Beauty Over 50 | Key Skincare Ingredients For Women Over 50

When you’re over 50, the skincare ingredients you need to incorporate in your daily regimen aren’t the same ones as when you were 20, 30, or even 40! There are so many buzzy beauty ingredients we hear about today. It can get downright confusing!

Today, I’m breaking it down for you and making it simple. I’m going to run down the best skincare ingredients for women over 50. That way, you can check your favorite products, see how they stack up, and assess how well they meet your needs.

I’m also going to give you a sneak peek at the meeting I had last week with Alex Carrasco, C.M.A., C.L.T., an aesthetician at the Dallas Center for Dermatology & Aesthetics. In conjunction with dermatologist Dr. Lori Stetler, she designed a skincare regimen for me that would be ideal for most women over 50. We filmed my consultation with Alex, and I will be sharing that video on my YouTube channel later this week. (Subscribe HERE to be notified when that video goes live!) On Thursday, I’ll publish a blog post with details on the products they recommended for me (and for you!).

Also, be sure to set an alarm on your phone for this Friday, March 12, at 12:30 p.m. CST. I’ll be going LIVE on Instagram with Dr. Stetler, and asking her all of your skincare over 50 questions. I’ve got a long list, and we’re going to be thorough! (I especially want to know the difference between medical-grade and drugstore—or even department store—products! Haven’t you always wondered that too?) If you have a question you want to be sure I ask, please leave it in the comments below, DM me on Instagram, or email me at [email protected].

You may remember back in January, I had you answer a survey and tell me everything you wanted to know about skincare and aesthetics. I promised to get you the answers to all of your questions this year and even let you watch as I am a guinea pig for a wide variety of procedures and products! ???? Today, we’re kicking things off with a little education about the skincare ingredients that aestheticians and dermatologists consider must-haves for women over 50. Let’s do this!

Key Skincare Ingredients for Women Over 50

Retinoids (Vitamin A)

Prescription Strength: Retinoic Acid
Over-the-Counter (OTC): Retinol

Purpose: Helps speed up skin cell turnover and boost collagen production by acting as an exfoliant.
Benefit: Minimizes fine lines & wrinkles.
Important Info: Can cause irritation. Build up a tolerance by applying a pea-sized amount every other night and adding moisturizer on top of it.
Dermatologists Say: If you’re going to use any form of Retinoic Acid, be sure only to use it at night and wear SPF every day. Know that it takes time to see results.
Suzy’s Scoop: I credit my good skin to the fact that I’ve used some form of Retinoic Acid (either prescription or OTC) since I was in my 30s.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

Purpose: Hydrates and moisturizes.
Benefit: Draws moisture to the surface of your skin, where it adds suppleness and gives you a glow.
Important Info: Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar found naturally in the skin. It holds 1000x its weight in water!
Dermatologists Say: We love this ingredient for moisturizing! Adequate water intake helps it do its job.

Squalane

Purpose: Emollient.
Benefit: Softer, smoother skin.
Important Info: Locks in moisture and prevents water loss without producing additional oil.
Dermatologists Say: If oils typically make you break out, this is the moisturizing ingredient you need.

Vitamin C

Purpose: Neutralize Free Radicals.
Benefit: Limits damage from UV rays and environmental pollution.
Important Info: Diminishes discoloration and splotchiness.
Dermatologists Say: Vitamin C is essential for collagen formation. This powerhouse ingredient balances skin tone, reduces hyperpigmentation, and reduces the signs of aging. We love it in serum form.

Salicylic Acid

Purpose: Deep cleans pores.
Benefit: Helps with blackheads, whiteheads, and acne.
Important Info: It’s an oil-soluble beta hydroxy acid and an anti-inflammatory.
Dermatologists Say: Salicylic Acid is good for anti-aging because it helps the skin shed dead skin cells and decreases inflammation. 

Collagen

Purpose: Provides the “scaffolding” to keep skin plump, tight, and minimize wrinkles.
Benefit: Reveals a brighter, smoother complexion.
Important Info: Opt for “hydrolyzed collagen.” It’s the easiest for your skin to absorb.
Dermatologists Say: The molecule is typically too big to penetrate the skin. To maximize effectiveness, pair it with either a DIY or (better yet) a professional microneedling treatment that pokes tiny holes in the skin to trigger healing and more collagen production.
Suzy’s Scoop: I’m a huge fan of BeautyBio’s GloPro Facial Microneedling Tool. I use mine almost every night! If you don’t own one, you might want to think about investing. It really does enhance the absorption of your skincare products! I’ve done the work for you. ????

• BeautyBio: $199, but they’ll text you a code for 15% off when you join their mailing list. (Set includes GloPRO tool, 5 prep pads, Refillable GloPRO Sanitizing Spritzer (2.0 oz), and power cord adapter.)
• Sephora: $199 (Set includes GloPRO tool, Balance pH Balancing Cleanser (2.0 oz), Refillable GloPRO Sanitizing Spritzer (2.0 oz), Nightly Retinol Repair Serum (0.17 oz), GloPRO Skin Prep Pad (5 ct), Ultimate Hydrating Vitamin C Moisturizer (0.17 oz))
• Nordstrom: $199 (Set includes GloPRO tool, storage case, Refillable GloPRO Sanitizing Spritzer (2.0 oz), power cord adapter.)
• Amazon: $199 (Set includes GloPRO tool, face attachment head, 5 prep pads, empty sanitizing bottle, and power cord adapter.)
• Ulta: $199 (Set includes GloPRO tool, Balance pH Balancing Cleanser (2.0 oz), Refillable GloPRO Sanitizing Spritzer (2.0 oz), Nightly Retinol Repair Serum (0.17 oz), GloPRO Skin Prep Pad (5 ct), Ultimate Hydrating Vitamin C Moisturizer (0.17 oz))

Peptides

Purpose: Building block of proteins like collagen and elastin.
Benefit: Cues cells to create more collagen.
Important Info: Peptides also go by the names acetyl hexapeptide-3, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and others.
Dermatologists Say: Without peptides, our skin is less supported. This can lead to a loss of firmness, the appearance of wrinkles, a change in texture, and less ‘bounce’.

Glycolic Acid

Purpose: “Eats” away dead skin cells, so they slough off.
Benefit: Reveals a brighter, smoother complexion.
Important Info: To reduce irritation, use it at night and apply SPF in the morning.
Dermatologists Say: For a more intense treatment, opt for a professional glycolic acid peel, which (after a few days of redness and peeling) leaves skin looking radiant.
Suzy’s Scoop: It’s made from sugarcane, which I find fascinating! Sugar is bad because it erodes your teeth????, and glycolic acid is good for a similar reason! It eats away at dead skin cells! ????

Lace-Trimmed Monogrammed Robe | Pearl Stud Earrings | Matte Lipstick (Rosy Mauve)

Ahhhh, sometimes I don’t realize just how much makeup I’m wearing until it’s too late and the photos ????have already been taken! (Thus, this lovely testimony to the dangers of DIYing your makeup and having a photographer who tells you you’re beautiful no matter how you look because he’s married to you.????)

This pretty lace-trimmed monogrammed robe comes in several colors and is monogrammed for free (or can be ordered without a monogram.)

Did you learn a lot about skincare ingredients today? I did! Be sure to come back on Thursday to check out the specific skincare products Alex and Dr. Stetler recommended for me (and other women over 50)! I’m so excited to share them with you!