My mom has always been the kind of woman who takes care of herself — and at 65, her skin genuinely turns heads. People are constantly asking her what she uses, and I've watched her morning routine enough times to know it's not magic. It's consistency, and a very simple regimen she has stuck to for years. I've even started following her lead myself, because honestly, her skin looks better than mine.
"Your skin is your largest organ — and it deserves the same daily attention you give the rest of your body."
As women age, the skin undergoes significant changes. Oestrogen levels drop, collagen production slows, and the skin's natural ability to retain moisture decreases. This can lead to dryness, fine lines, loss of firmness and uneven skin tone. But the good news, according to dermatologists, is that a consistent and targeted routine can make a real difference — even when started later in life.
"Women over 60 can absolutely improve the appearance and health of their skin. The key is focusing on cleansing, hydration, barrier support and daily sun protection," said Dr. Debra Jaliman, board-certified dermatologist.
"The earliest signs of aging in women typically include fine lines around the eyes and mouth, loss of firmness along the jawline and dullness caused by slower cell turnover," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo explained. "Sun spots and hyperpigmentation are also very common, particularly in women who didn't use SPF consistently in their younger years."
My mom has adapted her skin care routine over the years to meet her skin's changing needs. What she's landed on is beautifully simple, and the results speak for themselves. Below are the exact products and steps she swears by.
Cleanser
The first step in my mom's routine, morning and evening, is a gentle cleanser. She's always been firm about never going to bed with makeup or sunscreen on her face. "Cleansing properly is the foundation of everything," she told me. "If your skin isn't clean, nothing else you put on it will work as well." She avoids anything with harsh sulphates or alcohol, which can strip the skin's natural oils — especially important as skin becomes drier with age. She uses lukewarm water rather than hot, which she says makes a noticeable difference in how her skin feels afterwards.
Toner
After cleansing, my mom always applies a toner. She was initially sceptical about this step — she thought toners were only for oily or acne-prone skin — but once she tried an alcohol-free, hydrating formula, she never looked back. "It just makes everything that comes after absorb so much better," she explained. A good toner at this stage helps to rebalance the skin's pH after cleansing, remove any last traces of impurities, and prep the skin to absorb the moisturiser more effectively.
All-in-one anti-aging moisturiser
A good face cream is non-negotiable for mature skin. As oestrogen levels decline, the skin loses its ability to retain moisture, which accelerates the appearance of fine lines and dullness. My mom has always sworn by Korean skincare. "They've been doing this for centuries," she says. "Korean women don't wait until something goes wrong. They repair, they protect, they start early." It's the philosophy she credits most for her skin today. She doesn't layer ten products or follow complicated routines. She found one great cream that actually works and sticks to it.
It wasn't always this way. For years she cycled through different anti-aging moisturisers and retinol serums — the kind you see in every pharmacy and department store. She used them consistently, gave them time, and never really saw anything meaningful enough to justify the ongoing cost. "I was spending a lot of money and my skin just looked the same," she told me. That frustration is what led her to start researching Korean skincare more seriously. What struck her was the philosophy behind it — Korean formulations tend to focus on repairing the skin at the source, strengthening the barrier and supporting the skin's own renewal process, rather than simply plumping the surface the way most Western creams do. Once she understood that difference, she stopped looking back.
I have never seen my mom as devoted to a product as she is to this cream. She talks about it constantly — to her friends, to her doctor, to anyone who asks why her skin looks so good. She keeps a spare tube in her bathroom cabinet so she never runs out. "My skin looks completely different since I started using it," she said to me.
SPF
The final step in my mom's routine is sunscreen. She admits she wasn't consistent with SPF in her younger years — something she wishes she could go back and change. "I spent a lot of time in the sun without protection and I can see it now," she said. "But the moment I started wearing SPF every single day, even in winter, my skin started to look so much better."
FAQs
The following FAQs have been answered by board-certified dermatologists Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo, Dr. Debra Jaliman and Dr. Bruce Katz.
Absolutely not, according to dermatologists. Even women who begin a consistent skin care routine in their 60s or 70s can see meaningful improvements in hydration, texture and the appearance of fine lines. The skin has a remarkable ability to respond to good care at any age. Starting with the basics — a gentle cleanser, hydrating toner, moisturiser and daily SPF — is all you need to begin making a difference.
"For a woman in her sixties, the routine should focus on hydration, barrier support and protection," Del Campo said. He recommends a morning routine of gentle cleanser, hydrating toner, an all-in-one anti-aging moisturiser with peptides or ceramides, and a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. In the evening, cleanse thoroughly, apply toner, and follow with a richer night moisturiser. "Keeping it simple and consistent is far more effective than using many products inconsistently," he added.
The consensus among dermatologists is clear: gentle cleansing, consistent hydration and daily SPF are the three pillars of mature skin care. Jaliman recommends a fragrance-free cleanser, a hydrating toner with aloe or hyaluronic acid, a ceramide-rich moisturiser and a mineral or chemical SPF 30+ applied every morning without fail. "These four steps alone can transform the skin's appearance over time," she said.
"The best moisturiser for mature skin is one that combines hydration with barrier repair," Del Campo said. Look for formulas containing ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. An all-in-one anti-aging moisturiser that addresses multiple concerns — hydration, firmness and tone — is ideal for women who want to keep their routine simple. Katz recommends Olay Regenerist and CeraVe as trusted, accessible options for women over 60.
The first step is to start wearing SPF every day immediately, Jaliman said — this prevents further damage from accumulating. For existing sun spots and hyperpigmentation, ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin C and azelaic acid can help brighten and even out skin tone over time. For more significant sun damage, professional treatments such as IPL, chemical peels or laser therapy may be worth discussing with a board-certified dermatologist.
"As women age, the most common concerns include dryness, loss of firmness, fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and uneven skin tone caused by sun damage," Del Campo said. The drop in oestrogen after menopause accelerates collagen loss, which can lead to sagging along the jawline and a thinner, more fragile skin texture. Consistent hydration, barrier support and daily SPF are the most effective tools for addressing all of these concerns over time.
Meet our experts
For this article I consulted with the following experts to gain their professional insights on skin care for mature men.
- Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo, board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Skin Clinic
- Dr. Sean T. Doherty, board-certified plastic surgeon at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery
- Dr. Debra Jaliman, board-certified dermatologist
- Dr. Bruce Katz, board-certified dermatologist at Juva Skin and Laser Center
Why trust Cosmetic Times
Cosmetic Times has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
For this story, Cosmetic Times' social coordinator Gabriella Triolo consulted her mom about her favourite skin care routine and also reached out to dermatologists for their insight. She has previously covered cruelty-free beauty and participated in beauty testing for our guide to the best under-eye patches.
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