As our skin ages, it demands different care and attention. While you may be able to get away with not using retinol or vitamin C in your early 20s, hyperpigmentation and sun spots can soon become a concern, warranting a different array of products. Even later in life, wrinkles and dullness can added to the equation. However, no matter what your age, it’s totally possible to maintain plump, hydrated, dewy skin— you just have to know which products to use and how to use them.
With that, 21Ninety spoke to eight mature women who have maintained vibrancy and youth in their skin and asked which holy grail items stand as a testament to their ageless luminosity.
Mature Skin Holy Grail Secrets
Lynda (62) Cetaphil
“Less has always been more for me. As a woman with naturally oily skin who wears makeup every day, I needed a cleanser that would clean the makeup off without drying my skin, leaving me with natural moisture. For me, that’s Cetaphil.”
Monica (65): Hyaluronic Acid
“Any hydrating creams with hyaluronic acid is a must for me. My skin can get dry and dull, but hyaluronic acid brings back my hydration and luminosity. It just makes my face feel plump. But my real second beauty secret is inner youthfulness and joy; there’s nothing that makes a woman prettier.”
Martha (55) Rose Water
“What’s most important to me is putting the least amount of chemicals on my skin. That’s why I love rose water, it’s so refreshing and toning while still being natural and making me feel connected to Mother Earth. I mist it on me every morning and always carry some in my purse.”
Veronica (58): SPF Moisturizer
“To me, moisturizer is essential. We have to deal with so much pollution nowadays, so it’s an easy way to protect and hydrate my skin. It’s even better when combined with a good sunscreen.”
Dorian (65) SPF
“My secret my entire life has been sunscreen, I try to remind all the young ladies I know to make sure they prioritize it. Any skin that looks aged just hasn’t been protecting itself from the sun, you need at least an SPF 30+ daily.”
Viviana (57) Facials
“I don’t know if this counts, but I’ve been getting facials at my local spa once a month since my mid-30s and it’s definitely my skincare secret. It’s such a deep and thorough cleaning, it leaves my skin glowing until my next appointment. It also just feels like a great act of self-care, no one is bothering me for that one hour and the steam is so relaxing.”
Natalie (64) Vaseline
“Vaseline! You want the truth, well that’s it. Every time I’d take my kids to the park people would ask me how I look so young and my husband would get embarrassed when I told them Vaseline. I remember Tyra Banks had an episode of her show where she said “I’m going to give you a beauty secret that’s going to save you so much money” and I’ve been using it ever since. I wash my face and lather it on at night.”
Susana (68) Vitamin C
“My youngest daughter has helped me a lot with my skincare, there was so much I didn’t know. She gave me Drunk Elephant’s Vitamin C serum and I’ve noticed such a change in how bright my skin is.”
Jenepher (67) Moisturizer
“My skincare routine is simple, I don’t do too much. But my favorite skincare item is Olay 7 in One Moisturizer. It hydrates my skin without being too oily; I pack it first every time I come back to Barbados.”