The Best Moisturizer for Aging Skin: Hydrate, Nourish, and Rejuvenate

As the saying goes, ‘Youth is wasted on the young.’ However, at Tatcha we believe aging is both a privilege and a gift. That doesn’t mean growing older is all smooth sailing, especially regarding your skin. Skin naturally becomes thinner, more fragile, and drier with age, so it requires a certain set of ingredients to support its mission to look and feel wonderful. One of the most important tools in your skincare arsenal is a facial moisturizer. The best moisturizer for aging skin will have specific formulas that support, repair, and nourish your skin. To simplify things, we’ve compiled the best face moisturizers for aging skin, from tightening neck creams to hydrating facial balms—here’s how to support your skin no matter your age.

Aging Skin 101

Ever wonder why fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of volume occur? This is perfectly normal and happens because as we age, we produce less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in the skin, which makes facial lines and sagging skin more apparent. Some research has shown that this loss of collagen and elastin production starts as early as the mid-twenties and is one of the main causes of looser, sagging, and more fragile skin as we age. This change is often seen as unfortunate in Western culture, but in Japan, aging is viewed as a gift rather than something to dread, says Tatcha’s founder Vicky Tsai. “The Japanese approach is about having the best skin of your life, at any age,” she writes in Pure Skin. The Japanese perspective is about simple but proven things, like maintaining a proper skincare ritual, a healthy lifestyle, and diet. While a healthy lifestyle and diet are solely in your hands, we can help advise on a helpful skincare routine, particularly the best facial moisturizer for aging skin.

Best Face Cream for Aging Skin Ingredients

Are face creams specifically marketed for aging skin really that different from any other types of moisturizers? Yes, actually, for a few reasons, including ingredients and texture. Ingredients are especially important as aging skin craves certain formulas that we naturally lose over time. Here are a few things to seek out when it comes to your healthy-aging face cream.

Humectants 

Humectants attract and retain water in the skin, which translates to skin that looks and feels more hydrated, plump, and comforted. The most famous humectant is also naturally found in our skin: hyaluronic acid. Other popular and worthy humectants include glycerin, aloe vera, peptides, and algae.

Occlusives

Occlusives create a barrier on the surface of the skin, locking in moisture. Humectants and occlusives work hand-in-hand, helping to attract moisture and then lock it in for long-term hydration. Popular occlusives are squalane, petrolatum, waxes, and oils.

Antioxidants 

Antioxidants are potent substances that can prevent or slow cell damage and aging. They’re helpful for all skin types, but can help aging skin reduce inflammation and free radicals — two common issues that can expedite premature aging. The most common and celebrated antioxidants are vitamins C and E, niacinamide, and retinol and its gentler alternatives.

Peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are naturally occurring in our skin. They help the resilience and structure of our skin—basically skin’s health and appearance. What makes them so impressive is that they can absorb into the skin easily when applied topically and can directly communicate with our skin’s cells, telling them to accomplish a task. That task can be varied, from increasing skin’s hydration and improving the skin barrier to reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dullness.

Ceramides 

Ceramides are fats, or lipids, found in high concentrations in the uppermost layers of our skin. How important are they to our skin? It’s estimated that up to 50 percent of our skin is composed of ceramides and they perform the vital tasks of creating a protective barrier on the skin, preventing water loss, and restricting the entry of external stressors. Basically, ceramides help the skin function properly, working to protect and restore the skin barrier. Skin barrier protection is arguably their most important quality, as a healthy barrier keeps skin looking and feeling hydrated and radiant.

Skincare Routine for Aging Skin

Before we dive into the best moisturizer for aging skin, let’s first highlight the most ideal skincare routine for aging skin. After all, if you’re not using the right products (and in the correct order), your moisturizer won’t work at its most effective potential. Here is the best skincare routine for aging skin.

Cleanse

The first and arguably most vital part of any skincare routine, especially one for aging skin, is cleansing. In the morning, most skin can simply be cleansed with a gentle cleanser or splashed with water. But in the evening, skin needs deep and thoughtful cleansing. We believe every skin type, especially aging skin, can benefit from the Kyoto Cleanse—also known as the Double Cleanse. It is the two-step protocol favored throughout Japan, beloved for its ability to help reduce the look of pore size, diminish the appearance of fine lines, refine surface texture, and prep skin for the next steps in your routine. It also is just one of the most effective ways to remove every stitch of makeup, sunscreen, and debris from the skin, too.

Plump

The second step of your aging skincare routine is using a multi-purpose essence. Essences work to reveal softer, more healthy-looking skin, while also replenishing moisture, and increasing radiance. It is also proven to make the other products in your skincare routine more effective.

Serum 

Aging can also show up as fine lines, increased dryness, hyperpigmentation, and a loss of skin elasticity. Serums are particularly helpful at targeting these common aging signs because they are highly potent skincare solutions that work to increase the overall effectiveness of your entire skincare ritual. Using a serum is one of the best tricks to maintaining healthy-looking skin all day long, making it one of the most important tools in your aging skin toolkit.

Moisturize

The star of the show! Moisturizers are the one step you should never skip. The right moisturizer for your skin type will work to help your skin attract and hold onto water, as well as repair the skin barrier to rejuvenate and restore hydration. A nourishing and intensely hydrating cream can even help boost the appearance of healthy-looking skin.

Protect

There are two types of sun rays: ultraviolet-A (UVA), which causes premature aging, and ultraviolet-B (UVB), which causes burning. Look for chemical or physical sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum coverage so you’re protected against both types of rays. You might find it beneficial to also wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun-protective clothing, and larger sunglasses if you’re anticipating extensive sun exposure, too.

Best Moisturizer for Aging Skin

We all have a skin type—find yours here. As we age, our skin might alter or adapt, but likely you are either oily, dry, normal, or combination. With that in mind, here are the best facial moisturizers for aging skin, curated exclusively for your skin type and needs.

Best Moisturizer for Aging Chronically Dry Skin

Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream

Can’t seem to ever hydrate your skin enough? Is it always craving deeper moisture? This formula was made just for you! This intensely rich, hydrating cream nourishes the skin with botanical extracts and proprietary Hadasei-3 complex. This is our richest formula, which is ideal for addressing the advanced signs of aging and dehydration.

Best Moisturizer for Oily Aging Skin 

The Water Cream

Aging skin can still be oily. For those experiencing both, reach for this refreshing gel-cream, which is clinically proven to refine pores, thoughtfully hydrate, and smooth skin’s texture. This water-based formula, featuring glycerin and wild rose, balances skin and imparts radiance with a lightweight feel.

Best Moisturizer for Dry Aging Skin

The Dewy Skin Cream

Dry skin can be frustrating. Defy it by hydrating with this rich cream texture, which provides antioxidant protection and improves barrier function. Visibly plump skin and seal in moisture with the beloved formula that features hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane.

Best Moisturizer for Aging Sensitive Skin

The Indigo Calming Cream

Experiencing irritation, discomfort, or sensitivity? Grab this one-of-a-kind treatment that relieves redness, itchiness, and visible irritation and has been endorsed by the National Eczema Association. Featuring clinically proven colloidal oatmeal and Japanese indigo extract, the soothing cream acts as a soothing salve for sensitive, aging skin.

Best Moisturizer for Aging Combination Skin

The Silk Cream

Toe the line between deeply hydrating and balancing combination skin with this rich yet weightless gel-cream formula. Proven to boost elasticity for firmer-looking skin, the formula includes silk extract, squalane, and the famed natural retinol alternative Bulgarian rose.

Best Moisturizer for Neck Aging

Ageless Revitalizing Neck Cream

It’s easy to overlook our necks (although they need just as much TLC as the rest of our faces). Nourish and brighten the neck and décolletage with this firming cream that has vitamin C and potent botanical extracts to address fine lines and wrinkles.

No matter your moisturizer of choice, make sure it’s part of a larger routine (whether it’s a minimalist or maximalist regimen). Aging skin loves consistency, especially when it comes to a nourishing and hydrating moisturizer every single day.