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Bid Adieu to Dullness With 10 Best Brightening Skincare for Mature Skin

By Dahvi Shira

Published on May 18, 2023

A photo of a mature woman laughing wearing a red lipstick over a purple background Mobile

A photo of a mature woman laughing wearing a red lipstick over a purple background Desktop

With age comes wisdom, clarity, and maturity (in all forms). Yes, accompanying the maturity in your mind, your skin, too, experiences something called maturity—except it’s much less sought after than the former. Mature skin typically refers to over the age of 50, but identifies with anyone displaying a great amount of fine lines, wrinkles, dullness/dry skin, and reduced elasticity. While we’re all about embracing the beautiful journey our skin takes to get to a certain point, there’s nothing wrong with anti-aging goals of wanting to keep skin looking refreshed and feeling fabulous with a firmer, brighter skin barrier. That’s why we turned to experts to break down the best brightening skincare for mature skin. We spoke with dermatologist Angela Lamb, MD, and licensed esthetician Cassandra Bankson for insight.

Before we get into their picks, they both made a point to note that when it comes to brightening face serum, SPF, cleanser, and moisturizer/lotion, pay more attention to the ingredients than the brand name. Vitamin C, arbutin, azelaic acid, niacinamide, mulberry, bearberry, and licorice extracts are all effective at brightening the skin. This means their formulation targets hyperpigmentation or discoloration, sun damage, acne scars, and more. Once you determine you’ve found a product with the right skin care ingredients (lactic acid, glycolic acid, retinol/retinoids, peptides, glycerin, and nourishing ceramides are always welcome on mature skin), you can then look for something that caters to your skin type in particular. Whether you’ve got oily skin, acne-prone skin, blemishes/breakouts, dryness, or other skin issues, there are plenty of products with active ingredients to get you the results you deserve. The appearance of fine lines and lack of collagen production can be stressful enough—who needs to make it worse with dull skin?

Keep reading for their skin care product picks and prepare to pack your cart—trust us, there’s something for everyone!

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MEET THE EXPERT

Dr. Angela Lamb is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai, and Advisor to VERACITY.

Cassandra Bankson is a licensed esthetician with a popular YouTube channel focused on skincare.

Best Brightening Skincare for Mature Skin

1. Easiest to Use Brightening Product for Mature Skin:

PAULA’S CHOICE 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

You can pretty much never go wrong with Paula’s Choice products, and Bankson loves this pick in particular. “What's great is that this one only brightens the areas of the skin that are rapidly turning over,” she says.

2. Best Product for Mature Skin on a Budget:

TRUSKIN Vitamin C Facial Serum

Save your skin and your money with one of Bankson’s top picks. “Vitamin C is an antioxidant that stops your skin from creating pigment in the first place,” she says. “This product supercharges your sunscreen and brightens all over.”

3. Best Brightening Prescription Alternative for Mature Skin:

THE ORDINARY Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

If you’re not familiar with Alpha Arbutin, you’re not alone. It’s a much lesser known (yet considerably more potent) brightening ingredient than vitamin C, for example. It’s so potent, in fact, that Bankson considers it the closest alternative to hydroquinone with a prescription. Added bonus? This product right here is a budget buy at just $11! “This ingredient works really well at night,” she says. “Use it under a moisturizer or night cream.”

4. Best Luxury Brightening Product for Mature Skin:

DERMALOGICA Biolumin-C Serum

If you’re looking for brightening skincare that provides an experience, this high-end product will do just that. In addition to the luxurious feel, Bankson stands by this because of the way it absorbs into the skin with encapsulated technology that penetrates deep and works all day.

5. Best Brightening Product for Sensitive Mature Skin:

VERACITY Brightening Support Serum

The name of this product makes it clear what it does, but it’s especially recommended for sensitive skin (and it’s safe for pregnant women!) because “it excludes over 16,000 endocrine-disrupting ingredients,” says Dr. Lamb. “Rest assured, you won't have any flare-ups with this.” This powerful pick protects from UV, blue light, pollution, and oxidative stress, while deeply hydrating. Dr. Lamb says you’ll be left with a natural glow and brightened, more even skin tone.

6. Best Full-Strength Brightening Product for Mature Skin:

BEAUTYSTAT Universal C Skin Refiner

If you’re ready to go all in with your brightening treatment, this guy will get the job done. “It has a patented formula of stable 20% pure Vitamin C and stable epigallocatechin gallate, which is an ingredient found in green tea,” Dr. Lamb says. “The two ingredients work together to prevent signs of aging.”

7. Best Brightening Product for Mature Skin on a Budget:

LA ROCHE-POSAY 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

We still don’t understand how this amazing drugstore brand is always a budget-buy, but hey, we’ll take it. “It has pure vitamin C paired with salicylic acid and neurosensine,” Dr. Lamb says. “This refines skin texture and tone on the face and neck without harming sensitive skin.”

8. Best Brightening Product for Oily Mature Skin:

SKINCEUTICALS Silymarin CF

If you’re looking for a powerhouse product that packs a punch, Dr. Lamb’s got you. “The oil-free elixir blends l-ascorbic acid, silymarin, ferulic acid, and salicylic acid to protect from free radical damage, stave off excess oil production, and help to clarify pores.” Whew.

9. Best Brightening Product for Acne-Prone Mature Skin:

PEACH & LILY Transparen-C Pro

It’s another vitamin C rec you’ll love. Dr. Lamb’s a fan because it’s high in linoleic acid and helps reduce inflammation, making it great for those prone to acne flare-ups.

10. Best Overall Brightening Product for Mature Skin:

PERRICONE MD CCC Triple Ferulic Acid

And the all-star award goes to… “This oil-soluble product soaks into the skin, has three forms of vitamin C, and delivers rapid and long-lasting results,” Bankson says. “It’s actually worth the price.”

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