I wrote about beauty products that older women don’t need in a previous post. However, there are essential skincare products that are well worth the investment and will give an aging woman more luminous and younger-looking skin.
It’s easy to go overboard with products that marketers upsell us because we are aging. I sold skincare and cosmetics for 10 years so I know how the industry works.
Click on this article to see how brands market skincare to mature customers.
It is better and more effective to only spend money on a few basic skincare products that will really make a difference.
An older woman’s beauty routine does not have to be complicated with multiple steps to help improve her mature skin. And, it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive.
These are the most important skin care products that women over 50 should have on hand. I also provide my product recommendations for brands that I love.
Your daytime routine
Product #1 – A gentle cleanser
Look for a cleanser that is hydrating. It should be low or no foam and fragrance-free. A good cleanser will nourish your skin as you wash it.
Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream is a silky and non-drying cleanser with a light lather. It will lift away oil and impurities. The formula is an encapsulated blend of lactic acid, which is a peptide that will brighten and renew the skin to help make it appear more youthful. Apricot and starflower oils create a moisture barrier to replenish hydration and protect aging skin.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser has no parabens, fragrances, or preservatives. It is stamped by the National Excema Association and contains three ceramides that repair the skin. The formula contains Hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin and is comedogenic so it doesn’t clog your pores. Make sure to rinse it all off before using additional products as it is formulated to be slow release.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel is designed for normal to dry skin. It contains hyaluronic acid for hydration, is oil, soap, paraben, and fragrance-free. The product works well on sensitive skin as well as eczema and is unscented.
Dove Soap for Sensitive Skin is simple and easy to use in the shower or in the evening. It’s fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. (Kim Cattrell swears by it) And, yes, I know . . . It’s soap.
Optional – Daytime serum
I love serums and there are several listed for nighttime below. However, you may want to consider using a Vitamin C serum during the daytime.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum is touted by aestheticians and dermatologists alike. It protects your skin from the environment, brightens it if you have dark spots, and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a high-end brand but worth the investment.
COSRX Snail Serum may sound yucky but I’m a huge fan! I’ve been using it for a while and it’s super hydrating! My skin feels amazing when I use it. I use it almost every morning.
Product #2 – Daytime moisturizer
Your moisturizer is the MOST IMPORTANT SKINCARE PRODUCT you need when you are older. You can use a moisturizer with an SPF or apply sunscreen over a moisturizer without an SPF. Look for active ingredients such as niacinamide, ceramides, panthenol, and shea butter.
The moisturizers below do not contain SPF but can be used both day and night, which saves you some money. There may be days when you are inside and not in the sun so an SPF may not be necessary. Be wary that you can get sun damage from light coming inside your home or when you are in a car.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Extra Dry contains hyaluronic acid, and glycerin and is retinol and fragrance-free. It is a gel that is light and refreshing. This rich facial lotion hydrates for 48 hours and is dermatologist-recommended. Regular Hydro Boost has a fresh fragrance whereas the “Extra Dry” has no fragrance.
Neostrata Bionic Face Cream is designed for dry and sensitive skin. It contains bionic acid which is a natural skin humectant that is water-binding and does an excellent job keeping your skin barrier moist. It is also non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream contains 3 essential ceramides to lock in your skin’s moisture as well as hyaluronic acid. It was developed by dermatologists for dry and very dry skin and is fragrance-free. It comes in a large 16 oz jar and you can use it on your face as well as your body. I absolutely love it!
Aveeno Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin is especially good if your skin gets easily irritated. It contains panthenol which is a soothing humectant, oat kernel extract that calms the skin, and feverfew flower extract, which is an antioxidant that is helpful for sensitive skin or redness. Oats have been used in skincare products for centuries and contain many lipids.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is fragrance-free and highly touted. It is infused with Vitamin B3, amino peptides, Hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants. This excellent formula delivers moisture 10 layers deep.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer contains ceramides, glycerin, and niacinamide, and is dermatologist-recommended. It is a light moisturizer that repairs the skin’s natural protective barrier and provides up to 48 hours of hydration
Biossance Squalane Probiotic Gel Moisturizer is a lighter formula that will give you a dewy complexion. It calms and soothes redness and balances your skin’s pH. It is ultra-hydrating and accepted by the National Eczema Association. This brand uses squalane and probiotic technology. It is fragrance-free, vegan, paraben, and PEG-free.
Product #3 – Sunscreen
Don’t rely solely on SPF in a daytime moisturizer or tinted foundation although it is more convenient. An SPF will only last a couple of hours so ALWAYS make sure to re-apply it. Apply your sunscreen over your moisturizer to get the benefits of your moisturizer’s active ingredients.
The sunscreens below will give you the best protection.
Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 is a top-rated mineral-based sunscreen product that is rich in antioxidants and contains niacinamide. The product is lightweight, fragrance-free, oil-free, and won’t clog your pores. It is recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin and blends well with makeup.
La Roche-Posay Melt in Milk Body and Face Sunscreen SPF 60 with cell shield technology is oil-free, and fragrance-free. It is recommended for sensitive skin and is oxybenzone free.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is lightweight, non-greasy, fragrance-free, and suitable for sensitive skin. It is certified by the National Eczema Association. It also contains 3 essential ceramides and niacinamide to help restore and maintain the protective skin barrier. Active ingredients include zinc oxide. I like it because it doesn’t irritate my eyes. However, some people complain that it leaves a white cast because of the zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreens are good to wear under masks.
I also sometimes use a moisturizer with SPF just to simplify my routine like CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 which has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides and is oil and fragrance-free.
For a tinted sunscreen try Neostrata Sheer Physical Protection SPF 50. It is a mineral sunscreen. The tint is very subtle and because it is mineral it may leave a cast on deeper skin tones. The good thing is that the iron oxide that is part of the tinted formulation will protect against hyperpigmentation.
Nighttime Routine
Cleanse, apply serum, and then a night cream
Double-cleanse your face if you have been wearing makeup. If you wear heavy foundation and/or water-resistant sunscreen you may need to double-cleanse your face. It is recommended to first use a cleansing oil like DHC Deep Cleansing Oil which is a Japanese brand that is olive oil based, and then use the same gentle cleanser you use in the morning.
Product #4 – Antioxidant Serum
If a serum is simply a humectant, you probably do not need to use it unless your skin is very dry. The serums below contain skin-nourishing ingredients that repair and renew your skin at night.
SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E nourishes your skin while you sleep at night. This is a high-end product that contains resveratrol, niacinamide, vitamin E, and baicalin which are all powerful antioxidants to reduce aging. It goes on cool but quickly absorbs. It has been proven to improve skin radiance and repair damage.
Neostrata Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum is a high-end brand that contains Gluconolactone, (a polyhydroxy acid PHA). It will gently exfoliate your skin without sun sensitivity. The formula also includes an amino acid derivative that builds volume and plumps and firms your skin’s appearance targeting expression lines such as scowl, furrows, smile lines, and crow’s feet. LMW Hyaluronic Acid is added as a humectant that will hydrate your skin’s surface. The product works well for dry, normal, and oily skin.
Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is a lightweight serum that is formulated with two types of retinoids that are part of its Tri-Active technology. As retinol can be drying, it also contains hyaluronic acid that adds extra hydration and plumps the skin. You will find that it firms your skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines.
Revoc 7 by Revision Skincare uses 7 different peptides that boost the production of collagen and elastin which will give you firmer and silkier skin. It is often referred to as “Botox in a Bottle.” It is lightweight, works well with other products, and is hydrating. Other ingredients include hyaluronic acid and glycerin for hydration.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum helps smooth fine lines, works on all skin types, and is non-irritating. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and is non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores). The serum also contains three essential ceramides that help restore your skin barrier, hyaluronic acid for extra hydration, and niacinamide to soothe your skin.
Vitamin C Serums are also highly recommended by dermatologists.
SkinCeuticals C E FERULIC® with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid is a top-rated Vitamin C serum that is fast absorbing. Ferulic Acid is a powerful plant-based antioxidant that will help to brighten your skin and fade dark spots. It is recommended by many aestheticians and dermatologists. It also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. FYI, it is on the pricey side but well worth it.
Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum is formulated with Vita-C Complex and glycolic acid that will remove dull skin cells and even out skin tone. It is fragrance-free and works for all skin types.
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid is affordable and is especially good for dry or sensitive skin. It is formulated with 10 percent L-ascorbic acid. As with all CeraVe products, it contains ceramides, as well as vitamin B5 which is soothing and helps the skin hold on to its moisture.
Product #5 Night Cream
Although you CAN use the same moisturizer as you do in the day, a night cream will give you extra hydration as well as active ingredients that work as you sleep.
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream works for all skin types. Your skin will feel smoother with improved texture, and it is super hydrating. Niacinamide and Dipeptide help strengthen your skin’s natural barrier leaving you with a firmer and more lifted appearance. The product is paraben, sulfite, and mineral oil-free.
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer is fragrance-free and contains retinol, niacinamide, and peptides. It is recommended by Good Housekeeping as the Best Overall Night Cream.
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Cream – Fragrance-free version contains Retinol and hyaluronic acid. It is the number 1 retinol product recommended by dermatologists. It does not contain parabens, mineral oil, or dyes and has been proven by over 100 clinical studies. It is particularly effective if you have dark (sun) spots on your skin.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream Peptide Complex is retinol and fragrance-free if you have sensitivity. It contains ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide which are all excellent ingredients for mature and aging skin. The formula is Non-irritating, non-greasy, and intensely hydrating.
The CeraVe Purple line has excellent products designed for aging skin. They are formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide, and ceramides. CeraVe was developed by dermatologists and merged with L’Oreal. It is affordable and can be purchased at most drug stores, Target, or Walmart.
What is your skincare routine like now that you are older? What steps do you always include and what are your favorite brands? Please leave a comment below.
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