Editor Tip: If you have stray dry patches you want to address, the fast-absorbing formula can be used on your body as well as your face.
Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, allantoin | Fragrance-free: Yes
Best Drugstore Moisturizer: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Why It’s Worth It: Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, PA, says the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is one of the most nourishing overnight creams for aging skin, thanks to its lightweight yet highly conditioning texture. “It is nice for mature skin to counterbalance the drying effects of many products with harsh actives,” says Dr. Ilyas. This oil-free face cream instantly hydrates with hyaluronic acid to make your skin feel velvety smooth and soft while ceramides seal in moisture. The formula is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.
Editor Tip: This moisturizer can be applied to slightly damp skin, which is a win for nighttime shower-takers.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: Yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients should I look for in moisturizers for mature skin?
New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Michele Green, MD, says that there are quite a few skin-care ingredients you should be looking for when shopping for a skin-care routine for mature skin, including skin-brightening vitamin C, which is “a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals which would otherwise cause oxidative stress to the skin and lead to premature aging,” Dr. Green explains. (In other words, it’s great for signs of sun damage.)
Yes, intensive exfoliating ingredients and antioxidants are essential to incorporate into a regimen tailored for mature skin, but Dr. Green says you should remember ingredients that can help replenish moisture. Dehydrated skin can appear with more exaggerated wrinkles and dark circles under the eye, especially if you have dry skin. Dr. Green recommends including niacinamide skin-care products, hyaluronic acid serums, and ceramide-packed formulas in your routine to reinforce the skin’s barrier and help lock in moisture.
What do moisturizers for mature skin do?
Varying active and inactive ingredients target different concerns and yield different results. For example, using an ingredient like retinol can help boost skin cell turnover, promote collagen production, and increase elasticity. Dr. Green also notes alpha and beta hydroxy acids, two varieties of chemical exfoliants, as essentials for smoothing skin and addressing discoloration concerns. “Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acids help exfoliate the outermost layer of cells,” she says. “This can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while evening out your skin tone and skin texture.”
Meet the experts
- Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Medical College in New York
- Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Rochester, NY
- Deanne Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, CT
- Rebecca Tung, MD, a board certified dermatologist based in Winter Have, FL
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Sabrina Fabi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Diego, CA
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of best moisturizers for mature skin, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients, efficacy, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
