Give your mature skin a gorgeous glow with this nontoxic, over 60 skin care routine.
Can you improve your skin’s look and health at 60 or over? Absolutely! But it’s important to be gentle with yourself and your skin.
That means avoiding toxins and opting for clean skincare products with safe, natural formulas. However, confronting the dizzying array of anti-aging products and understanding what “clean” or “safe” really means can be overwhelming.
That’s where I come in (hi, I’m Mary Benoit; you can learn more about my expertise as a skincare professional here). Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about skin care for women over 60.
What Happens To Skin After Menopause?
Though genetics and lifestyle make everyone’s skin different, all skin goes through similar changes with age. Many of these changes are caused by collagen production decline and loss of collagen, including:
- Loss of elasticity
- Thinning
- Appearance of wrinkles
- Fine lines
- Sagging
- Fragility
As mother nature would have it, our body produces less collagen around age 40. Within the first five years of menopause, women lose roughly 30 percent of their skin’s collagen.
That’s why it’s so important to use products that help keep your delicate skin barrier strong and healthy to avoid pesky skin perfections.
Another gift age graces us with? Slower cellular turnover. Our bodies don’t replace old skin cells or heal free radical damage as quickly as possible, inviting issues that can harm the appearance of skin or cause uneven skin tone, including:
- Dry skin
- Dead skin cell buildup
- Rough texture
- Dullness
- Sun spots and age spots caused by sun damage
What can we do about it? Actually, a lot!
A healthy lifestyle is vital, but your holy grail is maintaining a clean skin care routine that naturally rectifies collagen loss and keeps skin healthy.
Why Women Over 60 Should Prioritize Clean Skin Care
Many products for a typical 60-year-old woman’s skincare routine contain harmful or toxic ingredients: hormone-imbalancing parabens or phthalates, moisture-stripping PEGs, nondescript “fragrances,” carcinogens galore.
Since cosmetic products can be sold without FDA approval of their ingredients, it’s on us to stay informed.
Our wrinkles may echo our wisdom, but that doesn’t mean we have to settle for subpar skin care. The first step in learning how to take care of mature skin is to nix the toxins.
That’s why I have spent years researching and trying clean beauty products. I’ll save you the headache and suggest only the cleanest, safest products for your mature skin. Actually, I take a nontoxic approach to life in general—but especially when it comes to anti-aging skincare products.
(Learn more about clean, nontoxic living here).
So, what is considered clean?
- Plant-based (botanical) natural ingredients
- No animal testing
- Environmentally responsible
- No toxic ingredients
- Credible certifications to back claims
While clean skin care is definitely about looking for high quality ingredients, it’s also about looking for the ingredients that AREN’T in your products.
For instance, you’ll want to steer clear of ingredients like:
- Carbon Black
- DEA, MEA, TEA
- 1,4-Dioxane
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrance
- Ethoxylated Agents
- Hydroquinone
- Octinoxate
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Refined Petroleum
- Titanium Dioxide
While products with these ingredients may address immediate skin concerns or conceal skin imperfections temporarily, the toxins do their damage to your skin health over time with long-term use.
To protect your skin from damage caused by environmental factors and natural aging, you need a skin care regimen with natural anti-aging ingredients you can trust.
My Go-To Over 60 Skincare Routine
I’ve tried many skincare products and discovered that the best skincare routine for women over 60 is one that gently cleanses, nourishes, and protects skin with clean, evidence-based, active ingredients.
In addition to drinking lots of water every single day, here’s a skincare routine with anti-aging benefits that I personally use and recommend.
Step 1: Gently Cleanse and Exfoliate
The first step of an over 60 skincare routine is daily washing and exfoliating. Beyond removing makeup and buildup of dead skin and pollutants, this step keeps your skin hydrated, smooth, and balanced.
Wear makeup every day? Use an oil cleanser like the Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil from One Love Organics, which removes makeup and grime while maintaining your skin’s moisture and pH balance.
Another great option with moisture-saving, plant-based collagen is Albyn Beauty’s Juneberry & Collagen Hydrating Cream Cleanse, which softens and exfoliates. Silky, smooth, safely cleansed skin? Yes, please.
Afterward, a toner will provide some hydration and pH balance. I recommend a lightweight, non-drying, aloe-based toner like Josh Rosebrook’s Hydrating Accelerator.
Step 2: Smooth Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Need an extra boost of hydration? One of the best over 60 skincare add-ons is facial serum.
Great natural face serums have ingredients like vitamins, peptides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and botanical oils. Hyaluronic acid serums and vitamin C serums are two of my absolute favorites.
Vitamin C is a phenomenal, scientifically backed ingredient for combating wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots—plus, it gives you a brightness boost!
Two of my go-to vitamin C-based serums are OIO Lab’s The Future is Bright Vitamin C Oil and Maya Chia’s Super Lift Vitamin C-More Serum.
Want to target fine lines or bags around the eyes? Try a potent eye cream, like the caffeine-infused PlantGenius® Line-Filling Eye Balm by Alpyn Beauty or the Eyebright Eye Serum from One Love Organics Love, for a hydrating burst of radiance.
Step 3: Hydrate and Moisturize
Maintaining moisture is paramount for combating dryness and thinning. And our mature skin is thirsty for hydration.
My go-to nighttime cream is the Advanced Response Complex Face and Neck Cream from Maya Chia, which has antioxidants and peptides that moisturize and firm skin. Bonus sustainability points for their recycled jars and refill pods!
Is your skin reactive? A fragrance-free ceramide cream like Skin Stuff from Graydon can help soothe and restore your sensitive skin.
Step 4. Protect Skin with SPF
Did you know that UV exposure is likely responsible for 80 percent of visible facial aging? No doubts here: daily UV protection is crucial for skincare over 60.
What’s an ideal clean sunscreen? It should offer over 30 SPF, be mineral-based, and act as a high-quality, non-toxic sunblock. Look for formulations with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
I always reach for the antioxidant-rich Le Prunier Plumscreen or algae-infused Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum by MARA. Liberally apply sunscreen to your face and neck after moisturizing to soak up the sun safely.
Natural Tips
The cleanest over 60 skincare routine goes beyond products and becomes a lifestyle with daily habits like:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Getting enough sleep
- Staying active
- Eating fresh fruit and veggies
- Wearing protective clothing in the sun
Keep your beauty counter clean by carefully reading labels, researching products to ensure they’re scientifically backed, and prioritizing high-quality, plant-based ingredients.
Skin Care For Women Over 60: Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you get a facial?
If you can swing it financially, you could get a spa facial every 3-4 weeks. But there’s no need for that if you’re budget-conscious—at-home facials once a month work, too.
Should women over 60 use retinol?
Women over 60 can still experience positive, visible effects when using retinol serums. When using retinol, don’t forget to include your neck—you’ll see a difference there as well if used regularly.
How often should a 60 year old woman wash her face?
Women over 60 can keep their skin clean, clear, and healthy by washing their face twice a day. Creamy, gentle cleansers work best for all skin types since they nourish without stripping valuable oils from the skin.
How can I tighten my skin after 60?
There are so many non-surgical options to choose from! There are tightening serums, facial exercises, tightening cleansers, and tightening moisturizers. Try multiple solutions at a time for faster results.
Ready To Light Up Your Skin?
Achieving radiant skin after 60 is more possible than ever. But the world of nontoxic anti-aging skincare routine products is overwhelming, especially when it comes to women’s 60 and over skincare. As most of us have learned with age, it’s best to keep things simple.
Opting for clean, minimalist products in your over 60 skincare routine is a simple way to feel fresh, responsible, and aging as beautifully as ever.
Crave more clean beauty? Visit my shop to browse the world’s cleanest beauty products, vetted and trusted by yours truly!
