What Is the Best Skincare Routine for Women Over 70?

What changes after age 70?

After 70, skin often gets thinner, drier, and fussier about what you put on it. Natural oil levels drop, and changes in the skin barrier can leave you dealing with tightness, flakes, or products that suddenly sting.

Maybe your cheeks feel tight after washing, your hands look crepey, or that face cream you've used for years has started to sting. It happens. You don't need to rush out and buy five new products.

At this age, your skin usually needs more moisture and less rubbing. Hot showers, strong exfoliating acids, scratchy washcloths, and heavily scented creams can leave your face feeling worse. Start by dropping whatever makes your skin uncomfortable.

Does your routine need changing?

• Tight cheeks after washing
• Flakes around your nose
• Does your moisturizer sting when you put it on?
• Rough patches across your forehead

What should you use each morning?

A gentle cleanser, a rich moisturizer, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher are enough for a good morning routine. Three simple steps. No need to pile on products before breakfast.

Start with lukewarm water, not a hot splash straight from the tap. If your face doesn't feel oily when you wake up, a gentle rinse might be all you need. Otherwise, reach for a fragrance-free cream or lotion cleanser. Pat dry with a soft towel.

Put your moisturizer on while your skin is still a little damp. Glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid are worth looking for. When your cheeks feel tight by lunchtime, a thicker cream will usually feel better than a lightweight gel.

Finish with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Cover your face, ears, neck, and any exposed chest. Roughly two finger lengths for your face and neck is a useful starting point, though the amount depends on the product and coverage you need. Reapply every two hours outdoors, and again after swimming or sweating.

What goes on first?

• Rinse with lukewarm water or cleanse gently
• A generous layer of rich moisturizer is worth the extra few seconds, especially when your cheeks feel dry before you've even left the house.
• Heading outside? Cover your face and neck with SPF 30+
• Reapply sunscreen when you're spending time outdoors

What should you use at night?

At night, wash off your sunscreen and makeup with a gentle cleanser, then give your skin a good layer of moisturizer. That's the main job done. You can add one mild active ingredient if your skin tolerates it.

Keep your evening routine easy. A creamy cleanser should take off the day's sunscreen, makeup, and dirt without leaving your face feeling squeaky clean. Around your eyes, be especially gentle. No scrubbing or rough towel rubbing.

Follow with a richer moisturizer than you might use in the morning. If your cheeks or the skin around your mouth still feel dry, smooth on another thin layer. A basic fragrance-free cream is absolutely fine.

Retinoids can improve the look of fine lines and uneven texture, but they can also leave older skin dry and irritated. If you'd like to try one, start with a low-strength product. Use a pea-sized amount on completely dry skin once or twice a week, then moisturize. Keep it away from your eyelids and the corners of your nose and mouth. Stop if irritation develops. If you have a skin condition or use prescription skin treatments, talk to a dermatologist before starting.

Peptide moisturizers are another option if you'd like to add something without using a stronger exfoliating active. There's no need to use peptides and retinol together. Try one, or leave both out if your skin is happier that way.

What does your evening routine look like?

• Wash off sunscreen with a mild cleanser
• Gently pat your face dry rather than rubbing it with a towel
• If your skin tolerates it, try a pea-sized amount of retinoid once or twice a week
• Finish with a rich, fragrance-free cream

What should you stop using?

Anything that leaves your face burning, tight, or flaky can go. Start with harsh scrubs and strong exfoliants. Skin that's already thin and dry doesn't need extra rubbing.

Those gritty facial scrubs aren't doing mature skin any favors. They can leave dry patches feeling raw, especially around your nose and cheeks. Hot water and stiff cleansing brushes can cause trouble too, as can exfoliating products used too often.

Take a closer look at anything with a strong fragrance, high-strength acids, or several active ingredients in the same formula. If you're using retinol alongside glycolic acid and exfoliating pads, that's a lot for dry skin to handle. Simplify before adding another product.

You don't need a different cream for every little line or dry patch. A gentle cleanser, a moisturizer that feels good on your face, and daily sunscreen make a much better starting routine than a bathroom shelf full of half-used jars.

What can you leave out?

• No more gritty facial scrubs
• Hot water can leave already dry skin feeling even tighter, so turn down the shower temperature before washing your face.
• Does a fragranced product sting? Stop using it
• Stop layering several strong active ingredients