMID: 23467327
Marek-Józefowicz L et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Neurogenic Inflammation of the Skin. 2023. PMID: 36902434
Rolf K et al. Frankincense Essential Oil Modulates Inflammation and Tissue Remodeling. PLOS ONE. 2021. PMID: 34763667
Vieira C et al. Ricinoleic Acid Inhibits Neurogenic Inflammation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2000. PMID: 10945874
