19 Of The Best Moisturisers For Mature Skin In 2026

“Our bodies produce less elastin and collagen as we get older,” Saedi acknowledges. “In fact, collagen production begins to slow as early as your mid-twenties. We start losing one per cent of our collagen per year after that. By 40, collagen drops more dramatically.” As collagen and elastin decline, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging become more noticeable in the skin. “Your face also loses volume as you age, and your skin will become thinner,” Saedi says.

But that’s not all. “Declining oestrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can also wreak havoc on your skin, contributing to dryness, dullness, thinning, and wrinkling in the skin,” Saedi says. “Lastly, sun damage accumulates over your lifetime and is one of the biggest causes of lines, wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation, also commonly referred to as sun spots.”

A moisturiser for mature skin is “absolutely vital,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. She explains that one of the key clinical markers of mature skin is its inability to create and retain moisture naturally. “Loss of moisture can make skin look more flaccid, less youthful, and dull,” Nazarian says.

Furthermore, “dry skin leads to inflammation, even if you can’t see it,” says Magovern. “Inflamed skin will not tolerate all the active skin care products that we all want to use, so it’s imperative to keep that barrier strong. Furthermore, inflamed skin will trigger your skin problems like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and rosacea, so it’s important to keep the skin moisturised. Hydrated skin also just looks smoother, younger and brighter.” In short, she says: “There are so many reasons to moisturise.”

According to Magovern, a morning skin care regimen doesn’t have to start with face wash. “Don’t cleanse if skin feels dry or overprocessed, particularly if you did a good cleanse before bed,” she instructs. However, for mature skin that is “doing well and feeling strong,” she signs off on a gentle exfoliating cleanser that contains AHAs or PHAs.

Next up, a hydrating toner is “a great way to cleanse the skin without over-washing it,” she says, noting that “water can actually act as an irritant.” Follow the toning step with a serum that contains antioxidants, such as vitamin C, to protect and restore the skin. “You can also look for a serum with chemical exfoliators,” Magovern adds. “These can help remove some of those older surface skin cells and help the skin retain its ability to hold onto moisture and bring back the glow.” A rich moisturiser, followed by SPF, caps off the ideal morning regime.

In the evening, “gentle cleansers or oil cleansers are great choices for mature skin,” Magovern continues. “I prefer a gentle cleanser at night because subsequent steps tend to include more active products.” Exfoliation can also be part of a night-time regime, one to three times a week, but try not to do more than that as it could aggravate existing sensitivities. “It may not be intuitive, but exfoliating the skin can actually help moisturise it because it removes the surface dead cells, which make it harder for the moisturisers to penetrate and work effectively,” says Magovern. “Exfoliators also help stimulate collagen production.” For mature skin, she recommends a chemical exfoliator with gentle AHAs like glycolic and lactic acids, and PHAs, like gluconolactone, which have moisturising and antioxidant properties.

As a second-to-last step before bed, apply a treatment serum infused with active ingredients like retinol or peptides, which encourage cell turnover and cellular repair. “Sleep is the time when the cellular machinery is actively restoring and repairing, and it’s the perfect time to give the skin what it needs to help accomplish its night-time work,” Magovern notes.

Lastly, if you're looking for the best night cream, apply a face moisturiser that helps the skin attract and retain moisture overnight. “Occluding the skin with a moisturiser also allows the active ingredients in the previous steps to penetrate deeper and perhaps work more effectively,” she says. “The moisturising step is important for nourishing and hydrating the skin while you sleep.”

“Hyaluronic acid and other humectants, like glycerin, are important to help attract and retain water in the skin,” says Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical advisor for Dermstore. “But other ingredients are important for mature skin as well. Once you attract the water, it’s important to trap it and prevent water loss.” Occlusive agents like jojoba seed oil or shea butter help lock moisture into the skin, while ceramides – lipids that help maintain and repair the skin barrier – “are critical in a moisturiser,” Magovern adds.

Additionally, “moisturisers that include retinol – or using a retinoid or retinol serum in addition to your moisturiser – can help improve the appearance of elasticity, texture, pigmentation and wrinkles,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. “Caffeine helps plump the skin, which can temporarily improve the appearance of sags and wrinkles. Other ingredients to look for would be ones that help stimulate and support the production of collagen: Peptides, vitamin C, niacinamide (vitamin B3), and growth factors.”

“As a rule of thumb, thicker consistencies are better at locking in moisture by literally creating a barrier on the skin’s outermost layer to prevent water from evaporating from the surface of the skin,” says Tony Nakhla, DO, medical director of OC Skin Institute and founder of Eighth Day. “The more occlusive a product is, the more hydrating.”

However, hydration isn’t the only factor to consider. “The viscosity or thickness of a moisturiser is not as important to its efficacy as the active ingredient,” offers Stacey Tull, MD, MPH, board-certified dermatologic surgeon. “Thicker moisturisers such as shea butter may not be as effective for some skin types as a thinner hyaluronic acid-based product or an oil-based serum. Even at an older age, some people are still acne-prone, and a heavy moisturiser would not be a good option for them. Likewise, someone with dry, fragile skin may benefit from a thicker, more emollient ointment or cream.”