Age-Defying Secrets: The Best Skincare Routines for Women Over 60

Think your skin care routine should stay the same after 60? Think again! Learn the key steps to take for glowing, youthful skin at any age.

When you’ve spent six remarkable decades gracing this earth, your skin tells a story of laughter, wisdom, and experiences. However, aging skin also comes with skincare challenges like wrinkles, age spots, and dryness. Sun exposure is also a significant issue for mature skin. In fact, up to 80% of visible signs of aging result from sun damage.¹

Due to these factors, you may have tried to step up your skincare routine but didn’t know where to start or what to do. With so many options, finding the best skincare routines can be a huge challenge if you are 60 and above.

A proper skincare regimen is your best ally in tackling aging skin challenges for a healthier, more radiant look. This is why we’ve specifically curated this ultimate guide to a skincare routine for women over 60.

In this article, you will learn the importance of a skincare routine, what to include in your skincare routine, and the ingredients to choose or avoid.

Understanding Your Skin: What Changes After 60?

As you age, various changes will occur in your skin, including²:

• Decline in collagen production
• Loss of elasticity
• Decrease in moisture retention
• Increase in skin dryness
• Thinning of the outer layer of your skin
• Deeper wrinkles
• More pronounced age spots

As you age, your cells release highly reactive chemicals that can destroy the cells that make collagen. Therefore, it gets more challenging for your skin to keep up with the collagen production your skin needs.³ This decline in collagen production also leads to a loss of skin elasticity. 

Your hormones also change as you age, and your skin slowly stops retaining moisture effectively, causing dryness. Additionally, signs of aging from years of environmental damage and UV exposure start to show up. Your skin starts thinning due to these external factors, and cell turnover and functioning slow down. All these factors contribute to those deeper folds and wrinkles you notice on your skin.

However, there are many things you can do to continue having radiant skin even at 60 and beyond. You can focus on embracing the changes while creating a skincare routine to soothe, nourish, and protect your mature skin.

Best Skincare Routine for Women Over 60

Developing a skincare routine involves knowing what products to use, how your lifestyle affects your skin health, and how to use certain products effectively. Below, we discuss the pillars of skincare routines you should know if you are 60 and above.

Gentle Cleansing

A mild or gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, body wash, or moisturizing bar soap can help soothe your skin.

Harsh cleansers can worsen dryness by stripping natural oils. Your cleanser should be strong enough to remove impurities but gentle enough to protect and reinforce the skin barrier.

The following are some excellent expert-recommended examples of gentle cleansers:

• La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash with Ceramide for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin

• CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Nourishing Cream Cleanser

• Neutrogena Skin Balancing Milky Cleanser for Dry Skin

Hydration and Moisturization

Mature skin requires proper hydration and moisturization to tackle dryness and thinning.

Rich creams and serums nourish your skin and restore your radiant, healthy glow. Moisturizing helps restore your skin’s protective barrier.

Ingredients to look for in hydrating or moisturizing products include:

●   Hyaluronic acid – increases flexibility, helps retain moisture, and keeps tissues hydrated and lubricated. Using a hyaluronic acid serum is associated with better hydration, moisture, elasticity, and lightening of the skin.⁴ 

●   Ceramides – lipids (fatty molecules) that maintain a healthy skin barrier, improve skin cells’ health, lock skin moisture, prevent dryness and irritation, and protect the skin against environmental damage.

●   Peptides – smaller versions of proteins that penetrate and moisturize the skin.

Exfoliation with Caution

Gentle exfoliation, the removal of dead skin cells using exfoliation tools and chemicals, is a crucial component of aging skincare.

Skin cell turnover slows down as people age. This high turnover makes it vital to remove dead skin cells & encourages your skin to replace those old cells with new ones. 

Gentle exfoliation makes skin appear smoother, brighter, and clearer. Opt for products formulated for mature or sensitive skin. Products with gentle ingredients such as lactic acid are a good choice. Go for exfoliating products that contain vitamins as well. Exfoliate once or twice (maximum) a week.

Sun Protection

Sun protection is essential to aging skincare because it protects your skin against damage and prevents or lowers your risk of skin cancer. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that many older adults don’t protect their skin from the sun; only 15% of older adults use sun protection.⁵

Exposure to UV rays can further affect collagen and elastin, increase the risk of age spots, and contribute to the formation of deep wrinkles. This is because UV light breaks down both elastin fibers and collagen. 

These are essential parts of your skin – they are connective tissues and also support your skin. When the sun’s UV rays break down this layer of your skin, your skin loses flexibility. Additionally, it also makes your skin weaker. This essentially speeds up your skin’s aging process. 

The best sunscreens for mature skin include:

• EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

• Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

• CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion

Targeted Treatments

The targeted treatments in the aging skincare routine help tackle the common challenges that people with mature skin face, such as age spots and deep wrinkles. These treatments can include natural and clinical solutions.

Natural solutions include using serums and over-the-counter (OTC) creams with high concentrations of active ingredients such as retinol and natural ingredients such as aloe vera, green tea, coconut oil, or lemon juice. 

Clinical solutions include dermatologist-prescribed creams and serums for wrinkles or prescription bleaching creams for age spots. Laser therapy and Botox are also targeted solutions for age spots and wrinkles.

Age-Specific Ingredients: The Stars of Aging Skincare Routine

An ideal senior skincare routine should contain the following ingredients:

●   Retinoids – compounds made from vitamin A. Retinoids’ biggest perks are reduced fine lines and wrinkles and increased collagen production. Retinoids can stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin and fade age spots. These benefits occur with regular use.⁶

●   Peptides – exhibit skin-firming effects by filling fine lines and wrinkles. They promote skin repair, inhibit the signs of aging, and give skin a smoother, rejuvenated appearance.

●   Antioxidants – such as green tea extract and vitamins C and E, protect skin cells from free radicals and oxidative stress to improve texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

●   Natural oils – rosehip oil can boost collagen formation and improve aging-induced skin conditions,⁷ argan oil improves skin’s elasticity and firmness, and jojoba oil helps smooth out wrinkles and slow down signs of aging.

Beyond Facial Care: Addressing Neck, Hands, and Décolletage

The neck, hands, and décolletage are exposed to the sun and external influences such as air pollutants. For example, skin on the neck and décolletage is thin and prone to damage and loss of elasticity. 

Make sure to cleanse and hydrate your neck and décolletage. Use sun protection in these areas too. Apply a rich hand cream daily and use creams that target the neck and cleavage skin. Useful products to try include:

●   N^o7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck Cream SPF 30

●   CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream

● Kitsch Moisturizing Spa Gloves

Nutrition and Lifestyle: The Inside-Out Approach to Mature Skincare

A healthy lifestyle is as important as a regular skincare routine for those over 60. The following are some approaches for improving your skincare with nutrition and lifestyle changes:

• Eat foods that boost skin health, such as dark chocolate, cruciferous vegetables, leafy green vegetables, spices, berries, watermelon, grapes, pomegranates, nuts and seeds, whole grains, yogurt, olive oil, avocado, and fatty fish such as salmon.
• Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Hydration increases skin elasticity, delays sagging, and slows down the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Limit or avoid sugar and alcohol and quit smoking. Sugar may cause cross-linking of collagen and jeopardize the elasticity of the skin.⁸ Alcohol and smoking can also impair elasticity and contribute to oxidative stress.

Advances in Skincare: Trends and Treatments to Watch

Technology and science keep evolving, which results in new treatments and skincare options. 

For example, LED light therapy increases skin collagen, reduces wrinkle formation, and alleviates inflammation.⁹ 

Another trend in aging skincare is microneedling, which stimulates the production of collagen for an even tone and texture of the skin.

Nowadays, there are a lot of at-home skincare gadgets worth checking out. Good examples are ice rollers, face (jade) rollers, LED masks, gua sha stone, and skincare wands with red light therapy.

Gentle Care for Mature Skin: AM and PM Routines for Over 60 Sensitive Skin

As we age, our skin changes and requires specialized care. Sensitive complexions over 60 need gentle, nourishing products to look radiant while avoiding irritation.

AM Routine for Women Over 60

• Cleanse with a creamy, fragrance-free wash to lightly hydrate without stripping natural oils. Look for calming ingredients like oats or aloe.
• Apply an antioxidant serum containing green tea, vitamins C and E to protect against environmental damage. Avoid harsh retinoids.
• Moisturize with a rich but fast-absorbing cream formulated for mature skin. Seek out peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
• Finish with a mineral sunscreen for UVA/UVB protection. Zinc or titanium dioxide are less likely to cause redness.

PM Routine for Women Over 60

• Remove makeup with a mild, non-foaming cleanser or micellar water. Avoid rubbing the delicate eye area.
• Cleanse skin to wash away remaining impurities. Use lukewarm water and gentle circular motions.
• Apply a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum to attract moisture to the skin.
• Follow with a nourishing night cream containing shea butter, plant oils and anti-inflammatory niacinamide.
• Consider a retinol alternative like bakuchiol 2-3 times per week to stimulate collagen without irritation.

Handle mature skin with care and consistency to maintain a healthy, vibrant glow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a skincare routine be updated as one age?

It would be ideal to adapt skincare to every decade of life. When we age, our skin changes as well. It’s necessary to modify your skincare routine adequately for the best results.

Are there any ingredients to avoid in the golden years?

Ingredients to avoid include mineral oil and other petroleum derivatives, chemical sunscreens, alcohol, and sulfates. 

Mineral oils are too heavy for the skin, clog pores, and halt cell regeneration. Chemical sunscreens don’t protect the skin effectively. Alcohol strips away skin’s natural moisture, and sulfates, while considered safe in specific amounts,¹⁰ make skin vulnerable to damage because they can be irritating.

How does hormonal change post-menopause affect skincare?

Post-menopause, your decreased levels of estrogen may cause dry and itching skin. This is why it’s necessary to adjust your skincare routine. 

Estrogen stimulates elastin and collagen. Additionally, estrogens enhance moisture or hydration, increase cell viability, act as antioxidants, and increase blood flow.¹¹ 

Can a skincare routine reduce the appearance of deep-set wrinkles?

Yes! While wrinkles are a normal part of aging, a regular skin care regimen with all the right ingredients can delay or slow down the process.

Takeaway

A proper aging skincare regimen makes it easy to celebrate the aging process rather than fear it. 

Eating a healthy diet, drinking enough water, and using the right skincare products for your skin are all great starting points if you want to look after your skin. You also have to look at things that you might want to remove from your life, such as too much sugar and the habit of smoking.

It’s never too late to set up a regular skincare routine and pamper yourself. Taking care of your skin is a form of self-love. 

Show your skin some love, and it will return the favor through a radiant, healthy complexion.