How To Choose the Best Moisturiser for Mature Skin
EVERYDAY SKINCARE
Mature skin may be more prone to dryness than younger skin, but that doesn’t mean it needs to look wrinkled, lined, or aged. With the right moisturising routine, it’s possible to improve the appearance of dry or crêpe skin and reduce the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Here, we share some key facts to consider when choosing the best body moisturiser for your mature skin’s needs.
Overview
As you age, your skin ages with you. And this applies not just to the skin on your face, but the rest of your body as well. One of the best ways to support your skin as it ages is by using an optimised skincare routine.
As the name implies, all moisturisers hydrate your skin and help with moisture retention. But moisturisers formulated for mature skin do more than just that. The right body lotion or cream can also supply mature skin with targeted anti-ageing ingredients, soothe the skin, and help support its natural protective barrier.
In this skincare guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know when choosing a moisturiser for mature skin. We’ll explain what mature skin is, common signs of mature skin, and the types of moisturiser that help support smooth, soft-feeling skin.
Fast Facts About Moisturising Mature Skin
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“Mature skin” is a term generally used to describe skin showing visible signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dark spots, dryness, and sagging.
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A daily moisturising routine is especially important for mature skin, which naturally becomes thinner and drier over time.
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The ideal moisturiser for mature skin is one that's been developed with dermatologists, is gentle on skin, fragrance-free, and intensely hydrating - with beneficial ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
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For best results, moisturisers should be applied to clean, damp skin daily. This helps seal in the moisture and hydrate your skin.
CeraVe Says: It's important to remember that moisturising and sun protection are two entirely separate skincare steps. You should always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF30 as part of your morning routine and reapply at regular intervals (every 2 hours is recommended) throughout the day, and after swimming and towelling.
What Happens To Your Skin As You Age?
Before choosing a mature skin moisturiser, you want to first understand how your skin changes over time. Here are some of the structural changes that occur as you age:
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Reduced Collagen and Elastin production: There’s a decrease in several components that your skin needs to remain firm, smooth, and plump. This includes the important structural proteins collagen and elastin.
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Decrease in Sebum Production: As you age, skin produces less sebum, the natural skin oils that help the skin retain moisture. This can leave mature skin looking and feeling drier.
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Compromised Skin Moisture Barrier: Your skin’s protective moisture barrier (the outermost layer of your skin) may become thinner with age.[1] A weakened skin moisture barrier makes it harder for your skin to keep moisture in and external aggressors out.
These internal changes can also be influenced by a person’s lifestyle, environment, and overall health. For example, dryness in mature skin may be made worse by harsh cleansers, low humidity, and reduced mobility. Mature skin is also more likely to be sensitive skin.
What Is Mature Skin?
In skincare, the term 'mature skin' is used to describe skin that’s showing natural and visible signs of ageing. Some common signs of ageing include skin discolouration (also known as 'dark spots' or 'age spots'), uneven texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and loose or sagging skin. Research also shows that, because the skin becomes thinner with age, mature skin may have more visible veins.
As mentioned above, mature skin can lose moisture easily, which is why older adults often experience dry skin with itching sensations on their face or body. It may also appear dry, rough, or crêpe-like.
There’s no particular age at which your skin is considered mature. Visible signs of ageing often start to occur as early as age 25; however people most often begin looking for anti-ageing skincare products between the ages of 40 and 55.[2]
Choosing a Body Moisturiser for Mature Skin
Body moisturisers can offer several benefits for mature skin. CeraVe body moisturisers, with three essential ceramides, can help maintain and restore your skin’s protective moisture barrier. Our moisturisers are developed with dermatologists to deliver long-lasting hydration and help mature skin retain moisture. Keeping your skin properly hydrated can help improve the appearance of dry, crêpe-like skin on your body and give it a more radiant, youthful-looking appearance.
But before you slather on any old body lotion, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here's our skincare advice on choosing a body moisturiser for ageing skin.
Find the best moisturiser for mature skin
There are almost endless body moisturising options to choose from, including body lotions and creams. Finding the right one to suit the needs of your skin is largely a matter of personal preference. However, if you have mature skin, you may want to consider a thicker formula like a body cream, especially if you have very dry skin. These formulas often include a higher oil-to-water ratio than lotions, and so are more intensely hydrating for dry mature skin.
Understanding your skin type
Everyone’s skin matures over time, regardless of whether you have dry skin, oily skin, normal, combination, or sensitive skin. Mature skin isn't in itself considered a skin type. So you should be looking for a moisturising option that’s suitable for both mature skin and your skin type. Keep in mind that skin often becomes drier with age, so your skin type may have changed over time.
Check the product label carefully to determine whether a particular moisturiser for mature skin will be suitable for your skin type.
Look for ingredients beneficial for mature skin
Your moisturiser for mature skin should include ingredients that are recommended by dermatologists. CeraVe moisturisers include skincare ingredients that are backed by science. You’ll find 3 essential ceramides in all our moisturisers—together with cholesterol and fatty acids, these lipids are essential to the function of the skin's moisture barrier by acting as the glue that fills in the gaps between the cells. Think bricks and mortar in a wall.
A skincare routine that includes ceramides helps support your skin’s natural moisture barrier which, as we learned above, may get weaker with age. Other useful ingredients for mature skin in some of CeraVe’s moisturisers include dimethicone, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Many of our moisturisers for mature skin also feature MVE Delivery Technology, which delivers a steady stream of moisturising ingredients for all-day hydration.
Choose formulas developed with dermatologists
Dermatologists are the experts of the skincare world. They’re trained to understand the needs of mature skin and the best ways to help care for it. That’s why it’s important to look for body moisturisers that are formulated with the advice of (and recommended by) dermatologists. All CeraVe products—including our moisturisers for mature skin—are developed with dermatologists. This way, you can feel confident that your body moisturiser is expertly formulated to help your mature skin look and feel its best.
Avoid moisturisers that contain fragrances
Fragrance chemicals may add a pleasant scent to your skincare products, but they may also irritate your skin or trigger an adverse reaction. Because more mature skin tends to be drier, thinner, and more sensitive, CeraVe recommends choosing moisturisers that are labelled 'fragrance-free'. All CeraVe moisturisers for mature skin are formulated without any added fragrance.
Consider your mature skin concerns
Age-related concerns on your body skin may be different to any that affect your face. For this reason, we suggest looking for moisturiser formulations designed to help address your primary body care concerns. For example, you may find that rough, dry skin texture on your elbows, knees, or heels gets worse or more frequent as you get older. You can help these types of concerns with an occlusive skin protectant such as an ointment containing petrolatum.
CeraVe says: If you have skin concerns that persist or get worse, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional.
CeraVe Moisturisers for Mature Skin
Here are three of CeraVe’s top-rated moisturisers for mature skin that can help support smoother, softer, and more youthful-looking skin.
For normal to dry mature skin: CeraVe Moisturising Lotion
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion is an ideal moisturiser for mature skin types that are normal to dry. This oil-free body moisturiser containing hyaluronic acid and 3 essential ceramides is non-greasy and makes an excellent option for anyone who prefers a lightweight lotion formulation. It gently moisturises mature skin, helps restore the protective skin moisture barrier, and leaves your skin feeling comfortable. Plus, the hydrating formula also features our MVE Delivery Technology, which continually releases moisturising ingredients to support skin hydration levels all day long.
For dry to very dry mature skin : CeraVe Moisturising Cream
CeraVe Moisturising Cream ticks all the boxes when it comes to caring for mature skin on face and body. This rich cream for mature skin can be used daily to restore the look and feel of supple, smooth, and healthy-looking skin. It features hyaluronic acid, ceramides, MVE Technology, and a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic formula. We recommend CeraVe Moisturising Cream if you’re looking for a rich, non-greasy, fast-absorbing moisturiser with a thicker cream texture than our Daily Moisturising Lotion.
CeraVe says: Both the body moisturisers mentioned above are also suitable for use on your face, giving you the option to simplify and streamline your daily skincare routine. If in doubt, ask your healthcare professional for advice on the most appropriate facial moisturiser to suit your skin’s unique needs.
For help establishing your skin type and choosing the right products to suit your mature skin concerns, take our Find My Skin Type quiz.
References
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Rawlings, A.V. (2017). The Stratum Corneum and Aging. In: Farage M, Miller K, Maibach H. (eds) Textbook of Aging Skin. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. pp. 67–90. Available at link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-662-47398-6_7. Accessed January 2024.
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Wrinkles. Cleveland Clinic, [reviewed 27 July 2022]. Available at my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10984-wrinkles. Accessed January 2024.