For many of us, moisturizer was our introduction to skincare. It was the first product we started using in high school, and today, it's one step in our skincare routines that's stayed the same throughout the years.
However, the go-to moisturizer of your 20s might not work so well at keeping you skin hydrated, glowy, and plump in your 30s and beyond. That's because the physcial makeup of skin changes as we age.
"As we age, skin cell turnover slows down, antioxidant defenses decline, collagen weakens, the skin doesn’t maintain hydration, and can’t protect protect itself from the environment as well as it used to," explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "For all of these reasons, mature skin usually has different needs and wants as compared to younger skin."
Dr. Zeichner says the decline in skin cell turnover typically starts to slow down in your 30s, and continually progresses as you get older. There can also be a decrese in skin cell production in women going through menopause, on top of the horomone level changes.
This means that mature skin needs a moisturizer that contains collagen-stimulating ingredients like retinol or peptides, which will also help maintain elasticity and firmness on top of hydration. For an instant smoothing effect, a product with hyaluronic acid in it will plump up fine lines and wrinkles as it moisturizes.
From drugstore staples to luxury face creams, keep scrolling for the seven best moisturizers for mature skin.
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