The term “beauty sleep” isn’t just a random saying to encourage you to get to bed on time. It’s based on science. When we sleep, our cells enter a state of recovery and rejuvenation that helps our bodies function more healthily. “Skin cells are repairing daily damage, making collagen, and restoring the barrier—a biological rhythm that matters even more with age,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “That’s because as estrogen levels decline, our skin behaves differently and it ends up being drier, more sensitive, and less even.” Our skin cells need those nighttime hours to rejuvenate—and the right skincare to help them do that. Keep reading for the best nighttime skincare routine for mature skin.
Step 1: Cleansing Your Skin at Night Is Key
A good skincare routine doesn’t need to be overly complicated or full of steps to be effective. “Three to four thoughtful steps are usually enough,” says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, board-certified dermatologist and dermatological surgeon. But the first is critical: what’s the point of layering on incredible skincare if it can’t get through a layer of makeup, SPF, dirt, oil, or debris? You have to start with a thorough—but not too drying—cleanser. What that means is that super sudsy stuff is out. If you have mature skin, you need a creamy, hydrating cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin of necessary moisture, says Badreshia-Bansal.
Best Cleansers for Mature Skin
Best for Sensitive Skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Cleanser
An Oil-to-Gel Hybrid
Neurae Harmonie The Caring Cleanser
For Your Softest Skin
Tatcha The Rice Wash Skin-Softening CleanserStep 2: Use Targeted Treatments to Boost Collagen and Smooth Skin
A retinoid is the gold standard. “These vitamin A derivatives are among the most proven ingredients in dermatology for improving texture, tone, and overall skin health by supporting cellular turnover and collagen production,” says Antony Nakhla, MD, dermatologist and founder of Eighth Day. The drawback is that those of us with very dry, sensitive skin find retinoids very irritating. There are some hacks, though: apply a hydrating serum before the retinoid and a barrier-repairing product on top. Also, limit your retinoid to once every third night and then graduate to every other night if you can. Or try a retinol alternative. Consider formulas that contain bakuchiol, a plant extract with clinical results comparable to retinol. Or apply a serum with peptides, growth factors, or exosomes; these molecules act as messengers that tell the skin to repair itself, increase collagen production, and are often tolerated by all skin types, making them amazing additions to your skincare routine, explains Nakhla. They also add an extra layer of hydration before the next step. (You can always layer this on top of a retinoid, too.)
If your skin tolerates it, you can alternate your retinoid with a chemical exfoliant (like glycolic or lactic acid), which helps to improve dullness and texture, says Badreshia-Bansal. Just don’t stack them; using an exfoliant and a retinoid on the same night will likely be too harsh for your skin (the exception is the SkinBetter AlphaRet below—this unique formula has successfully blended retinol and alpha hydroxy acids into a gentle formula). “If ever your skin feels tight, reactive, or consistently irritated, that’s a sign to scale back on actives,” says Nakhla.
Best Retinoid for Mature Skin
Best Drugstore Pick
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion
Now 20% Off
A Miracle Wonder
SkinBetter Science
Alpha Ret
A Worthy Splurge
Eighth Day Night Cream TreatmentStep 3: Moisturize…and Then Moisturize Again
“A common mistake in treating mature skin is focusing only on correction and ignoring the skin barrier,” says Nakhla. In addition to wrinkles, lines, pigmentation, and dullness, mature skin often deals with dryness and sensitivities. “If you push too hard with active ingredients, you compromise the barrier and create more inflammation, which is why I advise patients to apply their treatment product first, then always seal it in with a lipid-rich moisturizer,” says Badreshia-Bansal. This is the step where your skin rebuilds itself.
Look for formulas with hydrators like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin to reinforce and calm the skin barrier, says Gohara. Don’t be afraid of a thick, rich texture. Your skin will drink it up by morning. Also, unless you want to add an additional step for eye cream, make sure you bring your moisturizer up to the under eye area and around the eyelids. In general, “mature skin benefits more from layering on hydration than from piling on treatments,” says Gohara. “So, even when you think you’ve moisturized enough, don’t be afraid to moisturize once more.”
Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin
Peptide Perfection
All About Barrier Repair
Skinfix Ceramide Prime Whipped Cream
Best for Very Dry Skin
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Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When she’s not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok
