Even if you’re looking for them because you’ve had a certain birthday or noticed some changes in your skin, the best moisturizers for mature skin aren’t necessarily marketed to a specific age group or plastered with overblown “anti-aging” claims. More often than not, they’re products anyone can use to keep their skin looking hydrated, bright, and smooth—it just so happens that, according to dermatologists, those concerns may take priority as you get older. “Moisturizer should do more than just help with dry skin; it can often improve the skin’s appearance [as you age] too,” Gabriella Vasile, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Réforme Dermatology and Aesthetics in Charleston, South Carolina, tells SELF. “Hydrated skin will look more plump, brighter, and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,”
When you broaden your definition of moisturizers for aging skin, you’ll find that there are tons of nourishing, skin-plumping options out there. That’s why we spoke to dermatologists about the best ingredients to look for and combed through years of SELF Healthy Beauty Award winners, online reviews, and expert recommendations to find the best options for you to try.
Our top picks Best Overall: Fresh Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Cream Best Budget: Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 25 Best for Dry Skin: TULA Skincare 24-7 Moisture Intense Ultra Hydrating Day & Night Cream Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermallegro Ultra Soothing Repair Facial Moisturizer Best for Oily Skin: Dermalogica Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream Best Brightening Formula: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer Best Lightweight Formula: Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
Take me right to the products!
FAQs about moisturizers for mature skin
What happens to your skin as you age?
Over time, your skin loses collagen and elasticity, which can cause it to look duller and less firm, Dr. Vasile says. As that happens, you may notice more visible fine lines, dark spots, and dry patches. The exact changes will vary from person to person and can happen as early as your 20s, although most people see age-related changes in their skin in their 30s and 40s, Omer Ibrahim, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, tells SELF. Your genetics, lifestyle (including habits like smoking and regularly using sunscreen), and environment can all play a role in your skin’s appearance as you age.
The onset of menopause can cause further changes to your skin, Dr. Vasile says. As SELF has previously reported, estrogen decreases during menopause, which affects your skin’s collagen production and its ability to retain ceramides (the lipids that provide structure to your skin’s outer layer, keeping moisture in and irritants out). Due to these hormonal changes, your skin may start to feel thinner, drier, or more sensitive, Dr. Vasile says.
What should you look for in a moisturizer for mature skin?
If you’re thinking about changing up your moisturizer to address signs of aging, make intense hydration your priority—”hydrated skin will look more plump, brighter, and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Vasile says. Dr. Ibrahim recommends looking for ingredients like squalane, jojoba oil, and coconut oil, which provide immediate moisture, and ceramides, which strengthen your skin barrier and prevent water loss. As SELF has previously reported, glycerin and hyaluronic acid are other great hydrating ingredients to look for if you want to keep your skin feeling soft and healthy all day long.
For concerns around texture, hyperpigmentation, and your skin’s overall appearance, Dr. Ibrahim recommends products that’ll encourage cell turnover to help your skin look smoother and more even. Retinol is the most popular option, but the plant-based compound bakuchiol can have a similar effect with less risk of irritation, he says. If dullness is your chief concern, make sure your moisturizer contains antioxidants like vitamin C. In addition to giving you a glow, vitamin C can help prevent free radical damage that comes from environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution (these can also contribute to hyperpigmentation). If your skin is increasingly sensitive and you just want to avoid ticking it off, skip products that contain fragrances and dyes.
Above all, don’t forget to use SPF, either as part of your face moisturizer or as a separate step in your morning skin care routine—and that goes for all ages.
Now that you have a better idea of what makes a moisturizer especially helpful for aging skin, check out our top picks, including products we tested firsthand and H20-boosting products from brands that experts have recommended to us time and again. Read on to find your new daytime moisturizer—then, consider adding a rich night cream to your bedtime routine.
Best Overall: Fresh Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Cream
Fresh
Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Cream
Pros
Nourishing formula Plumping effect Suitable to use twice a day
Cons
Pricey
One of our testers, a woman in her 50s, gave this cream a perfect 10 out of 10 when she reviewed it for 2023’s Healthy Beauty Awards, noting its soothing effects: “It feels amazing when it goes on—very cooling, like it immediately calms irritation and inflammation. The hydration was lasting and kept my skin looking fresh and supple.”
It contains a cocktail of moisturizing ingredients, including squalane, glycerin, vitamin E (which is also a source of antioxidants), ceramides, and jojoba oil. You can use it in the morning and at night, and one jar lasts a while—multiple Nordstrom reviewers mentioned that “a little goes a long way.” Just note that this cream contains fragrance, so it may be irritating to people with sensitive skin.
Other notable ingredients
Calming green tea leaf extract
Best Budget: Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 25
Olay
Regenerist Whip SPF 25
Pros
Under $35 Lighter consistency Good for texture concerns
Cons
SPF is lower than what’s recommended for sun protection Contains fragrance
With almost 1,000 five-star reviews from Target customers and nearly 700 on Amazon, Olay’s Regenerist Whip moisturizer is a certified drugstore hit. “This is the best face lotion I’ve ever used,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “It helps my fine lines and is super lightweight AND moisturizing.” Others noted its smooth, airy texture—and lots of reviewers shouted out its excellent value.
This cream contains niacinamide and peptides, both of which can help improve your skin’s texture and tone. It also has some chemical sunscreen ingredients, but at 25 SPF, it’s just shy of the dermatologist-recommended minimum of SPF 30, so you’ll still want to layer on a nice face sunscreen for solid protection.
Other notable ingredients
Best for Dry Skin: TULA Skincare 24-7 Moisture Intense Ultra Hydrating Day and Night Cream
Tula Skincare
24-7 Moisture Intense Ultra Hydrating Day & Night Cream
Pros
Formulated to address extreme dryness Silky texture Suitable for daytime and nighttime use
Cons
Contains fragrance
Packed with derm-approved ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter, and peptides, Tula’s 24-7 Moisture Intense Ultra Hydrating Day & Night Cream is perfect for dry skin that’s showing signs of aging. It won a 2023 Healthy Beauty Award for its rich (but not too heavy) formula that kept our tester’s skin quenched all day. “The consistency is perfect, and I love the way my skin feels after I apply it,” they wrote. “It’s very smooth—almost silky—but strong enough to really keep me moisturized.”
Several Sephora reviewers noticed that the cream didn’t just improve their skin’s hydration—it had a plumping effect too. “I love the scent and the thick texture of the cream. It instantly adds moisture to my skin on contact and fills in my fine lines,” one wrote.
Other notable ingredients
Moisturizing camellia seed oil, vitamin E, and jojoba oil
Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermallegro Ultra Soothing Repair Facial Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Dermallegro Ultra Soothing Repair Facial Moisturizer
Pros
Fragrance-free Simple, non-irritating formula Under $35
Cons
Amazon reviewers were disappointed by the bottle’s size for the price
This lotion from La Roche Posay relies on tried-and-true ingredients like squalane, shea butter, and glycerin to hydrate and calm skin without risking irritation. As SELF has previously reported, simpler is often better when it comes to sensitive skin care, and the Toleriane Dermallegro Moisturizer keeps its ingredient list relatively short. In addition to being an excellent moisturizer, shea butter can help reduce redness and address roughness and inflammation related to eczema.
If you’re curious about other solid options for sensitive skin (and don’t mind splurging), Dr. Vasile recommends Senté’s Dermal Repair Cream, noting that it contains ingredients like green tea, which can help soothe, hydrate, and enhance your skin’s tone and texture.
Other notable ingredients
Best for Oily Skin: Dermalogica Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream
Dermalogica
Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream
Pros
Lightweight formula Suitable for oily and combination skin
Cons
Pricey
This liquid moisturizer quenches parched skin without leaving you feeling greasy—even if you have oily skin. “It’s super creamy and felt wonderful going on,” wrote one Healthy Beauty Award tester. “It healed my persistently dry spots after just a couple of uses.” Another went so far as to say it “genuinely sparked joy.”
It’s made with squalane, which is an impressively lightweight ingredient for how hydrating it is. That’s why dermatologists often recommend it for oilier skin types—it’s an effective emollient (meaning it traps water and softens skin) that can reduce dryness and flakiness, but doesn’t feel as heavy as other rich, moisturizing ingredients sometimes do.
Other notable ingredients
Jojoba and camellia seed oils, anti-inflammatory astragalus extract
Best Brightening Formula: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer
Sunday Riley
C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer
Pros
Radiant finish Fast-absorbing
Cons
Some Sephora reviewers with sensitive skin found it irritating
If dullness is top-of-mind for you, try Sunday Riley’s best-selling vitamin C cream. It won a Healthy Beauty Award in 2022 for its just-thick-enough texture, citrusy scent, and, as its name would suggest, lingering afterglow. “It imparted an instant subtle radiance, and my complexion just looked a little prettier and glowier from using it. It’s also super hydrating,” our tester wrote, adding that it left such a lovely finish that they felt confident going without additional face makeup some days.
Other notable ingredients
Hyaluronic acid, lutein (a source of antioxidants)
Best Lightweight Formula: Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
Tatcha
The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
Pros
SPF 50 Sheer finish Formulated without fragrances
Cons
Some Tatcha reviewers had issues with the packaging leaking
Hyaluronic acid truly packs a great bang for your buck—it works as a humectant, meaning it attracts moisture to the skin, and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Not only is it super hydrating, but it also helps skin appear plumper. It’s the star ingredient in this Tatcha face sunscreen, which won a Healthy Beauty Award this year for its smoothing, softening effects and sheer finish (a real feat for a mineral sunscreen).
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