Skincare After 50: The Tips & Products You Need to Know

Ingrie WilliamsUpdated: Mar. 28, 2018

Yes, taking care of your skin after 50 can seem daunting, but your path to a hydrated, radiant complexion is right this way.

1 / 8

photo credit: shutterstock

A skin care routine after 50: Own your look

Fifty is fabulous! It’s the decade when you truly come into your own. Your confidence levels have never been higher and you have finally figured out what makes you happy. That said, there is a female-only curveball coming your way. “Menopause is a dramatic change, I really do see that. Women tell me ‘all of sudden it was a like a switch was flipped,’” says Dr. Marcie Ulmer, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist at Pacific Dermatology in Vancouver. Internally, the system is thrown out of whack. “If we look at all the processes that happen in your skin that are important for its appearance, the decline of those functions is five times faster after you reach menopause,” says Dr. Neuser. Sounds discouraging, but we’ve got skin care routine tips and tricks to get you through to the other side.

Our skin-spiration? Salma Hayek, 51, and her enviable radiance.

3 Skin Care Tools That We’re Totally Obsessed With Right Now

2 / 8

Skin care routine, jar of cream surrounded by flowers and water droplets

photo credit: shutterstock

Skin care routine tip 1: Rehydrate

What does that hormonal impact look like externally? “With the loss of estrogen support there’s a relative imbalance with testosterone, so you’ll notice that the skin is lacking hydration. It tends to have a crepey texture,” says Dr. Sonya Abdulla, who treats patients at Dermatology on Bloor in Toronto. To target dryness and retain moisture, look for formulas that include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin and shea butter.

Glowy Skin Is But a Facial Peel Away

3 / 8

Skin care routine, Mature woman applies face cream in the bathroom

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Skin care routine tip 2: Manage sensitivity

Regardless of skin type, increased sensitization can crop up in your 50s. “Hormones also affect how well your skin bounces back from its redness,” says Charmaine Cooper, Dermalogica education manager. And as blood vessels lose their ability to re-constrict, you can experience dilation of capillaries. “Now you have sensitive redness that’s just always there. And when the skin is always sensitive, it doesn’t function as it ought to.”

“Plus, the moisturizer that you’ve been using for years may now sting or burn,” she says. For anyone dealing with sensitive skin issues (i.e. redness, irritation or dehydration), Cooper suggests Dermalogica’s new UltraCalming line. Loaded with soothing ingredients like aloe vera, apple fruit extract and oat oil that work to provide a “cushion,” they improve tolerance and the immune system of the skin, she says.

15 Eczema Causes You Might Be Ignoring

4 / 8

Skin care routine, Woman stretches as she gets out of bed and looks out the window at a city

photo credit: shutterstock

Skin care routine tip 3: Sleep on it

For 50-somethings, there are multiple benefits to be had from a good night’s sleep — if you’re doing it right. “Sleeping on your back is best. If you sleep on your face or side, you can get sleep wrinkles,” says Dr. Ulmer. Ideal bedfellows include a beauty routine fashioned around heavier formulas. “Moisture levels start to be massively affected. Dry skin ages faster and wrinkles more,” says Dr. Frauke Neuser, principal scientist with Olay Skin Care, “You want to focus on richer products now, especially overnight, for nourishment.”

The Easiest Way to Fake a Good Night’s Sleep — And Yes, Makeup Is Key

5 / 8