What should my skincare routine be like in my forties, fifties and sixties?

Let your skincare change with you.

I found myself staring at my nine-year-old family friend’s skin at the dinner table the other week. The collagen, the poreless appeal! I had to check myself; I was jealous of a kid without his pen license.

Our skin ages with us, and as the largest organ in our body, we see it happen. I don’t have the same silky-smooth skin as Max and my skin will continue to change as I age. As someone in my mid-twenties, I’m now flirting with the idea of eye cream and have become serious about SPF.

We like nosy people. Don’t be shy, head to our Beauty section for more. 

The beauty industry’s fixation on youth has meant there’s been a pretty prescriptive formula when it comes to skincare routines for all ages. Clued-in high school graduates and middle-aged women are both encouraged to try out retinol and chemical exfoliators. But our skin is unique and our beauty needs are everchanging.

“Our skin is influenced by a variety of factors including lifestyle, genetics [and] hormones,” says Erin Gorman, Mecca’s Skincare Education Lead. “Tailoring your skincare routine [to your age] will ensure that you see the most benefits from the formulations you select.”

For middle-aged folk, skin concerns are mirrored by the body’s changing resources and production. When someone enters their 40s, Erin explains that the skin may experience changes – this is mirrored by early menopause that can be experienced in this decade.

“Retinols and vitamin-rich formulations can be introduced at this stage to support overall skin health… It is never too late to start taking preventative measures or even start a skincare routine!” she says.

Bella Management model Danielle Appi acknowledges her skincare knowledge was slim growing up. “As a country girl growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, my skincare routine involved getting as tanned as I could from head to toe and slapping on moisturiser occasionally,” she tells me. “If we only knew then what we know now!”

In her forties, she worked as a personal trainer who spent a lot of time outside. “As a result, my skin was dry and damaged by the elements,” she says. “By then, I had started to dabble in a more comprehensive skincare regime which included a few more products than [just] cleanser and moisturiser.”

Echoing Erin, she says there is no such thing as being too late to start caring for your skin. Now in her early fifties, she’s become a massive fan of Esk Skincare after being recommended products through a personalised quiz.

When people enter their fifties, Erin mentions hormones continue to change. “The skin can change in how it presents on the surface, how it responds to the environment and how it feels. This can often present as sensitivity, skin dryness or increased reactivity and breakouts.

“While you may be tempted to change up all of your products or reshuffle your entire routine, we recommend implementing changes slowly and seeking the advice of a skin professional should your skin experience any sudden changes,” she adds.

Erin recommends adding hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, nutrient-based lipids, and prebiotic and postbiotic-based ingredients to your skincare routine if your skin is in need of extra support.

In the past three years, lifestyle motivator Dani Stevens, 50, stopped using hair dye and has been “embracing [her] pro-age look”. “Regular masks and exfoliating your skin is paramount. I’m an avid body brusher as well and love a good body lotion,” she says.

Her current skincare rotation includes Terra Tonics’ Elemental Cleanser, Mecca Cosmetica’s SPF50 Save Face Cream, Dr Barbara Sturm’s Hyaluronic Serum, Fluff’s Face Oil, Purely Byron’s Blend Eye Complex and Trinny London’s Find Your Balance Exfoliator.

In your sixties, Erin says to expect your skin’s oil production to slow down. “The skin can naturally lose collagen which can leave skin feeling fragile. Incorporating replenishing and reparative ingredients like ceramides or essential fatty acids will help to nourish the skin barrier, while collagen-stimulating ingredients like retinol or vitamin C will help to build the skin’s density.”

Fashion tastes, hobbies and opinions are expected to change as we age – as will our health. Embracing this fact of life, and moulding our skincare around it, will serve us and our skin well.

Looking for more mature skincare tips? Head here.