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Developing a skin care routine that suits your skin type and is age-appropriate can be challenging. After all, each decade comes with unique complexion concerns, and what worked for you five years ago might suddenly irritate you to no end.
If you're approaching your 50s — or are already 50 and fabulous — you might be wondering where you should focus your attention and what skin care products you should be using. To help, Shop TODAY consulted several top dermatologists to come up with our list of skin care products for glowing, youthful skin in your 50s and beyond.
Keep scrolling to see their advice and picks, or use the links below to jump to a specific category.
What to look for | Best sunscreens | Best cleansers | Best eye creams | Best retinols and serums | Best night moisturizers | Meet our experts
Our expert dermatologists advise women over 50 to incorporate the following into their skin care routine:
UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Size: 1.7 oz. | Skin type: Mature, acne-prone skin | Key ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc oxide
UV rays are one of the leading causes of premature aging and skin cancer, so daily sunscreen application in your 50s and beyond is an easy way to slow down the clock and keep your skin healthy.
EltaMD's SPF 46 takes on both UVA and UVB rays, clears pores with lactic acid, and moisturizes as it protects thanks to sodium hyaluronate.
"It has a nice sheer application, is great for all ages, and it also helps reduce redness with the help of niacinamide," New York City-based dermatologist and founder/medical director of Wall Street Dermatology, Dr. Julia Tzu, tells Shop TODAY.
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Size: 8, 12 and 16 oz. options | Skin type: Normal to dry skin | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
As you age, your skin naturally gets a bit more sensitive, so it's important to seek out the right cleanser that won't feel abrasive.
CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to strengthen and hydrate the skin's barrier, and the non-foaming formula is gentle on sensitive skin. In fact, former Shop TODAY associate editor Fran Sales, who has combination skin that gets severely dry around the nose and cheeks, can use this daily (sometimes twice a day) and feel thoroughly cleansed but not stripped of moisture.
Micellar Waterproof Makeup Removing Towelettes
Amount: 25 wipes per one package | Skin type: All skin types, including sensitive | Key ingredients: No notable callouts, but free of fragrances, parabens and sulfates.
When you're wearing makeup, sometimes it's helpful to start off with a makeup-removing wipe to thoroughly cleanse your skin. Garnier's micellar water wipes gently banish oil, dirt and makeup without irritating skin and are the perfect first step in any cleansing routine.
"Micellar water is a good way to remove makeup without drying out the skin," Skelsey says. "Skin in its 50s becomes more sensitive, but these wipes can remove waterproof makeup without aggravating it."
SA Cleanser
Size: 8 and 16 oz. options | Skin type: Normal skin | Key ingredients: Salicylic acid
Many exfoliators can feel a bit harsh on your skin in your 50s, but regular exfoliation is the key to glowing skin, so finding a gentle product to help you remove dead skin cells is pretty important — and CeraVe, known for its gentle but effective formulas, again doesn't disappoint.
This cleanser partners salicylic acid with three ceramides and hyaluronic acid, so it moisturizes and polishes skin as it cleanses. It also doesn't contain any harsh microbeads, so it's gentle enough to use several times a week — as Sales can also attest to (this is her favorite exfoliating cleanser).
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Size: 2.5 and 8 oz. options | Skin type: Sensitive skin | Key ingredients: No notable callouts, but is fragrance- and sulfate-free
As you get older, the name of the cleansing game is "gentle, gentle, gentle." This creamy Vanicream cleanser lacks irritating ingredients like dyes, fragrance and formaldehyde, and it won't clog your pores thanks to its non-comedogenic formula.
"It's great for all skin types, especially sensitive ones, and gets rid of oil, dirt and makeup without drying out your skin. Sometimes, simple is better!" says Dr. Edidiong Kaminska, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Deep Hydration Refreshing Eye Serum
Size: 0.5 oz. tube | Skin type: Sensitive | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamins E and B5
This is the decade where you should roll up your sleeves and get to work on finding the perfect eye cream for your needs.
Cetaphil's eye serum uses a HydroSensitiv Complex, hyaluronic acid and vitamins B5 and E to hydrate and soothe sensitive skin. The formula also works to reduce those pesky dark circles and puffiness we all dread so much.
Caffeine Eye Cream
Size: 0.5 oz. tube | Skin type: Normal, dry, combo and oily skin | Key ingredients: Caffeine
Preventing and treating the early signs of aging isn't all that eye cream can do. This multitasking product category can also reduce puffiness if you had a sleepless night.
Skelsey swears by this one with caffeine and Matrixyl 3000, a peptide that takes on fine lines and wrinkles with ease. The lightweight cream also works as a nice base for your eye makeup.
Soothing Eye Contour Cream
Size: 0.33 oz. tube | Skin type: Sensitive | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, chamomile
This soothing eye cream is made with thermal spring water, which reduces redness, tightness and irritation with ease. Vitamin E and other antioxidants hydrate and protect skin, while dextran sulfate helps combat puffiness.
"The gentle, rich formulation is perfect for the delicate skin around the eyes and helps maturing skin retain moisture and reduces fine lines," Tzu says.
Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
Size: 1 oz. tube | Skin type: All skin types | Key ingredients: 10% pure vitamin C, vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid
This vitamin C serum serves as a triple threat by hydrating, evening skin tone and protecting complexions from oxidative damage.
"Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an antioxidant that can both brighten skin and boost collagen," says Dr. Robert Anolik, a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Fragrance-Free Regenerating Face Serum
Size: 1.7 oz. bottle | Skin type: Doesn't specify | Key ingredients: Amino-peptide formula to aid with sensitive skin
With the help of an amino-peptide complex, this popular product travels through 10 layers of skin to offer plenty of moisture. The gel formula works to regenerate surface cells and plump up lackluster complexions.
"If your skin is sensitive, serums with peptide technology have collagen stimulating effects that can tighten and smooth the skin," says Chiu.
Radiant Booster Primer and Serum
Size: 1 and 3.4 oz. options | Skin type: Sensitive | Key ingredients: Peptides and vitamin E
Who said makeup couldn't be good for your skin? This primer-serum hybrid preps skin for foundation and adds a healthy glow. You can also wear it alone for a nice complexion boost.
"The primer/serum combo nourishes skin with the antioxidant vitamin E and promotes collagen production with peptides," Anolik says.
Pure Retinyl Serum
Size: 1 oz. bottle | Skin Type: All skin types | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
"Topical vitamin A (retinol) is a must," Skelsey says. "It stimulates collagen production, reduces irregular pigmentation and fine lines and increases cell turnover."
Honest Beauty’s retinol serum also incorporates hyaluronic acid into the mix to plump up dry skin. The multitasking product also evens out skin tone and moisturizes with the help of squalane.
Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
Size: 1 oz. tube | Skin type: Normal | Key ingredients: Retinol
RoC's retinol night cream helps reverse visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles and helps increase collagen production, which in turn reveals more youthful skin.
In fact, Shop TODAY vouches for this cream so much that we have an exclusive code you can use on RoC's website — use TODAY20 at checkout for 20% off sitewide, anytime.
Repair Moisturizing Body Cream
Size: 2.53, 6.76 and 13.52 oz. options | Skin type: Dry skin | Key ingredients: Shea butter, niacinamide
"As someone ages, they have less production of natural oils, and moisturizers prevent and treat dry skin and can improve skin texture," says Dr. Sourab Choudhury, a board-certified dermatologist and a co-founder of The Dermatology Specialists.
Oftentimes, we think this only applies to facial skin, but your body needs some attention, too. This body cream, formerly called "Lipikar Balm AP+M," offers 48-hour hydration thanks to its star ingredients: niacinamide, shea butter and glycerin.
Comfort Ceramide Cream
Size: 2.82 oz. tube | Skin type: All skin types | Key ingredients: Glycerin, centella asiatica leaf water
In your 50s, creams will provide a lot more hydration than lotions or gels.
"Look for ingredients that support the skin barrier as well as growth factors or peptides to help with collagen synthesis, cell repair and hydration," Shah says. "Don’t forget to moisturize in the morning and at night."
This cream contains strengthening ceramides, anti-aging centella asiatica and sunflower seed oil for a boost of antioxidants. Luckily, the lightweight formula is suitable for dry, combination and sensitive skin.
Hydrating Day and Night Cream
Size: 0.5, 1.5, 3.4 oz. options available | Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Probiotics, peptides, squalane and collagen
This pick is a splurge, but we think it's a worthy one.
Perfect for both day and night, this cream combines probiotics, collagen-boosting peptides and moisturizing squalene to balance and repair dehydrated, aging skin.
Several users highlight how lightweight it is despite being very moisturizing, and one verified Amazon reviewer adds, "I have tried many brands of skin care in my 70-plus years, high end and low end, but this, in my opinion, is the best! No greasy residue, fully absorbed into your skin and does what it says it will do. I’ve been using it for about four years now and I don’t intend to quit."
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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