What is Mature Skin, Anyway? Your Guide to Empowered Aging

“I think you get more beautiful as you get older, too. I feel like there’s something about it. Your heart opens more. You have a quality about you that is so much stronger, in a way. I really know that you become more beautiful as you recognize these things about yourself.” — Alicia Keys

In the book of soulcare, getting older is cause for celebration. There’s something so powerful about our divine knowing, our birthright to evolve and change. Over the course of your lifetime, our skin is constantly changing, often in barely perceptible ways. Think about the transition from childhood to puberty. Buying your first tube of retinol. Or that mirror moment when you realize, “Wow, I’m not in my twenties anymore.”

As our skin matures, we need to give it a different kind of TLC. But how can we understand aging if we don’t know what happens to skin as we get older? That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll get into common causes of aging (other than good old Father Time), skincare ingredients that mature skin will love, and more.

WHAT CAUSES SKIN TO MATURE?

Age-related changes to skin are a universal, normal human experience. However, there are some factors that can affect how your skin matures.

Here are 8 of the most common factors that cause aging:

1. SUN EXPOSURE

Chronic exposure to the UVA and UVB rays of the sun can have an impact on the skin, kickstarting a process called “photoaging,” which is different from chronological aging (the natural process of aging over time).

2. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE

Skin gets exposed to a lot on a day-to-day basis. Your environment experiences everything from air pollution to heavy metals, and even rapid changes in temperatures. While our body’s largest organ is immensely adaptable to its environment, that doesn’t mean these factors don’t have an impact on our skin’s overall look and feel.

3. LIFESTYLE HABITS

Lack of sleep, smoking, poor nutrition, and alcohol or substance intake can also be powerful accelerators of the signs of aging.

4. HORMONAL CHANGES

Your hormones are always changing, ebbing and flowing throughout the years. For example, estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, which can make skin feel more dry.

Waning estrogen has been linked to a decrease in collagen production, and collagen helps skin to feel plump and smooth-looking.

5. GENETICS

At the end of the day, some parts of how you age simply come down to genetics and family history, especially if your family has a history of certain skin conditions.

6. DEHYDRATION

Drinking water is critical for all the body’s function, but it is especially important to keep your skin hydrated. Chronic dehydration may affect your skin’s texture and exacerbate signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles.

7. STRESS

When your body experiences chronic stress, it releases stress hormones like cortisol, which can affect the body’s production of both collagen and hyaluronic acid. Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands, and excess of this hormone can increase sebum production and inflammation in the body.

8. YOUR SKINCARE RITUAL

Caring for your skin through skincare products can help mitigate some of the lifestyle and environmental factors that speed up signs of aging; it’s part of why ingredients like Vitamin C and retinol are so popular on skincare shelves across the world. As you build a skincare ritual specifically for mature skin, pay close attention to the ingredients in each formula, and their purpose in your routine. Check out our top picks for skincare and makeup for mature skin.

WHAT AGE DOES SKIN START AGING?

The annoying answer? It depends on alllllllll of the factors mentioned above. Your family history, genetic makeup, and stress levels are completely unique to you. Signs that your skin is maturing might look different than your bestie or sibling — and that’s normal. It’s important not to compare ourselves to others, but instead, hold our body in the highest esteem.

But, there are things you can do that have a positive impact on your overarching health as you age. Think: quitting smoking, having an exercise regimen, eating a nutritious, colorful diet, wearing SPF, etc.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE MATURE SKIN?

Mature skin will show signs of normal, chronological aging. What could be more human than that? Mature skin types see a few key changes. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and the loss of this protein begins to affect the skin over time.

Let’s look into a few common signs of mature skin:

SIGNS OF MATURE SKIN

FINE LINES AND WRINKLES

Fine lines and wrinkles are another normal —and beautiful!— testament to aging. When it comes to the best skincare for mature skin, look for serums, moisturizers, and eye creams with smoothing peptides to help visibly improve fine lines for plump, firm-looking skin.

DARK SPOTS

Dark spots can be a sign of photo-aging or prolonged sun exposure. To help combat these, some look for ingredients in skincare that exfoliate, like retinoids, acids, and other exfoliants.

DRY AND DULL SKIN

Mature skin craves hydration, since aging results in loss of water in the skin, and our body has fewer oil-producing glands. Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin can help skin feel soft and moisturized.

THIN SKIN

Skin naturally thins with the passage of time. According to the Mayo Clinic, some tactics to help keep skin protected are: stay moisturized, avoid excessive time in peak sun, and to wear long-sleeve clothing, hats, and SPF in the sun.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF AGING ON SKIN?

DECREASED ELASTICITY

Over time, skin loses quantities of the protein elastin (as well as collagen), which affect the elasticity of your skin. Lifestyle factors like smoking or chronic UV radiation exposure can also affect skin’s elasticity over time.

SLOWER CELL TURNOVER

Cell turnover is a continuous process and happens without us even realizing it. However, this process slows down as we age, and it takes longer for your skin to produce new, healthy cells.

DECREASED SEBUM

Oil and sweat glands decrease as we age, meaning that our sebum production slows accordingly. Too little sebum can lead to dry or flaky skin.

SLOWER HEALING

Yep, it’s true. Aging can affect how quickly small cuts, wounds, or scrapes heal. This is because the skin begins to thin as we age, making cellular regrowth slower overall.