How To Choose a CeraVe Body Moisturizer for Mature Skin

What Happens To Your Skin As You Age?

Before choosing a moisturizer for mature skin, 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 (the outermost layer of your skin) may become thinner with age^.1 A weakened skin barrier can make it harder for your skin to keep moisture in and potential irritants out.
  
  

These internal changes can also be influenced by a person’s lifestyle, environment, and overall health. For example, dryness in mature skin may be worsened by cleansers or other products, low humidity, and other behavioral or environmental factors over time. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), certain medications and medical conditions may also contribute to dry, itchy skin in older adults.²

What Is Mature Skin?

In skincare, the term “mature skin” is used to describe skin that’s showing natural signs of aging. Some common signs of aging include dryness, skin discoloration (also known as “dark spots” or “age spots”), 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.²

As mentioned above, mature skin can lose moisture easily, which is why older adults often experience dry, flaky, and itchy skin on their face or body. It may also appear scaly, flaky, or ashy in appearance. There’s no particular age in which your skin is considered “mature”—signs of aging can develop due to many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including genetics, hormones, lifestyle, and environment. According to the Cleveland Clinic, although signs of aging can begin as early as 25, people generally seek out anti-aging skincare products between the ages of 40 and 55.³

Choosing a Body Moisturizer for Mature Skin

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

 

But before you slather on any body lotion, there are a few factors to consider. Keep reading to discover CeraVe’s top tips and steps for choosing a body moisturizer for aging skin.

Step 1: Find the ideal moisturizer type for mature skin

There are nearly endless body moisturizer 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.

Note: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends skipping body oils if you’re an older adult, as these slippery formulas may increase the risk of falls.²

Step 2: Understand your skin type

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, so it’s important to choose a moisturizer 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 moisturizer is suitable for your skin.

Step 3: Look for beneficial ingredients for mature skin

CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist-recommended body moisturizer and skincare brand in the USA. Our moisturizers include carefully-selected ingredients that are backed by science. For example, you’ll find ceramides in all of our moisturizers—these lipids are naturally occurring in skin, where they function like the glue that holds your skin cells together.

Adopting a regular skincare routine can help support your skin’s natural moisture barrier, which, as we learned above, may weaken with age. Other helpful ingredients to look for in CeraVe’s moisturizers include dimethicone, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Many of our moisturizers also contain MVE Delivery Technology, which delivers a steady stream of moisturizing ingredients for all-day hydration.

Step 4: Choose formulas developed with dermatologists

Dermatologists are the experts of the skincare world. They’re trained to understand the needs of mature skin and the best ways to help care for it. All CeraVe products—including our moisturizers that are suitable for mature skin—are developed with dermatologists. This way, you can feel confident that your body moisturizer is expertly formulated with beneficial ingredients.

Step 5: Avoid body moisturizers with fragrance

CeraVe’s body moisturizers are formulated without fragrance. Although fragrance can add a pleasant scent to your skincare products, they may 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.

Step 6: Consider your skin concerns

Age-related skin concerns on your body may differ slightly from those on your face. For this reason, we suggest looking for moisturizer 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. One way to help alleviate uncomfortable dry patches in these areas is with an occlusive skin protectant—such as an ointment that contains petrolatum.

Note: If your mature skin is chronically itchy, uncomfortable, or cracks, bleeds, or interferes with your quality of life, it’s important to consult your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist.

CeraVe Body Moisturizers for Mature Skin

Here are three CeraVe moisturizers that can help support smoother, softer, and more hydrated skin.

 

For normal to dry mature skin: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion is an ideal moisturizer for mature skin that is normal to dry. This oil-free body moisturizer with hyaluronic acid is non-greasy and makes an excellent option for those who prefer a lightweight lotion formula. It gently moisturizes mature skin, helps restore the protective skin barrier, and leaves your skin feeling comfortable. Plus, the hydrating formula also features our MVE Delivery Technology, which continually releases moisturizing ingredients to support hydration levels all day long.

For dry to very dry mature skin: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

When it comes to caring for mature skin from head to toe, we recommend CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. This body and face cream can be used daily to restore the look and feel of mature skin, helping skin appear supple, smooth, and healthy-looking. It features hyaluronic acid, ceramides, MVE Technology, and a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic formula. It’s also accepted by the National Eczema Association (NEA) and American Diabetes Association (ADA). We suggest trying CeraVe Moisturizing Cream if you’re looking for a rich, non-greasy, and fast-absorbing moisturizer that has a thicker cream texture than our Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

For very dry, rough mature skin: CeraVe Healing Ointment

Ointments are typically considered the thickest moisturizer option, which can make them a helpful tool for improving the appearance of extremely dry, flaky, and rough skin patches on the body. Ointments, such as CeraVe Healing Ointment, usually contain occlusive ingredients (such as petrolatum) that form a protective barrier on top of the skin–-sealing in moisture and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Formulated with 46.5% petrolatum, as well as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, our Healing Ointment is designed to temporarily protect, soothe, and hydrate your skin. The formula is fragrance-free, lanolin-free, non-comedogenic, and suitable for all skin types—making it a useful moisturizer for older skin.

CeraVe Tip: All of the body moisturizers mentioned above are also suitable for use on your face, allowing you to simplify and streamline your daily skincare routine for mature skin. When in doubt, ask your dermatologist which type of facial moisturizer is best for your skin’s unique needs.

For help choosing the right products for your specific skin type and mature skin concerns, use our Find My Skincare Solution tool.