How to choose a body moisturiser for mature skin

Mature skin may be prone to dryness, but that doesn’t mean your skin needs to look ashy, scaly, or flaky. With the right body moisturising routine, it’s possible to improve the appearance of dry, crepey-looking skin. Ahead, we’re sharing some key facts to consider when choosing the best body moisturiser for your mature skin’s needs.

• A daily moisturising routine is especially important for mature skin, which naturally becomes thinner and drier over time.
• For best results, body moisturisers should be applied to clean, damp skin daily. This helps hydrate your skin and helps prevent water loss from the skin’s surface.

Before choosing a mature skin moisturiser, it’s essential to first understand how your skin changes over time. Here are some of the structural changes that occur as you age:

• Less collagen and elastin: There’s a decrease in several components that your skin needs to remain firm, smooth, and plump over time (such as collagen and elastin).
• Decrease in sebum production: As you age, your skin produces less sebum, an oily substance that helps the skin retain moisture. This can leave mature skin looking and feeling drier.
• Compromised skin barrier: Research shows that your skin’s protective barrier may become thinner with age. A weakened skin barrier can make it harder for your skin to keep moisture in and potential irritants out.

In skincare, the term “mature skin” is used to describe skin that’s showing natural signs of aging. Some common signs of aging include skin discoloration, uneven texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and loose or sagging skin. Research also shows that, because the skin becomes thinner with age, mature skin may have more visible veins and can be more prone to bruising.

Body moisturisers can offer several benefits for mature skin. For example, CeraVe’s body moisturisers with three essential ceramides can help maintain and restore your skin’s protective barrier. Our moisturisers are developed with dermatologists to deliver long-lasting hydration and help mature skin retain moisture. Keeping your skin properly hydrated can help improve the appearance of dry, crepey skin on your body and give it a more radiant, youthful-looking appearance.

There are nearly endless body moisturiser options to choose from—including body lotions, ointments, creams, and oils. Finding the right one for your skin’s needs is largely a matter of personal preference. However, if you have mature skin, you may want to reach for a thicker formula like a body cream or ointment—especially if you have very dry, itchy, or flaky skin. These formulas often include a higher oil-to-water ratio than lotions, and therefore, can be more intensely hydrating for dry mature skin.

Everyone’s skin matures over time, and this is true regardless of your skin type, whether it’s dry, oily, normal, combination, or sensitive. Mature skin is not considered a skin type in itself. This is why it’s best to choose a moisturiser that’s suitable for both mature skin and your actual skin type. It’s also worth considering if your skin type has changed over time since skin can become drier with age. Reading the product label carefully can help you determine whether a particular mature skin moisturiser is suitable for your skin.

Your body moisturiser for mature skin should include beneficial ingredients that are recommended by dermatologists. CeraVe moisturisers include carefully-selected ingredients that are backed by science. You’ll find ceramides in all our moisturisers—these lipids are like the glue that holds your skin cells together.

Choosing formulas that are recommended by dermatologists are so important as dermatologists are training to understand the needs of mature skin and the best ways to help care for it. CeraVe’s products are recommended by dermatologists which therefore gives you the confidence that every body moisturiser is formulated to help your skin look and feel its best.

CeraVe’s body moisturisers for mature skin are formulated without fragrance—and for good reason. Fragrance chemicals can add a pleasant scent to your skincare products, but they can also irritate your skin or trigger allergic reactions. We recommend opting for body moisturizers that are labeled “fragrance-free” if you have mature skin since older skin tends to be drier, thinner, and may be more sensitive.

Age-related skin concerns on your body may differ slightly from those on your face. For this reason, we suggest looking for moisturiser formulas that are designed to help address your primary body care concerns. For example, as you age, you may find that rough, flaky patches of skin worsen on your elbows, knees, and heels.