The Best Skincare For Women Over 50, According To Skin Experts

Forbes

23-04-2025

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment you officially enter 'mature skin' territory, but some telltale signs include unwelcome dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots and uneven texture. But rather than lamenting the aging process, it's helpful to incorporate products that complement your newly changing skin. The best skincare for women over 50 are designed to boost moisture, reduce the appearance of fine lines, combat hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production. We've included a vitamin C serum (SkinCeuticals' CE Ferulic), LED mask (Therabody's TheraFace Mask), microcurrent device (NuFace's Trinity+) and neck cream (Alastin's Restorative Neck Complex) on our list, among many others.
As we age, our skin is affected by factors such as declining estrogen levels and damage from years of sun exposure. But there are effective products and tools you can incorporate into your beauty routine that create noticeable, age-defying results—plus, they're painless and easy to use. We've tapped deputy editor Jane Sung as well as several experts to curate the best skincare products for women over 50 that hydrate, nourish and brighten the complexion.
Size: 1 ounce | Key ingredients: L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin E, ferulic acidBest for:
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SkinCeuticals is beloved by dermatologists because it's formulated with research and results in mind—and all of the experts we spoke with stressed the importance of incorporating a vitamin C product like this one. We named this antioxidant-packed formula the best vitamin C serum because of how it targets dark spots, loss of firmness, dryness and wrinkles with superstar ingredients including 15% pure vitamin C, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid. They all work together to protect against environmental stressors, neutralizing free radicals, shielding from oxidative stress and restoring skin lipids. The result? Firmer skin, a brightened complexion and less noticeable lines.
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Featured as a winning pick in our roundup of the best LED face masks, Therabody's TheraFace mask is well worth the investment. This FDA-cleared, cordless, wearable device uses three light modes—red, red and infrared, and blue—to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and tone, and decrease redness and inflammation from things like adult acne. You wear this device for nine minutes per day to reap the full benefits—all while you're relaxing on the couch or in bed. Keep in mind that this one's on the heavier side due to the added vibration technology, and as with most skincare tools it takes time and consistent use to see any results.
Size: 3.4 ounce | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, microalgae, prickly pear flowerBest for:
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This essence-moisturizer includes ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, lipids and fatty acids, promising to lock in hydration for 12 hours. The formula also helps reduce redness, smooth texture and restore the skin barrier. It's fragrance-free and doesn't contain silicones, so there's no greasy feel. You can wear it by itself or under a thicker cream if your skin is especially dry.
This has become my go-to daily moisturizer because it reduces redness and splotchiness, makes my skin feel smooth, and plumps and blurs fine lines. My only gripe: Due to its thinner consistency, dispensing it from this bottle type can get messy; the design could use improvement.
Size: 1 ounce | Key ingredients: Active botanicals such as calendula, tamanu, nettle and evening primroseBest for:
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The moisturizing benefits of many topical serums can look amazing right after application, but then fade hour after hour until skin appears dull and parched again. This facial oil hydrates and lasts through the day (or night, if you're using it then, too). It's packed with natural ingredients—vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, antioxidants and phytonutrients—that moisturize, nourish, balance and protect. Sung is a longtime fan of the product, and likes how it makes her skin soft and glowy, with a more lightweight finish than most face oils. Users consistently rave about the scent (one describes it as 'smelling like joy').
Size: 1 ounce | Key ingredients: Retinol, oat extract, willow bark extract, peptides
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Retinols benefit the skin by increasing cell turnover, which naturally decreases with age, and stimulating the production of collagen. However, they can also cause sensitive complexions to become red, itchy and flaky. This formula—our best overall pick in our list of top retinol creams—uses 1% retinol to refine pores, diminish the appearance of fine lines and even out skin tone. It also incorporates hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to counterbalance any irritating or drying effects. Note: To minimize irritation, ease into using this product and keep it away from your eyes, as with any retinoid.
Size: 1.74 ounces | Key ingredients: Cellular extracts, marine-derived postbioticsBest for:
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Think of this cream from Swiss beauty brand Cellcosmet as a high-impact, all-in-one treatment to address signs of aging: It's crafted to improve hydration, restore firmness, smooth texture, rebuild the skin barrier and revive radiance. The formula features a proprietary blend of cellular extracts to hydrate and firm, combined with a marine-origin postbiotics complex designed to protect against environmental stressors—all while improving skin suppleness and elasticity. Calling this pricey would be an understatement, but Sung prefers it over other comparable creams from luxury brands. And users say it glides smoothly, absorbs quickly and leaves behind a dewy feel.
Size: 0.5 ounces | Key ingredients: Botanicals, hyaluronic acid Best for:
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Eyes are one of the first places to show fine lines (hello, crow's feet), and the skin is particularly delicate, so this is a good area to focus on. A winner in our roundup of the best eye creams, Furtuna's formula uses unique botanicals to address common concerns in this area. Wild organic dandelion works to reduce dark circles and support collagen production, nigella damascena reduces puffiness, and wild organic hawthorn lifts eye contours and tones. This comes in a jar, and for sanitary application it comes with a handy metal scooper that conveniently attaches to the lid via a hidden magnet. Reviewers say that it absorbs well and isn't heavy or sticky.
Size: 1 ounce | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalene, camellia oilBest for:
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If you have parched skin or live in a particularly dry climate, this deeply hydrating gel mask uses a multi-hyaluronic treatment to replenish lost moisture. A flower blend helps soothe redness, and snow mushroom works to boost collagen production (which naturally decreases with age), promoting skin elasticity and firmness. You can use this in place of your usual moisturizer and leave it on as an overnight treatment, or you can use it like a traditional mask and rinse it off after fifteen minutes.
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If you're concerned about droopy jowls, hooded eyelids, smile lines or a sagging neck, the NuFace Trinity+ is a helpful beauty tool (and our best overall pick in my evaluation of the best microcurrent devices). It uses low-level electrical pulses to stimulate facial muscles, causing them to contract, which ultimately helps contour and firm the skin while promoting collagen production. For optimal results, use this product for at least five minutes, five days a week. The set includes everything you'd need to effectively use the Trinity+ facial toning device: a hydrating Aqua Gel Activator, a firming and brightening Silk Crème Activator, and an applicator brush. This FDA-cleared facial toning device can also be used with the NuFace Smart App, and other attachments can be purchased separately.
Size: 1.7 ounces | Key ingredients: Squalene, niacinamide, peptides, antioxidantsBest for:
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If you're looking to target sagging skin and undesirable neck creases, we recommend the Alastin Restorative Neck Complex, which tops our list of the best neck-firming creams for good reason. It features the brand's proprietary Tri-Hex technology, which supports healthy elastin and collagen production, and incorporates phytoene and phytofluene to minimize the appearance of dark spots. Additionally, flaxseed extract can help restore hydration to depleted, fragile neck skin. Users say that a little goes a long way, which is helpful, especially given the price.
Size: 1.7 ounces | Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin E, zinc oxideBest for:
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Beloved by dermatologists and Forbes Vetted editors alike (tested and approved in our best mineral sunscreens story), the EltaMD UV Clear sunscreen contains niacinamide to help promote a clearer complexion and improve the appearance of dark spots, as well as vitamin E, which neutralizes free radicals. Another standout feature is that, despite containing the physical blocker zinc oxide, it leaves no white residue and is transparent, making it great for wearing alone or layered under makeup.
At Forbes Vetted, we've researched and written dozens of skincare stories, including those about the best face moisturizers, best moisturizers for aging skin and more.
To narrow down our options for the best skincare for women over 50, we tapped into our deep market knowledge and extensive testing experience, highlighting products and brands that offer nourishing, hydrating and effective formulas.
Two significant factors that affect the skin of women over 50 are reduced estrogen levels and cumulative sun exposure. 'The transition from perimenopause to menopause causes significant changes in the skin due to declining estrogen levels,' says Dr. Leah Ansell, a board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology Associates. 'This leads to loss of hydration, dryness, more lax skin (sagging) and crepiness of skin.'
In addition, 'women over 50 start to see changes from chronic sun exposure and oxidative damage,' says Dr. Kiran Mian, a board-certified dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology & Laser Surgery. 'These changes can include pigmented spots, increased vascularity, fine lines, folds around the nose and mouth, wrinkles across the forehead and around the eyes, and increased skin laxity leading to sagging and jowling.' After consulting with three experts, here's what else to keep in mind.
While addressing age-related skin changes can seem daunting, many superstar ingredients can help make skin appear more youthful. 'Mature skin first and foremost needs hydration,' says Mian. 'Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and squalane are great at strengthening the skin barrier and providing plumpness to the skin. Retinoids are a must, as they increase skin cell turnover, a process which slows down as we age, and stimulate collagen production.'
Mian also recommends antioxidants to help counteract free radical damage that has led to pigmentary and skin quality-related changes, as well as peptides to help boost collagen and elastin production. Ansell agrees and recommends using a high-quality vitamin C to promote collagen and protect the skin.
In general, skin best practices for women over 50 should begin with 'a dedicated skincare regimen with high-yield topicals tailored to the individual patient,' says Ansell. In addition to using a vitamin C and retinol, 'adding a hydrating serum under your moisturizer can help keep skin hydrated,' says Mian. You may also want to consider using a microcurrent device to help with skin firming and contouring, as well as an LED face mask to enhance skin texture and tone, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Consider yearly laser resurfacing and skin tightening if your budget allows. And of course, always apply a daily sunscreen and get an annual skin cancer screening.
But what should you avoid doing? 'Those with mature skin should avoid over exfoliation,' says Mian. 'Our skin gets thinner as we age and produces less oil. Harsh acids can [also] more readily lead to irritation and barrier disruption.'
The unfortunate reality is that the best skincare products for women over 50 years old are often expensive, costing up to several hundred dollars. Choose products that fit within your budget, and consider investing in a beauty tool—such as a microcurrent device or LED face mask—for something that will last as you'll get good cost per use.
'Non-negotiables for mature skin are sun protection, retinoids and vitamin C, with LED masks and microcurrent devices as extra credit,' says Dr. Brooke Jeffy. 'Sun protection is absolutely crucial as damage is cumulative, and you want to protect improvements seen with actives and in-office treatments.' She also advises retinoid-containing products since they help stimulate collagen and elastin production and improve cell turnover, ultimately leading to an improvement in fine lines, pigmentation and radiance. 'Vitamin C products applied in the morning act as both antioxidants to reduce cellular damage during sun exposure and can also improve pigmentation,' she says.
Our pick for the best eye cream for women over 50 is Furtuna Skin's Eye Revitalizing Cream. It uses active botanicals to plump and smooth, and it can reduce the appearance of dark circles and under-eye bags.
There are lots of great anti-aging treatments for women over 50, but the best is the one that you'll actually do or use consistently. Based on our discussions with experts, in particular they recommend a vitamin C serum (like SkinCeuticals' CE Ferulic), deeply hydrating moisturizers (we like Ilia's The Base Face Milk and Cellcosmet's Ultra Vital), a retinoid (like Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment) and a sunscreen (like EltaMD's UV Clear SPF 46). For devices, we recommend the Therabody TheraFace LED mask and the NuFace Trinity+ microcurrent tool, for visible results if used regularly and consistently. 'For those motivated to use them regularly, I think they do have positive benefits for the skin," says Jeffy.