These Are 15 of the Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin, From Dry to Sensitive
Repeat after us, “Dewy, glowy, healthy-looking skin is achievable at any age.” The not-so-secret secret? Hydration. Whether you’re in your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, keeping your dryness at bay is an essential goal when considering what your skincare routine should do for you. However, as you age (and awesomely, if we might add), your moisturizer needs to evolve, as your skin’s needs do. Our skin cells work like powerhouses, naturally producing things like hyaluronic acid and collagen that are key factors in giving skin that youthful look. However, over time, that production starts to diminish as we age, leading to hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, dryness, skin laxity, and a host of other conditions.
So, how can the right skincare routine help aging skin regain some radiance?
“When we take under consideration mature skin, we need to focus on many aspects of the dermis and epidermis,” says Darya Rzaca and Aneta Zuraw, co-owners of Atelier Beauté in Brooklyn, New York. “In other words, we need to stimulate not only the top layers of the epidermis, but focus on what is going on in the dermis itself.”
About the Experts:
Darya Rzaca and Aneta Zuraw are master estheticians and co-owners of Atelier Beauté in Brooklyn, New York.
Our skin is an organ—in fact, the biggest one we have—so certain active ingredients can actually kickstart elastin and collagen production. A tried and true solution can be with facial moisturizers, which can infuse skin with those ingredients.
“Great ingredients in moisturizers would be those that offer supreme hydration, boost cell renewal, and boost healing and repairing,” explain the estheticians, who list peptides, vitamin A (a.k.a. retinol), vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid as ingredients to look out for.
The Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin At a Glance:
• Best Moisturizer for Dry, Combination, & Combination Oily Skin: CLINIQUE Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream
• Best Radiance Boosting Moisturizer for Mature Skin: LANCÔME Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Cream
• Best Oil-Free Moisturizer for Mature Skin: CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
• Best Daytime Moisturizer For Mature Skin: PAULA'S CHOICE Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50
• Best Nighttime Moisturizer for Mature Skin: CERAVE Skin Renewing Night Cream
• Best Overall Moisturizer for Mature Skin: ESTĒE LAUDER Revitalizing Supreme+ Moisturizer Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Creme
• Best Fragrance-Free Moisturizer for Mature Skin: OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer Fragrance-Free
• Best Retinol Moisturizer for Mature Skin: MURAD Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream
• Best Budget-Friendly Moisturizer for Mature Skin: NEUTROGENA Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Cream + Hyaluronic Acid
• Best Moisturizer With SPF for Mature Skin: KIEHL’S Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream SPF 30
• Best Luxe Moisturizer for Mature Skin: AUGUSTINUS BADER The Cream
• Best Multi-Tasking Moisturizer for Mature Skin: IT COSMETICS Confidence in a Cream
• Best Moisturizer for Dry Mature Skin: SUNDAY RILEY ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
• Best Firming Moisturizer for Mature Skin: DRUNK ELEPHANT Protini Polypeptide Cream
• Best Collagen Moisturizer for Mature Skin: DR. DENNIS GROSS C + Collagen Deep Cream
The 15 Best Moisturizers to Treat Mature Skin
In search of your perfect hydrating formula for your skin? Continue reading below for the best moisturizers for every skin type and concern.
1. Best Moisturizer for Dry, Combination, & Combination Oily Skin:
CLINIQUE Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatica, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline)
Benefits: Firming, Tightening, Fine Line Fighting
This ultra-rich moisturizer comes in two formulations that both deliver hydration and healing to three skin types—very dry to dry, and dry combination to combination oily. Elastin and collagen boosters in this hyper hydrator promise to help lift, firm, and plump up your skin to minimize fine lines on your face and neck, resulting in skin that’s tighter, stronger, and more youthful-looking. The best part? You don’t need much to pack a punch, making it great for those looking for a perfect lightweight moisturizer that is heavy in skin-loving benefits.
2. Best Radiance Boosting Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
LANCÔME Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Grand Rose Extract (Lancôme Rose Extract, Rose Essential Oil and Rose Concentrate), Essential Oils (Meadowfoam Seed, Apricot, Passion Fruit, Rice Bran) & Shea Butter, Pro-Xylane™
Benefits: Brightening, Firming, Plumping
For skin that suffers with uneven texture, this smooth-like-butter formula is EVERYTHING. You’ll notice this super-soft cream transforms into more of a serum when you apply, infusing your skin in a luxurious layer of skin-plumping hydration that helps fade fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
3. Best Oil-Free Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Aloe bioferment, Hyaluronic Acid, vitamins C and E
Benefits: Hydrating, Plumping, Long-lasting
While this oil-free formula may be lightweight, it delivers a heavy dose of hydration to parched or aging skin with a promise to last for the long haul—100 hours, to be exact. Aloe bioferment and a hyaluronic acid complex infuses and locks in moisture within your skin, while also helping to protect it from the weather, pollution, blue light, face masks, air travel, and more.
4. Best Daytime Moisturizer For Mature Skin:
PAULAS CHOICE Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Licorice, Shea Butter
Benefits: SPF Protection, Evens Skin Tone, Calms Redness
Finally, sunscreen that doesn’t make us feel greasy! This restorative sun-protectant is filled with antioxidants like coffee seed and apple, and nourishing emollients like the skin-calming aloe and oat extract. And with a SPF 50 rating, this multi-tasking moisturizer is perfect worn under makeup during the day.
5. Best Nighttime Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
CERAVE Skin Renewing Night Cream
Price: $
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, Shea Butter, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid
Benefits: All Night Hydration, Barrier Strengthening, Complexion Renewing
Consider this your full 8-hours-of-sleep in a jar. Super-star ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides help to strengthen and restore your skin’s barrier, giving you that well-rested glow one used to only get with, you know, rest. Even better, it's non-greasy and non-comedogenic, which is a major win for acne-prone skin
6. Best Overall Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
ESTĒE LAUDER Revitalizing Supreme+ Moisturizer Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Creme
Price: $$$
Key Ingredients: Moringa Extract, SPF 15, Vitamin C
Benefits: Collagen Boosting, Brightening, Wrinkle Reducing
Backed by years of research in their products, ESTĒE LAUDER’s skincare range has withstood the test of time. This creme formulation is no different. It contains the brand’s proprietary anti-aging complex that features moringa extract, which boosts elasticity and collagen production, and tons of other skin-loving ingredients that help to hydrate, calm, brighten, and tone tired skin of all types.
7. Best Fragrance-Free Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer Fragrance-Free
Price: $
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Amino Peptide, Hyaluronic Acid
Benefits: Firming, Smoothing, Exfoliating
If you’re sensitive, trying a fragrance-free formula might help. Many added fragrances can be irritating to not only the nose, but to skin as well. The key ingredients in this best-selling product are hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and amino-peptides, which all work as a team to fade the appearance of wrinkles and strengthen your skin.
8. Best Retinol Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
MURAD Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Retinol, Niacinamide, Picolinamide
Benefits: Fine Line Fighting, Wrinkle Reducing, Skin Texture Smoothing
When it comes to wrinkle cream, few ingredients are as effective as retinol. And this moisturizer contains three different forms of it: one that gets to work right away, one that is time-released, and a booster form that helps to soften deep wrinkles.
But just take our word for it—reviewers are loving it, too. “I had to get through the retinol purge period,” said Ipster Luxw128.
“After I got past that, I loved this. My fine lines are almost invisible and my overall tone and texture is much improved.”
9. Best Budget-Friendly Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
NEUTROGENA Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Cream + Hyaluronic Acid
Price: $
Key Ingredients: Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Glucose Complex
Benefits: Skin Smoothing, Fine Line Fighting, Deep Wrinkle Reducing
Kudos to NEUTROGENA for offering an affordable moisturizer packed with anti-aging ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid. For about $30, you’ll notice brightening effects within a day or two, with fading fine lines and reduced wrinkles beginning at a couple of weeks.
10. Best Moisturizer With SPF for Mature Skin:
KIEHL’S Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream SPF 30
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: SPF 30, Copper PCA, Calcium PCA
Benefits: SPF Protection, Fine Line Fighting, Wrinkle Reducing
Even if you already have a holy grail night cream, a day cream is just as important. We should all know by now that protection from the sun's UV rays is one of the best defenses against future signs of aging. This rich cream has sun-blocking properties built right in, along with copper PCA, which strengthens the skin barrier, and calcium PCA, a humectant to keep your skin dewy and hydrated.
11. Best Luxe Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
AUGUSTINUS BADER The Cream
Price: $$$
Key Ingredients: Vitamin A, Amino Acids, Antioxidants, Aloe Vera
Benefits: Cell Renewal, Moisture Retention, Fine Line Fighting, Skin Tone Improving
The list of celebrities who swear by this face cream is seemingly endless, but the hype is real. It contains a patented blend of vitamins and antioxidants to not only soften fine lines and reduce wrinkles, but also helps to fade hyperpigmentation and soothe redness. The result? Radiance is restored and healthy glow is unlocked. It’s not cheap—but even with its heavy price tag, this cult-favorite cream is worth the investment.
12. Best Multi-Tasking Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
IT COSMETICS Confidence in a Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Peptides
Benefits: Fine Line Fighting, Skin Tone Improving, Skin Smoothing, Brightening
This bright yellow face cream is insanely popular, and it might be due to the fact that it contains a whopping seven anti-aging ingredients, including favorites like collagen, ceramides, and shea butter. It instantly nourishes and moisturizes, and over time helps fade the look of fine lines, refine pores, and add radiance to dull or tired skin.
13. Best Moisturizer for Dry Mature Skin:
SUNDAY RILEY ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, Vitamin F, Beetroot, Coconut Extract
Benefits: Barrier Strengthening, Skin Smoothing, Glow Boosting
Since our skin naturally loses moisture as we age, a lot of products that cater to mature skin will target dry skin. But some of us still need more hydration than others. This nourishing yet lightweight cream contains ceramides that help strengthen and rebuild skin’s barrier, while beetroot and coconut extracts provide extra hydration and antioxidant protection.
It’s received rave reviews from Ipsters, too.
“Ceramides are the real winner here, I think,” says reviewer meliza_moore, who loves the “the thicker, stay-put texture.”
14. Best Firming Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
DRUNK ELEPHANT Protini Polypeptide Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Signal Peptides, Growth Factors, Amino Acids, Pygmy Waterlily
Benefits: Skin Tone Improving, Firming, Skin Texture Smoothing
If improving skin texture is your goal, it won’t hurt to add this vegan, cruelty-free moisturizer to your skincare routine. Not only does it work wonders to strengthen skin, it also harnesses its power from nine different peptides (hence the name), and contains soothing pygmy water lily stem cell extract, nourishing folic acid, and many other superhero ingredients.
15. Best Collagen Moisturizer for Mature Skin:
DR. DENNIS GROSS C + Collagen Deep Cream
Price: $$
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Collagen Amino Acids, Camellia Japonica, Rice Bran, Sunflower Seed Oils
Benefits: Brightening, Skin Tone Improving, Wrinkle Fighting
It’s hard to beat the combination of vitamin C and collagen in a skin cream. This stabilized vitamin C brightens and protects skin from future sun damage, while plant-sourced collagen smooths out and plumps up your complexion. It’s a double-whammy winner, in our books.
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