If you’re looking to tackle signs of ageing without breaking the bank, The Ordinary is the brand to turn to for your mature skin routine. Whether you’re looking for a mature skin serum with retinol, suffer with discolouration, or want to top up with hydration, there’s a product for you from The Ordinary.
To find out more about the best skincare ingredients for mature skin, how you should change your skincare routine, and The Ordinary’s mature skin products, we spoke with their Scientific Communications Manager, Joe Basham. Honing in on his expertise, he told us everything you need to know for your mature skin journey.
What's the best ingredient for mature skin?
Retinoids work by helping your skin produce more collagen, so they’re a great addition to skincare routines for those hoping to reduce the signs of ageing. Joe from The Ordinary told us: “Retinoids are a great choice for targeting signs of ageing, as they can help improve firmness, elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that can result from a loss of collagen and elastin.” The Ordinary has several options depending on your experience level with retinoids.
When should you start changing your skincare routine?
The ageing process will look different for everyone, so our mature skin skincare routines will vary too. Joe explained how “every one of us ages at different rates depending on a number of factors including genetics, environment and lifestyle. The key is to know how to understand your skin and make changes to your routine accordingly.”
In terms of what to look out for, he told us: “As we age, structural proteins like collagen and elastin begin to degrade. This can lead to a loss of firmness and elasticity, as well as fine lines and wrinkles beginning to form. Mature skin may also be more likely to experience discolouration such as dark spots, dryness, and uneven texture.” So when it comes to creating a good skincare routine for mature skin and for when these changes start appearing, he recommends focusing on hydration and barrier support to set your skin up for success.
What products should those with mature skin avoid?
Regardless of ageing, listening to our skin and giving it what it needs at the right time is vital. Joe told us: “Stripping cleansers, high pH products like soap, or over-exfoliating can all cause disruption to the skin barrier and leave skin feeling irritated and dry.” So, he recommends opting for gentle cleansers and avoiding over-using direct acids within your routine to minimise disruption to the skin barrier.
9 Mature Skin Must-Have Products From The Ordinary
From retinoids all the way through to peptides, there are a few different ingredients you can incorporate into a skincare routine for mature skin to tackle the signs of ageing.
1. Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
For experienced users of retinoids, Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum is a high strength formula that offers more efficient delivery of the active form of vitamin A than retinol, helping to firm, smooth and reduce the appearance of dark spots, lines and wrinkles. Featuring The Ordinary’s highest-strength retinoid formula, be sure to only use it in the evening and wear SPF the next day.
2. Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion
If you want to tackle your body skin as well as the skin on your face, the Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion from The Ordinary is just the ticket. As a multi-functional formula, it helps fade the look of dark spots across prone areas like the arms, chest, neck, and face to leave you with a more even-looking skin tone. Formulated with a 5% concentration of niacinamide for sensitive skin, it also gently brightens skin. And it even helps improve the feel of skin texture across the face, chest, and legs whilst hydrating and strengthening the skin barrier.
3. Ascorbyl Glucoside Solutioin 12%
Over time our skin loses its radiance and becomes dull. Antioxidant vitamin C brightens your base and helps get your glow back. What’s more, it possesses anti-ageing benefits that help to restore a youthful complexion. Unlike pure L-Ascorbic acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside is a much gentler, water-soluble derivative of vitamin C, so Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is more suitable for those with sensitive skin.
4. Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
Peptides are one of our biggest obsessions, thanks to the whole host of benefits they offer to our complexion – particularly mature skin. Peptides feature many anti-ageing benefits, such as increasing skin hydration and elasticity, smoothing out wrinkles in the process. This Multi-Peptide + HA Serum from The Ordinary features five peptide technologies, along with amino acids and hyaluronic acid to infuse the skin with hydration and bounce, leaving a fresh, youthful finish that you can’t get enough of.
5. 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
By naturally hydrating the skin, The Ordinary’s 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil helps address signs of ageing. How? By supporting skin elasticity, brightening, and balancing uneven skin tone, and promoting supple, more radiant-looking skin. This mature skin must-have is made of 100% organic rosehip seed oil that’s cold-pressed to retain its potency and is gentle enough for daily use. And it also feeds the skin with linolenic acid, antioxidants, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids, all of which contribute towards younger-looking skin.
6. Matrixyl 10% + HA
Elastin and collagen are the building blocks of a youthful complexion and are one of the first things that needs extra support as our skin ages. This supercharged Matrixyl 10% + HA serum harnesses the power of two types of 10% matrixyl to minimise fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid also increases moisture levels in the skin to leave it plump and smooth.
7. Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
The power of a good cleanser should never be underestimated, particularly when mature skin can need a little more TLC. Mature skin doesn’t retain hydration as easily, which is why it’s important to use ingredients that are gentle and non-stripping, so as not to compromise the skin barrier. This Glycolipid Cream Cleanser does exactly that. Glycolipids cleanse the skin by lifting away impurities whilst protecting the natural pH balance, meaning your skin won’t feel stripped, dry, or irritated.
8. Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
Around the eyes can be one of the first places to show signs of ageing, including fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet. The peptides in this Multi-Peptide Eye Serum will leave you looking fresh faced and reduce the appearance of fine lines in just a few uses. Enriched with peptides and a whole host of hydrating ingredients, this serum also works to reduce puffiness, dark circles, eye bags, and signs of tiredness.
9. Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
Unfortunately, discolouration happens naturally as we age, resulting in dark spots and uneven skin. This potent gel-like Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA serum contains brightening active, alpha-arbutin, that improves the appearance of uneven tone and dark spots. Hydrating hyaluronic acid has also been added to moisturise and plump. When used daily, skin will be noticeably smoother and brighter.
10. Retinol 0.2% In Squalane
Arguably one of the most powerful anti-ageing ingredients, retinol is a hard-working fine-line-fighter. You’ll find 0.2% of it contained in this waterless squalane solution which visibly reduces wrinkles, and improves skin tone and texture. If you are new to retinoids, you may wish to begin with Retinol 0.2% in Squalane to build your skin tolerance, and increase frequency of application and strength as desired. Use once daily at night and be sure to apply SPF the next morning, as retinol increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV exposure.
FYI: This article was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated
