Have you reached the stage in your life where you look in the mirror and realize that the days of falling into bed with your makeup on are over? For those of us who were a little neglectful during our carefree teens and 20s, and stressful 30s and 40s, the later years of 50s and beyond is the time to make amends to our skin care routine. Menopause may be fully upon us or even past us. As estrogen diminishes over time, so does the skin’s resilience. However, a routine that’s tailored for our age can go a long way to making up for lost time. It’s never too late to start a proper skin care routine, even in our 50s.

Our Skin At 50 

“This is the decade that your skin really starts to lose its elasticity,” says Eminence Organics Product Support Representative Alana Henrikson. “Your skin barrier function becomes weakened.” Almost overnight, your skin’s elasticity and radiance can drastically change and will continue this change through the following decades, which means your skin care routine should change along with it. What kind of aging skin changes are we talking about? Here’s a rundown:

• Wrinkles
• Dark spots
• Ultra-dryness and dehydration
• Sensitivity and irritation
• Droopiness
• Large pores
• Inflammation
• Acne

The sun damage you got away with in your earlier years is taking its revenge in the form of dark spots and wrinkles. Collagen production is dipping: In the first five years of menopause, your skin produces only a mere 30% of what it did before. This reduces elasticity and brings on wrinkles. At 50, you may also notice jowls sagging and large pores appearing as gravity does its thing. Changing hormone and pH levels weaken skin even further, compromising its moisture barrier, especially around the eyes, lips and neck where the skin is thinner. Inflammation makes your skin more sensitive and irritable. And to add insult to injury, acne sometimes makes a return, a by-product of hormonal imbalance.  

It’s a long laundry list of dermatological grievances, but this is where an age-customized daily skin care routine can make a real difference to get younger looking skin at 50.

Best Skin Care Routine for Your 50s 

Get into a skin care routine that deals with your aging skin concerns head on. Every effective routine for the over-50s age group should feature these key steps. Once you become familiar with these steps, we have some of the best skin care products for over 50s, up next.

Cleanse

First, wash your face with tepid instead of hot water, which strips your skin of much-needed oil. And don’t use soap; instead, try a mild multi-action cleanser, like our Monoi Age Corrective Exfoliating Cleanser, which hydrates and firms while washing away impurities. If you are plagued with acne, use a cleanser with salicylic acid that unclogs pores but doesn’t dry out your skin. 

Tone

Toning prepares mature skin for the next step, helping to increase the absorption of active ingredients that follow. Replenish your skin with Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist which contains neroli oil and Natural Retinol Alternative Complex designed to restore the appearance of tautness and elasticity.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating is tricky with older skin. Removing dead skin cells restores the look of healthy glow and reduces signs of aging but collagen slowdown means your skin is thinner now and more vulnerable. So, go easy on the exfoliation with a gentle yet effective treatment like our Firm Skin Acai Exfoliating Peel. 

Mask

A weekly at-home treatment mask, like our Bamboo Age Corrective Masque, harnesses ingredients such as shea butter to help your skin look supple and rejuvenated.

Treat

One of the biggest problems with mature skin is hormonal changes. Collagen loss intensifies during menopause and continues post-menopause, leading to drooping, visible lines, bigger pores and pouches under the eyes. Serums like Eight Greens Youth Serum leave skin looking younger. You can also apply the Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil or Firm Skin Targeted Treatment to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Moisturize 

Where do we begin? There is a panoply of moisturizers to address specific skin problems that are common in aging skin. To combat the appearance of sagging skin, use moisturizers that provide lifting and tightening effects. For example, the Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer is rich in coconut oil, shea butter and grapeseed oil to hydrate the skin.

Eye Care 

If you’re starting to see the first signs of crow’s eyes, upgrade your skin routine to incorporate a smoothing eye cream. Hydrate the fragile area around the eyes with the Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream which contains shea butter and oils to return moisture to the skin. 

Sun Care

Sun and UV rays can have adverse effects at all stages of life. To protect your skin, rain or shine, sun care products with at least SPF 30 are your best ally. These basics are the start of your new skin care life: Embrace them! 

Need More? 3 Other Product Ideas For Your 50s

Looking for more recommendations? Our Product Support Team Lead Alicia Hawthorne gathered more product suggestions that you may prefer, depending on what skin issues you’re concerned with. 

If you’re dealing with extremely dry skin, there is no better source of hydration for mature skin than the Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer. Rich in shea butter and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, our Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer virtually erases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with its delivery of intense hydration thanks to the inclusion of a BioComplex, a booster of antioxidants, Coenzyme Q10, and alpha lipoic acid.

For an uneven skin tone, one easy remedy is our new Bright Skin Targeted Treatment which uses licorice root extract, punarnava and turmeric to reduce the look of dark spots. By dotting this powerful treatment on individual spots, you’ll find your complexion looking brighter and more even in skin tone.

One solution to improve skin elasticity is adding Bamboo Firming Fluid to your over 50 skin care routine. Formulated with strengthening agents like bamboo and coconut, this effective serum also includes Natural Retinol Alternative to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and Swiss Green Apples which reduce the signs of aging. These key ingredients work together to visibly tighten the look of skin and ensure you look younger and fresher. 

You can also supplement your routine with regular facial treatments at your nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner.  Experts can target your new concerns and make sure you’re giving your skin exactly what it needs. What changes are you spotting in your skin due to aging? Let us know in the comments below or share with us on social media.

Not in your 50s? Find skin care information for your age group:

• Skin Care Routine For Your 20s
• Skin Care Routine For Your 30s
• Skin Care Routine For Your 40s
• Skin Care Routine In Your 60s And Beyond

This post was originally written by Clara Young in January 2020.