February 2026 | The Facing 40's Issue

ecently, my grandmother—an absolute dynamo who turns 100 this summer—said something interesting to me: “When my generation was in our 40s, we just seemed older.” At first, I took this as a compliment. Why thank you! I guess that retinol

PRESENTED BY

BY RACHEL BOWIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMA LAO PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2, 2025

JILLIAN QUINT, Editor-in-Chief

regimen is really working! But the more I sat with it, the more I took offense. Do my fellow 40-somethings lack seriousness? Have we never learned to grow up? After all, I don’t feel 43. Should a 43-year-old still wear sweatpants and old T-shirts to bed? Should a 43-year-old neurose about what to say in a text message? I guess I’d always thought my 40s would come with some sort of finality—an “I’ve made it as a real grown-ass adult” feeling…and the blunt-bob-rocking, sensible-pump-owning aesthetic to match it. But the truth is, some days I’m a mom and some days I’m a child. Some days I want to look like Ina Garten and others I’m an aspiring Hailey Bieber. But mostly, I’m OK identifying as a work-in-progress. I’m curious about where I am in life, and I’m open about where I’m heading. It’s with that curiosity that we’re launching Facing 40s, a look at the issues—from skin changes to health imperatives to the joys of midlife friendship—that come for us in our fifth decade. Ultimately, there’s no one way our 40s are supposed to look. But there are things we can do to feel our best throughout them. Whether that involves sensible pumps or barrel jeans and a crop top? That’s entirely up to you.

The Conversation I Wish I’d Had with My Mom Before I Turned 40

WELLNESS / Deena Campbell

I was six years old, sitting cross-legged on the carpet outside my mother’s bedroom, watching her and her friends gather around the television like it was delivering breaking news. The door was half open. The volume was low but urgent. Someone was fanning herself with a magazine. Another woman laughed too loudly. On the screen, a woman was talking about menopause in the careful, coded language of daytime TV. I didn’t understand the words, but I understood that something was happening to their bodies, and it mattered.

wellness / Alexia Dellner

7 Things We Need to Stop Saying to Women in Midlife

The Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin, According to Celebs Over 40

beauty / Marissa Wu

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Facing 40s

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I Like What the WNBA Means for My Daughter. I Love What It Means for My Son

FAMILY / JILLIAN QUINT

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It’s Not Too Late! Everything to Know About Straightening Your Teeth in Midlife

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I’m Proof That Women in Their 40s Need ‘Friendship Snacks’

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5 Preventive Health Tips for Women in Their 40s

Skin health is essential health

Dr. Michelle Montville, OB/GYN & Clinical Director for Alloy Health

Declining estrogen affects skin thickness, hydration and collagen, making daily sunscreen and routine skin exams critical in this decade. Also, ask your doctor about Estriol-based products to support skin health.

"From pointed-toe shoes to sharp slits, anything that comes to a sharp point can have a figure-lengthening effect. It draws the eye vertically and tricks the beholder into seeing a longer, sleeker figure."

SHARPEN YOUR ACCENTS - LITERALLY

STEPHANIE MAIDA, 5'1"

"Advice that applies to formalwear as well as cardigans and blouses. This draws the eye downward, creating the illusion of length. Don’t want to show so much skin? The same vibe can be achieved with a plunging neckline over a light-colored tank or shell."

GO FOR THE DEEPEST V YOU CAN STOMACH

JILLIAN QUINT, 5'1"

"Yes, you can still wear a bold print when you have a shorter frame. The trick is to balance it with a solid color. A figure-hugging style—like this silky spandex-style top—also helps to define your silhouette. This way, a large print looks proportional without overpowering."

BALANCE A BIG PRINT WITH A SOLID COLOR

CHELSEA CANDELARIO, 5'0"

"The easiest way to improve the fit of a coat is to simply take the belt out of the belt loops. Oftentimes, those loops don’t hit at a petite person’s natural waist, so if you simply ignore them, it changes the whole fit."

IGNORE BELT LOOPS

RACHEL BOWIE, 5'2"

Short Story: Our Editors’ Go-To Petite-Friendly Tips & Tricks

I’m 5’2”—Can I Pull Off Polka Dots (1 of Fall’s Hottest Trends)?

FASHION / RACHEL BOWIE

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Petite Women Tell How They Wear Oversized Clothing—Tips, Tricks and What to Buy

FASHION / DANA DICKEY

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BY PUREWOW EDITORS MARCH 2026

PRESENTED BY

JILLIAN QUINT, Editor-In-Chief

Now is the time to really start thinking about diet. Protein in particular is important (aim for 20 to 30 grams at every meal) in order to preserve muscle and support skeletal health. And reminder: Plant-based—everything from edamame to almonds—is better than too much red meat.

Pay Attention to Protein

Dr. Mindy Goldman, OB/GYN & Chief Clinical Officer at Midi Health

Sleep disruption is common in perimenopause and affects weight regulation, cardiometabolic health, mood and cognition. You can mitigate that by keeping a consistent sleep schedule, limiting alcohol close to bedtime and allowing for morning light exposure.

SLEEP MATTERS

Dr. Michelle Montville, OB/GYN & Clinical Director for Alloy Health

Ask yourself: What fulfills me? What can I do to alleviate stress? The answers will differ from person to person, but solutions ranging from mindfulness to acupuncture to cognitive behavioral therapy have all been shown to improve your overall sense of wellbeing and combat symptoms—such as insomnia—that are common in midlife.

Make a Plan to Combat Stress

Dr. Mindy Goldman, OB/GYN & Chief Clinical Officer at Midi Health

Perimenopause symptoms are common in the early to mid-40s and symptoms are not always hot flashes. They may include changes in sleep, mood, cycles, energy, brain fog, weight distribution, vaginal dryness and more. These symptoms are common and treatable. Don’t be shy about bringing them up.

Don’t Avoid the P-Word

Dr. Michelle Montville, OB/GYN & Clinical Director for Alloy Health

On loving life in your fifth decade

“I’ve had a whole bunch of experiences, and I can speak with a thoughtfulness about the changes I’d like to see in the world, and...I just feel like I earned that gray hair and my fine lines. I like ’em.”

Reese Witherspoon, On her 40's

Skin health is essential health

Dr. Michelle Montville, OB/GYN & Clinical Director for Alloy Health

Skin health is essential health

Dr. Michelle Montville, OB/GYN & Clinical Director for Alloy Health

Pay Attention to Protein

Dr. Mindy Goldman, OB/GYN & Chief Clinical Officer at Midi Health

Sleep Matters

Dr. Michelle Montville, OB/GYN & Clinical Director for Alloy Health

Ken McKay/ITV/shutterstock

Getty/Paula Boudes for PureWow

Facing 40s

On loving life in your fifth decade