Navigating Skincare for Mature Skin: Expert Insights for a Radiant Complexion
As we mature, our skin undergoes various transformations, often necessitating adjustments to our skincare regimen to maximize product benefits. If you’re uncertain where to begin, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide exploring potent ingredients, top-tier products, and expert advice for addressing common skin concerns such as diminished elasticity, increased dryness, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Given the inherent delicacy and value of our skin, we were committed to pinpointing the most effective products for its care. To achieve this, we enlisted the expertise of three leading dermatologists. Leveraging their extensive experience, they offered invaluable guidance on what’s genuinely worth your time, investment, and a coveted spot in your beauty routine.
While the hands of time cannot be reversed on aging, numerous strategies exist to enhance skin hydration, boost suppleness, and refine texture through your skincare regimen. We’ve equipped you with all the essential information regarding mature skin, guiding you through every step of your routine, from cleansers to retinol.
Meet Our Panel of Experts
- Dr. Zainab Laftah is a distinguished consultant dermatologist and surgical lead with 16 years of experience. She also serves as a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation and is an elected member of the Royal Society of Medicine’s dermatology council.
- Dr. Ellie Rashid is a consultant dermatologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, as well as medical director of the skin treatment company, Klira Pro. In addition to her MD qualification, she holds a PhD doctorate in stem cells and regenerative medicine and is an honorary senior clinical lecturer at King’s College London.
- Dr. Rebecca Rollett is an acclaimed consultant plastic surgeon. With over 13 years as a trained doctor, she is now a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and co-founder of The Yorkshire Aesthetics Clinic.
How Skin Evolves with Age
According to Dr. Laftah, as we age, our skin experiences a reduction in collagen, and fatty pads begin to shrink. This process, she explains, leads to “skin laxity, translucency, sagging, and volume loss.” Beyond these internal changes, environmental aggressors like UV radiation and pollution also contribute significantly to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation.
When treating patients, Dr. Rashid most frequently addresses concerns for mature skin including loss of elasticity, diminished firmness, increased dryness, and uneven skin tone, alongside lines and wrinkles. Fortunately, there are effective anti-aging skincare strategies you can adopt to combat all these issues.
The Most Effective Anti-Aging Ingredients
If your goal is to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, a range of dermatologist-approved ingredients are available in over-the-counter products that can specifically target these concerns.
Retinoids
At the forefront of Dr. Laftah’s recommended list are retinoids. “They possess the most robust scientific evidence for stimulating collagen and elastin, which are crucial proteins for plumping the dermis, thereby softening fine lines and wrinkles. They also aid in fading pigmentation caused by sun damage and can even out skin tone.”
(Image: While our beauty writer recommends Murad’s serum for treating fine lines, Dr. Rollett opts for Medik8’s Retinol 3TR (Murad/Medik8))
In our comprehensive guide to the best retinol creams and serums, the Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment (£94.50, Amazon.co.uk) was identified as the top choice for mature skin. Our writer noted, “This potent yet effective formula is a pleasure to use and left our skin feeling soft and hydrated. It’s an investment, certainly, but with consistent use, we believe the results will speak for themselves.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Rollett highly praises the “Medik8 retinol serum (£29, Cultbeauty.co.uk) as a consistent winner.” Offering advice on application, she suggests introducing the ingredient “low and slow,” emphasizing that “it’s essential to use an SPF daily when incorporating any vitamin A product.”
Niacinamide
Dr. Rashid is a strong advocate for niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3. “It positively impacts mature skin by boosting elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, evening out skin tone, enhancing moisture retention, and diminishing redness through its anti-inflammatory properties.”
(Image: This lightweight but intensely hydrating serum is a great way to incorporate niacinamide into your routine (Sculpted by Aimee))
Our preferred niacinamide serum is the Sculpted By Aimee Hydraglo Serum (£27, Boots.com). It secured a place in our guide to the best anti-aging serums thanks to its potent blend of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide. Our tester reported feeling more hydrated after just a single application. They also noted its pleasant shea-butter scent and praised its “substantial and nourishing texture” which “melted into our skin with ease, feeling lightweight.”
Skincare Acids, Including Glycolic and Azelaic
Dr. Laftah recommends incorporating AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), highlighting glycolic acid as a standout ingredient for combating aging. “It helps reverse photodamage through gentle exfoliation of the upper dead skin cell layer and fades hyperpigmentation, contributing to a healthy skin glow.”
Also on Dr. Rashid’s list of effective ingredients, and worth noting, is azelaic acid. It’s known for reducing inflammation and helping to lighten hyperpigmentation. She adds that “it possesses antioxidant properties, which help protect the skin from oxidative stress and damage.”
Hyaluronic Acid
Dr. Rashid also advises seeking out hyaluronic acid (HA), noting its role in “maintaining hydration.” She further mentions that “ceramides support the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss.”
Similarly, despite its higher cost, Dr. Rollett considers Skinceuticals HA Intensifier Serum (£104.99, Facethefuture.co.uk) “a personal favourite.” She highlights its “advanced formula containing a high concentration of 1.3 percent pure hyaluronic acid, 12 percent proxylane, and a novel post-biotic ferment to increase glycosaminoglycans, such as HA.” Glycosaminoglycans are skin components that bind to water molecules, and by boosting these, the serum effectively helps to preserve the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid in its outermost layers. To put it simply, Dr. Rollett clarifies that “skin is instantly hydrated for up to 48 hours.”
Vitamin C
(Image: Some of the products from Skinceuticals that Dr. Rollett recommends to her clients at the Yorkshire Aesthetics Clinic (Skinceuticals))
Dr. Rollett consistently advises “keeping it simple and building any skincare routine from three core ingredients.” Those three essential components? “The ABCs of skincare are vitamin A (retinols, retinoids, and tretinoin), broad-spectrum SPF, and vitamin C.”
Again referencing Skinceuticals (she states no affiliation with the brand), Dr. Rollett elaborates on the anti-aging benefits of its various vitamin C serums. As a starting point, she recommends that you “look for vitamin C products that consistently feature the key ingredients vitamin C and ferulic acid.”
Regarding her specific product suggestions, she recommends the Skinceuticals Serum 10 (£98, Facethefuture.co.uk), noting it as “a gentler form of vitamin C serum that is excellent for more sensitive skin types.” For addressing “pigmentation reduction,” she suggests the Skinceuticals Phloretin CF (£165, Facethefuture.co.uk). For “breakout-prone skin,” turn to Skinceuticals Silymarin CF Vitamin C Serum (£134.99, Facethefuture.co.uk).
Ceramides
As we age, Dr. Rollett explains that “we undergo hormonal changes or approach perimenopause (and beyond), which can affect our skin barrier and deplete our lipids.” The solution? “Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids within the skin,” she responds, adding that as these diminish, “we then require additional ceramides to effectively moisturise the skin.”
After reviewing The Ordinary’s Phytoceramide Moisturiser, beauty writer Helen Wilson-Beevers praised how the formula “provides a noticeable hydration boost on the skin’s surface.” Furthermore, at under £10 (£9.60, Boots.com), it would be challenging to find a superior option.
(Image: Our writer was impressed by this affordable ceramide moisturiser (The Ordinary))
Top Skincare Products for Mature Skin
“It’s not about the quantity of skincare products you use,” advises Dr. Rollett, but rather their quality and suitability. “If you’re new to skincare, there’s no need to acquire a vast array of items and adopt a 19-step routine. Instead, start with three to four key medical-grade products, adhere to a simple yet effective routine, progress slowly and steadily, and build from there.”
As for her personal top recommendations, she aligns with the “ABCs of skincare” (as previously mentioned) and, when expanding on that core trio, suggests some of the products highlighted here:
Cleanser
Dr. Rollett recommends beginning with a cleanser. While “some individuals prefer cream textures and others prefer foaming/gel cleansers,” the ultimate choice depends on individual skin type and preference. One of her personal favourites, however, is Obagi-C’s C Cleansing Gel (£44.55, Skinstation.co.uk), which once again harnesses the brightening power of vitamin C, and she notes that “it’s excellent for breakout-prone skin.”
(Image: Dr. Rollett suggests the Obagi-C C-Cleansing Gel for those who prefer a foam wash (Obagi-C))
Moisturiser
Here at IndyBest, we’ve rigorously tried and tested hundreds of skincare products to identify the very best. In our guide to the best moisturisers for dry skin, our reviewer rated the StriVectin Anti-Wrinkle SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate (£69, Boots.com) as their top selection for mature skin. Given that mature skin is often prone to dryness, adequate hydration is a crucial step in your routine.
“This compact tube contains essential skincare ingredients, including collagen, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), and hyaluronic acid,” our writer observed. They added that its “rich consistency” provides smoothing benefits and “glides onto the skin effortlessly.” Almost “immediately, the appearance of dryness improved, with our fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced and a sense of increased elasticity added over the weeks of testing.”
(Image: Sunscreen is one of the best lines of defense against the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, according to our experts (Antipodes))
Eye Cream
As our skin ages, Dr. Rollett details how the delicate area around our eyes can develop “mild to moderate wrinkles influenced by collagen decline and glycation.” For hydration and an immediate visible improvement, Dr. Rollett suggests AlumierMD’s Alumineye Cream (£63.50, Skintique.com). “It incorporates light-reflecting particles to reduce the appearance of dark circles and a retinol gel (0.1 percent potency) specifically designed for the periocular [eye] area,” she explains.
(Image: Dr. Rollett favours medical-grade skincare, including Alumier’s eye cream (Alumier))
SPF
If you’re looking to delay the visible signs of aging, one of the most effective preventative measures you can take, according to Dr. Laftah, is consistent daily sun protection. For a radiant, glowing finish from your SPF, our beauty writer highly recommends the Antipodes Supernatural SPF50+ Ceramide Silk Facial Sunscreen (£34, Lookfantastic.com). It boasts a rich, nourishing texture that feels non-greasy and imparts a beautiful, lasting glow on the skin, not to mention a formula abundant in ceramides.
For a more budget-friendly option, the Garnier Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light Sensitive Sun Protection Face Fluid SPF50+ (£8.71, Lookfantastic.com) earned a spot in our review of the best sunscreens for your face. Not only is it a great value, but our tester praised its rapid absorption into the skin and the hydrating boost it provides from its hyaluronic acid and vitamin E formula. “Protecting against UVB, UVA, and long UVA rays, it truly offers comprehensive coverage.”