The Best Moisturisers for Mature Skin, Depending on Your Skin Type (& Budget)
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
It is so important to switch up your skincare as you get older.
In fact, many of us will find the skincare that we use in our twenties just won’t cut it once we reach our thirties, forties, fifties and beyond.
Having the right skin care will be more important than ever before.
Why? Because our skin changes all the time and what you may be using when you’re younger just won’t be as effective as you get older.
Moral of the story: You need to be using the right skin care, especially when it comes to moisturisers.
Looking for a new moisturiser for mature skin? But also, how does our skin change as we age?
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know, plus my mature skin moisturiser recommendations.
How Does Skin Change As We Get Older?
Mature skin often refers to skin that is beginning to show some signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, loss of elasticity, dryness, pigmentation etc.
It’s not a skin type, just a way to refer to ageing skin.
It’s all those years of exposure to the sun, pollution, irritants etc. that cause incremental damage that becomes more noticeable as we age.
Pigmentation that you’ve never noticed before? That may suddenly appear.
Not to mention all those habitual facial expressions from years of smiling (yay!), frowning (wah!) and squinting (sounds about right) can cause some of our wrinkles to slowly etch their way onto our face for good.
Oh yeah, and throw in a decline in oestrogen production in our 40s, which leads to a decline in the skin’s ability to produce more collagen and stay adequately hydrated.
This basically means our skin’s overall skin thickness and elasticity is nowhere near what it used to be, which can lead to skin sagging.
Plus, our skin cell turnover dramatically slows down to half of what it was in our 20s, and the skin’s ability to bounce back from wound healing tends to take longer. This includes acne pimples, which yes, we can all still get thanks to our hormonal fluctuations.
Pheeww. So, it can be a lot.
Watch over 40s makeup expert Amanda Ramsay share what she’s learnt about mature skin in her 40s in this TikTok video below.
@adorebeauty Amanda’s back with the top 3 things she’s learnt about skincare in her 40’s 🥰 #fyp #foryou #skincare #over40s ♬ original sound - Adore Beauty
What Is the Best Moisturiser for Mature Skin?
Often you may find moisturisers targeted to ‘mature skin’ help you in your search for a good face cream.
However, I tend to tell my clients they can look for products targeted at dry/dehydrated skin types, too.
Older skin is generally drier - remember that decline in oestrogen production we touched on?
And as soon as oestrogen production completely declines (once we hit menopause), a great moisturiser as part of your skincare routine is a non-negotiable.
Here are some things to look for in moisturisers for mature skin:
- Mature skin types should be looking for moisturisers that contain both hydrating and moisturising properties.
- Hydrating ingredients essentially attract moisture to the skin, while moisturising ingredients prevent it from escaping.
- E.g. That lightweight moisturiser that feels like nothing on the skin is great for our 20s, but won’t cut it in our 40s.
- Thicker creams with ingredients like skin barrier-protecting ceramides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening niacinamide will be your best friend.
Recommended Moisturisers for Mature Skin.
You may find products targeted to mature skin are super expensive, but I always say to shop skin care within your budget.
Skincare marketing can be a funny thing. For example, there is really no need for a day and night moisturiser, unless your moisturiser contains active ingredients.
So, what is the best moisturiser for mature skin?
Below are a few great product recommendations, depending on your skin type, skin concerns and budget.
1. Best Moisturiser for Mature Combination Skin.
Why it’s a winner:
This is my go-to moisturiser for most normal, combination mature skin types.
It’s a rich moisturiser that not only defends the skin and helps to boost collagen production, but contains a whole bunch of hydrators and calming ingredients.
It comforts dry skin, helps dehydration and you only need a tiny bit. Your skin will look smoother and plumper.
Think of it as the best all rounder that does everything.
2. Best Moisturiser for Mature Oily Skin.
Why it’s a winner:
This is a newbie in the skincare space, and while it is still very hydrating and nourishing thanks to the inclusion of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, it isn’t as rich as some of the others.
The texture has a medium weight, so if your skin still tends to err on the oilier side of things, but you’re experiencing a bit of dehydration, this could be the best option for you.
Tip: Mature oily skin-havers could still use their gel moisturisers in the morning, and keep the cream textures for night time only.
3. Best Moisturiser for Mature Dry Skin.
Why it’s a winner:
Honestly, this is the best face moisturiser for mature skin.
It’s bougie and super luxe, but great for skins that need plumping, and anyone noticing skin sagging.
It’s formulated with 2% ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol and 2% fatty acids (hence the 2:4:2 in the name).
The strengthening, hydrating formula has a rich non-greasy texture that's great for any skin showing signs of barrier damage, too.
4. Best Value Moisturiser for Mature Skin.
Why it’s a winner:
Obviously, CeraVe is a great brand if you’re on a budget.
Not only is this product rich without feeling heavy, but it contains ceramides, which are essential for strong, healthy skin.
It also contains hyaluronic acid to help the skin retain moisture. The big tub is very economical, and the CeraVe Moisturising Cream 170g tube is handy for travel.
Bonus: It can double as the best body moisturiser for mature skin. Or any skin.
5. Best Tinted Moisturiser for Mature Skin.
Why it’s a winner:
Sun protection is the most important part of skin care at any age, but especially as we get older.
If you're seeing a whole bunch of new pigmentation you’ve never noticed before, you’ll probably want to be wary that it doesn’t get worse.
On top of wearing a primary sunscreen after moisturiser every morning, a tinted SPF like this one can add extra protection while doubling as a fab mature skin foundation.
Mature skin types may not like to wear heavy coverage. The UV tinted sunscreens are both hydrating and leave a glowy finish.
You can read our full Ultra Violette Dream Screen review here.
Plus, over 40s makeup expert Amanda Ramsay breaks down foundations for different mature skin types in this YouTube video below.
6. Best Active Moisturiser for Mature Skin.
Why it’s a winner:
Finally, I am a huge fan of vitamin A in skincare routines targeted towards age management.
You don’t want to be incorporating it into an extra serum step, you can find moisturisers that contain retinol/vitamin A.
Vitamin A increases cellular turnover in the skin, fights all signs of ageing, can banish dullness and breakouts, and help fade the look of pigmentation - it does the lot.
It is a very important ingredient to be adding to your skincare routine.
Applying it in a cream at night is an easy way to combine your serum and moisturiser steps. It may be more tolerable by sensitive skins as well.
Just don't forget to wear sunscreen every day, seek shade, wear protective clothing, reapply sunscreen liberally. You know the drill.
Keen to check out more product recommendations for mature skin? Have a read through the articles below...
