Combat dry, crepey, and uneven mature skin with these hydrating and firming formulas.
Getting older means our skin gets thinner and drier and loses elasticity due to a loss of collagen—which is why adding back hydration is key to keeping your skin firm and youthful. Your skincare routine likely already includes a facial moisturizer for mature skin, under-eye wrinkle creams, and maybe even a neck cream—but adding in one of the best body lotions for aging skin is just as important.
“As we age, our skin undergoes structural and biochemical changes that are often less talked about than facial aging,” says Nayan Patel, Pharm.D., and the founder of Auro Skincare. “It can show up as roughness, dullness, crepiness, sagging, and skin laxity, and may also be associated with increased itch or irritation,” explains Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York.
When it comes to choosing a body lotion for mature skin, “it is important to look for key ingredients that will help to boost hydration, repair the skin, and improve overall skin texture and tone,” says Dr. Garshick. First and foremost, look for a humectant that will help retain moisture in the skin, advises Noah Gratch, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist also at MDCS Dermatology. “Clinically, maintaining hydration is critical even with lightweight formulas.” Additionally, anti-aging ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, antioxidants, and retinol can help address mature skin concerns.
Not sure where to start? Here are recommendations from our board-certified dermatologist experts and our own editor-tested favorites.
To bring you the best body lotions for aging skin of all types, we received expert information and recommendations from Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology; Noah Gratch, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology; and Nayan Patel, Pharm.D., founder of Auro Skincare. Additionally, we included our own favorite and editor-tested picks, and combed through hundreds of reviews, ratings, and product specs.
This ultra-hydrating moisturizer from La Roche-Posay comes highly recommended for aging skin by Dr. Garshick. “It works to provide 48-hour hydration using a blend of glycerin, shea butter, ceramides, niacinamide, and the La Roche Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water,” she says, also noting that it’s “great for mature skin.” Suitable for use on both the body and face, the dermatologist-tested formula is designed to provide long-lasting hydration to relieve dry skin and soothe itching. It’s also accepted by the National Eczema Association, meaning it’s suitable for those with eczema or sensitive skin.
This popular drugstore lotion from Cetaphil delivers long-lasting hydration for aging skin—and it’s affordable at just $12 for a large 16-ounce bottle. Its key ingredients are a combination of AHAs (mandelic acid) and CICAs (centella asiatica), which gently exfoliate and promote cell turnover while penetrating deep into the epidermis to hydrate and restore the barrier. Translation: It’s great for firming skin and reducing the appearance of crepiness.