Here’s how to build a necessary sun protection routine with tips, techniques, and recommendations specifically tailored toward mature and aging skin.
Sunscreen is essential for every (and any) person’s skin, so it tracks that there are SPFs for just about any (and every) person’s skin type. There are lightweight sunscreens formulated for oilier faces; creamy sunscreens made just for dry skin; others that are just for hands. That’s a good thing, because it makes sun protection accessible to everybody who needs it, which is, again, everybody.
For mature or aging skin in particular, which has needs that are unique from other skin types, choosing a sunscreen might not be as simple as plucking one off of the shelf. All skin types age, and at a certain point, features of mature skin begin to make themselves visible. It’s one of the great beauties of living—they are badges of life. Nevertheless, just like oily skin benefits from a little salicylic acid, or dry skin enjoys extra ceramides, mature skin has its own needs and treatments.
In other words, some sunscreens are better than others for mature skin. Here is a bit of information about that, including the needs of mature skin and the best sunscreen for aging skin.
What is mature skin?
Every skin type ages, and every face is maturer than it was a minute earlier. Usually, skin is considered mature when the signs of aging become more visible. Dermatologists agree this usually begins in a person’s 40s, though it can also begin in one’s late 30s, as their skin’s rate of cell turnover declines.
As time naturally wears on, skin naturally wears down. Collagen and elastin fibers in the matrix of the skin become less densely crowded, causing wrinkles and a loss of firmness. This kind of aging is sometimes called intrinsic aging, and it's accompanied by extrinsic aging, which is caused by external factors like pollutants or sun damage. The easiest way to check if you have mature skin is to consider your chronological age, and it’s never a bad idea to visit your dermatologist to talk about how your skin is actually aging. Then you can figure out what specific needs it may have.
What are the needs of mature skin?
The basic needs of mature skin are the same as any skin type. But as skin ages, a few become more pressing than others.
Sun protection. According to the Cleveland Clinic, overexposure to light is a top cause of skin aging. This is sometimes caused by HEV, or blue light from devices like smartphones, but ultraviolet light from the sun causes an estimated 90% of visual aging. UV radiation can damage the DNA within our cells, and while our bodies can repair some of that damage, it can’t repair it all. The onus is on us to exercise proper sun protection.
Moisture and hydration. Dryness is particularly common among older adults, according to an article in Aging Well. That’s because as we age, and particularly as we go through menopause, we gradually lose important built-in moisturizers like hyaluronic acid that bind water to the skin, and other systems, like our sebaceous glands, begin to produce less sebum over time. Even those for whom dryness was never a skin issue may start to see their skin drying out more easily as they age—in the winter, or after a hot bath.
Tone and texture. Other calling cards of aging skin include changes in tone—due to hyperpigmentation, or increased redness—and texture—due to dryness or fine lines. Topical ingredients like retinol and niacinamide can help manage these changes, depending on what you’re hoping to treat. Some sunscreens are made with ingredients that provide benefits to the look and feel of your skin. And speaking of those…
Does mature skin need sunscreen?
It’s a fact as true as the sun rising in the East: Yes, mature skin needs sunscreen. Regardless of your skin type, everybody should wear sunscreen.
Ultraviolet damage from sun overexposure is the leading cause of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology. Skin cancer is not the only risk of sun overexposure, but it might be the most urgent one.
Adding to that urgency is the fact that most cases of skin cancer are found in people older than 65, according to 2018 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You could say that mature skin needs sun protection the most of all skin types, though it might be a moot point: No matter your skin type, sun protection is necessary.
Most dermatologists will agree that you should get your skin checked by a professional every three years. The American Academy of Dermatology also advises asking your doctor how you can perform a skin check on your own. Vigilance pays off. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates a 94% five year survival rate for melanomas that are caught, and a 99% rate for melanomas that are caught early.
What is the best sunscreen for mature skin?
Tatcha makes two broad-spectrum SPF formulas, and each one is boosted with skincare ingredients that will benefit any skin type, including mature skin. The Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen is a weightless sunscreen with SPF 35 coverage that blends effortlessly and invisibly for matte skin and refined pores. It’s also fortified with antioxidants, which skin cells need to protect themselves from oxidative stress caused by pollution. Then there’s the super hydrating Silk Sunscreen, which blends niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and SPF 50 into a sheer veil of protection.
What are some other ways to protect mature skin from the sun?
A good sunscreen should be a part of your aging skin routine, but it shouldn’t be the only part of your aging skin routine. Here are some other ways to ensure your skin is protected from sun overexposure.
Protective clothing and accessories. Gloves of all lengths, hats of all brims, and now clothing of all shapes and sizes—there are entire wardrobes made with UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, fabrics. (And accessories, too!) In countries like Japan, where sun protection is tantamount to the idea of beauty itself, women continue to use parasols to physically shield themselves from the sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends UPF fabric as the simplest form of sun protection. (For one thing, unlike sunscreen, it doesn’t require regular reapplication.)
Choose your exposure. If you can stay inside between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, you might want to: That’s when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Additionally, pay attention to your area’s UV index. In the United States, the National Weather Service’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts the potential for UV damage to humans with a calculation known as the UV index and publishes those forecasts every day. You can find today’s here.
At-home skincare. While we do our best to avoid sun damage, it happens to all of us—we live under the sun, after all. Consider incorporating soothing skincare into your routine by looking at ingredients that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory benefits, like chamomile, aloe vera, or indigo. A treatment like the Indigo Overnight Repair not only helps skin retain precious water, but also calms visible irritation. And just as it’s important to apply sunscreen, it’s important to take it off—along with makeup, and whatever else your skin has accumulated throughout the day. A gentle all-in-one cleanser like the Indigo Cleansing Balm starts your routine off on a clean, soothed slate.
Stay in the shade. Here’s a skincare tip that will cost you nothing: Sticking to the shade whenever you can. Be it beneath an umbrella on the beach or the tree-lined side of the street. Your skin will thank you in the long run.