Taking care of your skin in your 40s can feel like it's you against the world. After four decades of spending time in the sun, hanging out in polluted air and sleeping on your side or stomach, your skin begins to show the wear-and-tear of modern life. Dark spots, discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture -- these signs of aging are totally normal in your 40s, even for women who have good habits.

All this isn't to say that you need to accept your skin the way it is. The truth is you still have plenty of time to prevent skin damage, as well as correct existing damage to your skin. Here are five things you need to do for incredible skin in your 40s -- and for years to come.

Photos: Getty Images

In your 40s, your skin's oil production slows, so you're less likely to get breakouts but more prone to dryness and dullness. If you've been using a clarifying cleanser, trade it for a mild face wash that won't strip your skin of oils. Swap foamy products -- the surfactants in them can be drying -- for a cream cleanser or micellar water. Likewise, consider ditching your (probably drying) alcohol-based toner.

At the same time, you'll want to opt for a heavier moisturizer, which can give your skin the hydration and radiance it's missing. Look for products with hyaluronic acid, a molecule that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water that makes skin look plump and youthful.

By now, you've probably noticed your face and chest have accumulated sun damage in the form of dark spots, fine lines, uneven tone and a rough texture. To combat all that, you'll need a double-duty skin-care product that repairs photo damage while keeping additional damage at bay.

Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® Anti-Aging Daily Serum is formulated with Idebenone, a powerful antioxidant, and helps to prevent and correct damage to your skin from the environment. This miracle-worker has been clinically proven to make skin look smoother, firmer and more resilient by reducing the appearance of lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture and sun damage. Simply apply it morning and night after cleansing.

No excuses: Every woman should be using retinol in her beauty routine. This concentrated form of vitamin A remains one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients on the planet. In addition to smoothing out skin tone and texture, retinol stimulates the production of collagen, which becomes crucial in your 40s, as your skin's supply of collagen diminishes, leading to fine lines and wrinkles.

Already use retinol? Upgrading to a prescription-strength retinoid, like tretinoin, can give more profound anti-aging results. If breakouts are still getting you down, certain retinoids offer the added benefit of keeping pores clear.

Sure, liquid and cream foundations sometimes lend themselves to a fresh-faced look. But creamy face makeup is also likely to settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making you look older (and your makeup look so obvious).

Mineral makeup offers medium to heavy coverage that will stay put on your skin for hours longer than a liquid. Buff the powder into skin with a kabuki brush and watch your imperfections disappear. To really diffuse the look lines and blemishes, choose a mineral makeup that contains mica, which subtly reflects light to give skin a radiant sheen.