Fine lines, dullness, dryness—these are all common characteristics of aging skin. This process can vary from person to person, but it typically starts becoming evident in your 20s or 30s.
While it’s impossible to prevent skin aging entirely, adopting an anti-aging skincare routine can help keep your skin hydrated and healthy-looking, no matter your age. But with so many anti-aging ingredients and products to choose from, it can be challenging to determine the best routine for your needs.
That’s where we come in. Ahead, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about building a skincare routine for mature skin and sharing our top skincare tips for maintaining a smooth, youthful complexion. Plus, we’ll clue you in on some of our best anti-aging skincare products to help keep your skin looking (and feeling) its best at every age.
What Are the First Signs of Skin Aging?
The first visible signs of skin aging (usually fine lines and wrinkles) tend to show up in your 30s. However, as mentioned above, early signs of aging can vary from person to person. How quickly your skin ages depends on several factors, including genetics, stress, environment, and lifestyle.
Here are some of the most common signs of skin aging to look out for.
Fine lines and wrinkles: Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process and are caused by everyday facial movements coupled with a loss of elasticity over time.
You’ll typically spot them in areas that move a lot, such as your forehead, around your eyes, and at the corners of your mouth.
Dark spots (a.k.a. age spots, sun spots, or solar lentigines): As you age, you may notice small, flat dark spots on areas most exposed to the sun, like your face, shoulders, hands, and arms.
Dark spots are typically caused by sun damage. They tend to be more common in people over 50, but younger people can also develop them after prolonged periods of unprotected sun exposure.
Rough, dry skin texture: Your skin can become drier and rougher with age as the skin barrier weakens and becomes less effective at holding onto moisture.
That’s why keeping your skin hydrated is a crucial part of any anti-aging skincare routine (more on that ahead).
Dullness and uneven skin tone: Mature skin can lack radiance and may have an uneven skin tone. This is often caused by structural changes to the skin over time, such as the thinning of skin layers, but may also be a result of sun damage.
10 Anti-Aging Tips for Your Skincare Routine.
You don’t need a complicated, 10-step routine to address the visible signs of aging. But you do need the right products. Here, discover our best skincare for aging skin and tips for making the most out of your routine.
1. Use a gentle cleanser.
Regardless of your age, daily cleansing is essential, and the best routine for mature skin begins with choosing the right face wash. Try to avoid using harsh cleansers, which can irritate your skin and disrupt its natural barrier. Instead, opt for a gentle, nourishing option that won’t strip your skin of much-needed moisture. We’re fond of the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser, which contains vitamin C and helps to smooth, brighten, and refine the skin.
2. Exfoliate regularly.
Exfoliation offers a plethora of benefits for your skin—it helps remove dead skin cell buildup, keeps your pores clear, and promotes a fresh, glowy complexion. It may also help prep your skin to better absorb the rest of your skincare products. One of our favorite exfoliants for all skin types is the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliant Peel. This potent yet gentle formula boasts a trio of exfoliating acids and helps to fade all types of dark spots while renewing skin texture. Keep in mind that this isn’t a daily-use product—we recommend reaching for it four times per week (at night) to help brighten and refine your skin.
3. Use a targeted facial serum.
Face serums are among the best products for aging skin, as they’re designed to target specific concerns and help improve your skin’s look and feel. Take your pick from our roster of anti-aging
4. Moisturize regularly.
Skincare for mature skin should prioritize hydration, as skin loses its ability to hold onto moisture over time. Here are a few of our favorite anti-aging moisturizers to help promote a hydrated, plump appearance: This collagen-infused moisturizer delivers an intense dose of moisture to keep your skin feeling hydrated for up to 48 hours without a greasy or sticky feel. The fast-absorbing formula layers well under makeup, and you can use it morning and night for smoother, plumper-looking skin over time. If fine lines are your primary concern, reach for this skin-plumping moisturizer. The lightweight, water-based formula deeply hydrates the skin, helping to minimize the appearance of crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, and nasolabial folds in as little as two weeks. Formulated with three of our top anti-aging skincare ingredients—pro-retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid—this formula improves the look of wrinkles, brightens skin’s appearance, and promotes firmer-feeling skin in just one week. Plus, it also comes in a fragrance-free version.
5. Don’t neglect your eye area.
The delicate skin under your eyes needs attention, too, regardless of your age. Look for a nourishing eye cream formula that can help address visible signs of aging around your eyes, such as dark circles and under-eye bags. Morning and night, use your ring finger to massage your chosen formula gently around the eye area until it’s thoroughly absorbed. This patented antioxidant and vitamin E formula improves the appearance of eight signs of aging—including crow’s feet, wrinkles, and sagging lids—for visibly lifted, younger-looking eyes.
6. Use sunscreen every day.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, damage from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can contribute to premature signs of aging, like wrinkling, sagging, and age spots. Always remember to apply a product with broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and reapply it at least every two hours for ongoing sun protectionLike the original moisturizer, it’s formulated with pro-retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid and helps address the visible signs of aging. The formula’s broad-spectrum sunscreen, meanwhile, helps shield your skin from damaging UV rays. Remember to heed the FDA’s advice and follow other sun safety measures, such as wearing protective clothing and avoiding direct sunlight during midday, to keep your skin well-protected.
7. Always remove your makeup.
Let’s skip to the end of the day: Before you’re ready to get some beauty sleep, you’ll need to remove your makeup. To avoid the clogged pores that snoozing in makeup can bring, use a makeup remover or double-cleanse to remove makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and other debris. If you don’t have a dedicated makeup remover on hand, micellar water or makeup wipes can work in a pinch, too—just be sure to moisturize after removing your makeup to help replenish your skin.
8. Use an anti-aging cream at night
Sleep gives your body time to refresh and renew itself. Take advantage of that time by applying a wrinkle-fighting night cream as the final step in your evening routine. One of our favorites is the L’Oréal Paris Pressed Night Moisturizer with Retinol + Niacinamide, which is formulated specifically to target age-related concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also made with a 12% complex of soothing ingredients to help counteract the potential drying effects of retinol, which makes it among our top picks for first-time retinol users. If you use a retinol serum or exfoliant in the evening, you’ll want to use a gentle night moisturizer to help protect and replenish your skin. With consistent use over time, expect visibly fewer wrinkles, firmer skin, and improved radiance.
9. Try a facial oil.
A common sign of aging skin is a reduction in your skin’s oil production, which can affect your skin’s ability to retain moisture. That’s where a facial oil can help. Facial oils are often applied as the sixth step in your anti-aging routine, after moisturizer, but this can vary depending on the formula you choose. To learn more, head to our guide on how to layer your skincare products.
10. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase.
While we’re on the subject of beauty sleep, consider how your bedtime rituals can also impact your anti-aging skincare routine. Sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase can make a difference for your skin because the soft, slinky material is typically gentler than cotton or polyester. It won’t tug or rub on the skin, which can worsen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, per the Sleep Foundation.