What is the best skincare routine for over 50, and how do I take care of my skin in my 50 plus years? Our skincare routine may need to change as we mature to match the change of chemistry in our bodies. For example, as we get older and enter menopause, we will experience a decline in estrogen, which causes our collagen production to drop off. This can make our skin dryer and skin to be looser.
Never fear, though. By adjusting our skincare routine and adding some anti-aging ingredients, we can combat the effects of aging skin and have a youthful glow for years to come. Paula’s Choice is my recommended line of skincare for those over 50. ✅ Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment is my favorite! Read on for your skincare routine and recommendations.
Skincare Strategy
Time and gravity have an impact on our skin. You may start to see deeper wrinkles, sun spots or pigmentation, crepe texture, and a loss of volume in your skin. When this happens, it may be time to look for an overhaul in your routine.
Your main focus should be on maintaining your skin health and ensuring your skin is protected against further damage. Along with that, adjusting the ingredients in your skincare routine will add anti-aging benefits and even improve your skin!
Although you can use any products you wish that follow these guidelines, I use Paula’s Choice products. They are reasonably priced and scientifically backed. Their products are fragrance-free and never tested on animals. Their philosophy is “smart, safe beauty.”
I recommend the RESIST line for either Normal to Dry skin OR Normal to oily skin. I will share these with you below.
Remember always to treat your neck, decolletage, and backs of hands the same as you treat your face to keep all of your tender skin youthful.
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Cleanser
Mature skin needs to be treated with a mild cleanser that won’t dry the skin or strip it of its natural oils yet removes makeup, oil, and pollutants. Use lukewarm water to wash off, and then pat the skin dry with a soft cloth.
Toner
Using a toner replenishes the skin and removes any last traces of makeup. Use a toner to maintain the PH balance of your skin and add a layer of moisture.
Exfoliant
The slower turnover of the skin may require a gentle exfoliant to get a top layer of dead skin off. An exfoliant also minimizes your pores and smoothes the skin to reveal a youthful glow. You can exfoliate with either a gentle scrub or chemical exfoliant. Use a mild exfoliant daily and a higher strength exfoliant once a week.
Exfoliation may be the single most important step to add to your skincare routine over 50 to give your skin a more youthful look. See the post on Dry Skin Over 50? Why You Need to Exfoliate as to why you need to exfoliate regularly.
Treatment-Serum
Using a serum with super antioxidants will give your skin a boost and add a soothing replenishment of moisture.
In our 30’s and 40’s, hyaluronic levels decrease, making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. A serum with hyaluronic acid helps replenish and retain cell moisture. Hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times its weight in water! Serums have a higher concentration of these moisture and antioxidant ingredients than creams or lotions.
Moisturizer
Be sure to use a moisturizer with SPF for the day as the sun is the single most detriment to our skin. Then, follow up in the evening with a regular moisturizer.
Skincare Routine Over 50 For Normal to Dry Skin
Step 1: Cleanser-Paula’s Choice RESIST Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
- Use in AM and PM
- Replenishes moisture and helps preserve the skin’s barrier while gently cleansing the face and removing makeup.
- Green Tea and Chamomile
- Anti-Aging for dry skin
- Paula’s Choice makes products that work. No fragrance. No parabens. No fluff. Just effective, science-backed formulas.
Step 2: Toner-Paula’s Choice RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner
- Use in AM and PM
- This formula is fortified with the antioxidants Vitamins C and E to nourish and revitalize the skin.
- Visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and brightens uneven skin tone.
Step 3: Exfoliant -Paula’s Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment
- Use AM and PM
- This daily use exfoliant uses 5% AHA with glycolic acid to revitalize the skin’s texture and visibly even skin tone.
- Hydrate, Brighten, and Smooth Fine Lines! Non-abrasive leave-on exfoliant is gentle enough for daily use.
- Anti-aging lotion exfoliates dead skin cells while clearing pores for a more even tone, plus it visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Step 4: Serum-Paula’s Choice RESIST Super Antioxidant Serum With Vitamin C
- Use AM and PM
- This serum with vitamin C is a silky serum with stabilized Vitamin C peptides plus potent antioxidants that restore hydration to dry, sun damaged skin.
Step 5: Moisturize AM- Paula’s Choice RESIST Skin Restoring Moisturizer With SPF 50
- Use in AM
- This skin restoring moisturizer with SPF 50 is a rich hydrating formula that protects the skin of the face and neck from sun damage while pampering sensitive, dry skin with moisture and antioxidants.
Step 5: Moisturize PM- Paula’s Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer With Retinol
- Use in PM
- Nourishes dehydrated skin while promoting a firmer-looking radiant complexion.
- It helps prevent moisture loss and repair skin’s natural barrier while feeling light on the skin.
- Visibly improves the skin while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Once a Week: Exfoliant-Paula’s Choice RESIST Smoothing Treatment 10%AHA
- Use this super-concentrated exfoliant once a week or as needed with your evening routine.
- Minimize fine lines and clear pores.
- Four alpha-hydroxy acids reveal firmer-looking skin.
- Beta Hydroxy Acid minimizes and clears pores.
Skincare Routine Over 50 For Normal To Oily Skin
Step 1: Cleanser- Paula’s Choice RESIST Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser
- Paula’s Choice–RESIST Perfectly Balanced Anti-Aging Facial Cleanser is formulated to gently remove makeup and excess oil to leave the face washed clean but never tight or dry. It also contains sunflower seed oil & aloe to keep skin supple & youthful.
- Use RESIST Perfectly Balanced Anti-Aging Facial Cleanser twice daily as part of your morning and evening skincare routine.
- PERFECTLY BALANCED–This balancing face wash helps visibly reduce enlarged pores & leaves skin with a refreshed feeling. Replenishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid help condition skin, leaving your face feeling exceptionally smooth & clear.
Step 2: Toner- Paula’s Choice RESIST Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner
- ANTI-AGING TONER–This super lightweight formula tones, repairs, and refines for visibly smaller pores and noticeably reduced fine lines and wrinkles, giving skin a more youthful appearance. Contains niacinamide and skin-soothing antioxidants and extracts.
- Paula’s Choice–RESIST Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner visibly smooths signs of sun damage and aging and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores & improving skin tone. This multitasking toner soothes & repairs for instantly visible results.
- Use Paula’s Choice RESIST Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner twice daily as part of your morning & evening skincare routines, along with your favorite Paula’s Choice cleanser, exfoliator, serums, spot treatments, & moisturizer with SPF for daytime wear.
Step 3: Exfoliant- Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Pore Refining Treatment 2% BHA
- DAILY LEAVE-ON EXFOLIATOR: This water-light formula cleanses, exfoliates, and refines for visibly smaller pores and noticeably reduced fine lines and wrinkles. Packed with nourishing antioxidants and anti-aging peptides, you’ll see results at first use.
- HYDRATE, BRIGHTEN & SMOOTH FINE LINES: Our unique, non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant is gentle enough for daily use on all skin types. Exfoliates dead skin cells while clearing pores for a more even tone, plus it visibly reduces fine lines & wrinkles.
- Use Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Pore-Refining Treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening skincare routines along with your favorite Paula’s Choice cleanser, toner, serums, spot treatments, and moisturizer with SPF for daytime wear.
Step 4: Serum- Paula’s Choice Ultra Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum
- Paula’s Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum (30ml)
Step 5: Moisturize AM-Paula’s Choice RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50
- RESIST AND RENEW–This light yet powerful SPF 50 moisturizer provides broad-spectrum sun protection to prevent premature aging of the skin. In addition, it boosts your skin’s defenses with a blend of potent antioxidants. Has a water-light consistency & matte finish. PACKAGING MAY VARY.
- Paula’s Choice RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer provides effective UVA & UVB protection plus hydration for a healthier, younger-looking complexion. Its satin-matte finish leaves skin feeling smooth & hydrated.
- Use Paula’s Choice RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 daily as part of your morning skincare routine along with your favorite Paula’s Choice cleanser, toner, serums, spot treatments, exfoliators, and eye creams as needed.
Step 5: Moisturize-Paula’s Choice RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator
- MULTI-TASKING ANTI-AGING HYDRATION FORMULA–This advanced formula targets uneven skin tone, discolorations, pore size, and hydration. A true multitasker fights the signs of aging while improving texture and refining pores for instantly visible results.
- Paula’s Choice–RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator Moisturizer contains antioxidants and skin-repairing ingredients to stimulate healthy collagen production to reduce wrinkles, repair sun damage, and fade red marks and discolorations from past breakouts.
- Ideal for softening and smoothing the skin of the face, neck, and eye area. Use daily as the final step in your skincare routines, morning and evening, after your favorite Paula’s Choice cleanser, toner, exfoliant, serums, spot treatments, and moisturizers.
Once A Week: Exfoliant- Paula’s Choice RESIST Advanced Pore-Refining Treatment 4% BHA
- BHA EXFOLIANT: With 4% BHA this is a uniquely effective facial exfoliator gel that gently clears pores & removes dull skin without the use of harsh abrasives or brushes. BHA gently smooths dull, bumpy skin, while antioxidants fight visible signs of aging
- HYDRATE, BRIGHTEN & SMOOTH FINE LINES: Our unique, non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant is gentle enough for daily use on all skin types. Exfoliates dead skin cells while clearing pores for a more even tone, plus it visibly reduces fine lines & wrinkles.
- Use once a week with your nighttime routine.
Bonus Skincare Boost
Facial Massage
Using a face roller is especially beneficial for mature skin:
- It works to sculpt the facial muscles giving more defined cheekbones and jawline.
- Using this relaxing tool, you will reduce the fluid buildup in your face giving it a smoother appearance.
- The face roller improves blood flow and cell turnover, which boosts collagen production.
- It feels amazing, especially when you refrigerate the roller first!
Roll the facial muscles along the jawline and upward toward the cheekbones. Gently roll under eyes and across the forehead. Roll upwards on the neck toward the jawline.
Check out this video to see how amazing this tool can be!
Get yours here:
Final Notes About Your Skincare Routine Over 50
Just as we transition into a new way of life, we need to change up our skincare routine at 50. Trust me, your skin will thank you when you are 90 if you start now!
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