As we get older, skincare routines can start to feel like full-time job. Between 10-step K-beauty regimens, red light devices, microcurrent tools, and all the topical products, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
If you’re attempting to simplify your routine, one thing is for certain: Moisturizer is a must. But our skin and its needs change with age, which can make choosing the right product and formula difficult. “As hormones change and skin matures, so does its ability to produce oil — plus, elasticity and collagen weaken,” Azza Halim MD, a board-certified anesthesiologist and physician with a focus in aesthetic medicine, anti-aging treatments, and regenerative medicine, says. “That all contributes to drier skin.”
Dendy Engelman, MD, director of dermatology at the Mohs Surgery and Laser Medicine of the Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, adds that, “as you enter your mid-40s and 50s, the cell renewal process slows down. This slowdown can contribute to many of the telltale signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging, and pigmentation.”
All of this makes it even more important to choose a moisturizer that nourishes your skin and keeps it healthy for years to come. If you’re not sure where to start, no worries: We asked experts which ingredients matter, and how to choose the best moisturizer for aging skin.
Why is moisturizer so important?
Daily exposure to sun, dry air, and harsh cleansers can stress skin out and strip it of moisture. But a soothing moisturizer can help replenish it and support the skin barrier, leaving skin feeling smoother and looking more supple. Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD, a board-certified NYC-based facial plastic surgeon (and facelift expert) adds that moisturizing is also key to slowing down the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, and decreasing their appearance over time.
What skin concerns can be addressed with moisturizer?
There’s no such thing as a facelift in a bottle, but you can reverse or slow some signs of aging with the right products. While age spots, fine lines, uneven texture, large pores, and dryness can be improved via the use of a moisturizer, all three docs we spoke to stressed that noticeable results only come after consistent use. (More significant skin concerns, like loss of elasticity, may require more intensive procedures that can only be performed at a dermatologist's or surgeon's office, like laser treatments or cosmetic surgery.)
What ingredients should you look for in a moisturizer?
- Ceramides: Dr. Engelman recommends hunting for products packed with ceramides, which naturally deplete in our skin as we age.
- Fatty Acids: “Products that are rich in fatty acids [like Omega-3 and -6] help calm the skin and are one of the keys to healthy-looking skin,” Engelman adds.
- Antioxidants: Antioxidants, like vitamin C, can help protect against environmental damage that can lead to premature aging, while increasing collagen production and improving the appearance of dark spots, Dr. Vasyukevich explains.
- Retinol or Retinoids: “These can be very effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, improving skin texture, and generating collagen production,” Dr. Vasyukevich adds. They aren’t moisturizing on their own, though, and can irritate dry skin, so they’re best introduced gradually alongside (or within) a moisturizer.
- Hyaluronic Acid: This is naturally occurring humectant attracts water and is very mild on skin. It helps skin feel hydrated and look plumper.
- Glycerin or Honey: These pull moisture into the skin, but should be used with an occlusive ingredient to seal that moisture in.
- Petrolatum (petroleum jelly): An occlusive, like Aquaphor or petroleum jelly, can be layered over whichever moisturizing products you use “to keep moisture in,” Dr. Halim says.
The Best Facial Moisturizers for Mature and Aging Skin, According to Dermatologists
Senté Dermal Repair UltraNourish
Dermstore
Katie has ultra-sensitive skin, so she needs ultra-gentle products; she often reaches for this one from Senté. The dermatologist-tested moisturizer is hypoallergenic and doesn’t contain parabens or gluten. With regular use, ingredients like vitamin E, omega fatty acids, and ceramides work together to nourish and heal skin, leaving it softer and calmer.
Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
Dermstore
Only some products are hailed with near-uniformly rave reviews, and this Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore moisturizer is one of them. It's famous for being a luxurious, patented formula that's unlike most on the market. Made with essential lipids that help address signs of aging, you'll see it sitting in the vanities of everyone from doctors to celebrities. (It's also a winner from our Timeless Beauty Awards.)
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer
The Inkey List
This velvety moisturizer absorbs quickly, locks in hydration, and works beneath the surface to repair, strengthen, and protect the skin. The net result? Visible improvements in fine lines and firmed, plumped skin. Plus, it's a steal at just $20 for a full-sized product.
Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer
Dieux
Speaking of Skinceuticals, the clinical cosmetic chemist who created the brand's beloved moisturizer moved on to co-found Dieux, one of the hottest new skincare brands to come on the market in the past decade. The brand made a name for itself on the skincare scene with its moisturizer, Instant Angel, which instantly went viral. Its silky texture melts into skin, is fragrance-free, and is made up of ingredients like ceramide NG and glycerin. It's $45 but feels and performs like a product three times the price.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Augustinus Bader
You’ve probably already heard us sing the praises of this dreamy product, but it truly is impressive. Created by Augustinus Bader, MD, the thick cream contains hyaluronic acid, evening primrose oil (which is chock-full of nourishing fatty acids like Omega-6), and antioxidants (like vitamin E), all of which help repair skin and protect against future damage, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment
Amazon
Chances are you’ve used Aquaphor to soothe dry hands or lips, but a thin layer on your face can work wonders, too. “It helps nourish the skin barrier and maintain moisture, though it can be a bit thick and greasy if you put too much on,” Dr. Halim says. Still, applying this judiciously over a gel or cream moisturizer (known as slugging) will aid in moisture retention — and Katie is a big fan, too.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Elemis
The gel-cream texture is formulated with powerful marine and plant active ingredients (like algae and Ginkgo biloba) that can help visibly hydrate skin, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve firmness and elasticity — and nearly 1,000 reviewers agree.
Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream
Dermalogica
While you shouldn’t use TikTok as your sole skincare resource, it is full of great recommendations. This barrier repair cream by Dermalogica blew up on the platform, and users credit it for soothing redness, hydrating dry skin, and giving them a glowy complexion. A ceramide-building complex helps restore lipids to dry skin, leading to a stronger skin barrier with consistent use.
PCA Skin MGF Age Renewal Cream
PCA Skin
Powered by Micro Growth Factor Technology, this potent formula is clinically proven to penetrate deeper than other products to help support collagen production. In layman’s terms, that means it helps boost collagen and elastin for a visibly softer, firmer-looking face. Plus, 33 percent of users said it helped improve the appearance of thinning skin.
EltaMD UV Restore 100% Mineral Face Sunscreen For Mature Skin, SPF 40
Amazon
EltaMD is known for its derm-approved sunscreens, but think of this particular product as a two-for-one: It's an SPF tailor-made for thinning skin with visible sun damage, fine lines, and age spots and it's tinted, meaning you may be able to skip your foundation. It helps address skin concerns over time, making it a no-brainer as your daytime facial base layer.
