If you’re ticking the age box of 45+ and you’ve remained loyal to the same moisturiser for the past few decades, then this edit of creams for mature skin is worth considering. Sure, you’ve been diligently applying your multi-step skincare routine, but beauties of advanced age also have oxidative stress, pollution, fluctuating hormone levels, and lifestyle pressures to contend with.
While growing older is a privilege, ageing skin becomes fragile and is slower to repair. Reduced collagen and elastin lead to fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, age spots and more. The good news? These day and night creams designed for mature skin are far from the anti-ageing creams of the past—heavy and cloying for our hot and humid climes. These next-gen creams for mature skin are designed to comfort, nourish and rejuvenate the skin in textures that are often lightweight and yet still pampering.
Vogue Singapore sits down with aesthetic doctor, TikTok sensation in her own right, Dr Rachel Ho of La Clinic to learn more.
Why do mature skins need creams that offer more than just hydration?
As we age, physiological changes lead to changes beyond dryness. Dryness results due to decreased amounts of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans. We also see decreased skin thickness, loss of firmess and the appearance of wrinkles due to diminishing collagen and elastin fibres in the skin. And finally, the skin’s ability to recover from injuries due to decreased cell turnover, reduced blood flow and skin thickness and decreased ability to produce collagen.
What ingredients work best at slowing down these signs of ageing?
Sunscreen use is evidence-based for reducing UV induced skin changes that lead to signs of ageing like hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Retinoids are another category of active ingredients that are evidence-based for increasing cell turnover and building collagen in the skin; which reduce hyperpigmentation, fullness and fine wrinkles seen with ageing.
Active ingredients that strengthen the moisture barrier like ceramides and natural moisturising factors can also improve the skin’s barrier functions.
What role do hormones play in making the signs of ageing more pronounced?
A decrease in oestrogen can cause the signs mentioned above. Oestrogen stimulates collagen production and supports the skin’s moisture barrier. When there is a decline in oestrogen, say during perimenopause and menopausal stages, dryness and wrinkles can be more apparent. But ageing itself and factors like UV rays can also cause these signs. It is hard to distinguish the extent of contribution from hormonal fluctuations versus other factors.
Preventative care: When is someone “too young” to be using these often rich creams geared at mature skin?
Prior to signs of ageing becoming visible, changes to the skin’s cellular and tissue structures are already happening. Hence, I believe in early intervention (or what’s commonly known as preventive ageing) with skincare to delay or reduce these signs of ageing and UV damage to the skin…. Even starting sunscreen early counts.
There isn’t a cut off age for using “rich creams” because skin types and preferences are diverse. If you feel your skin needs a thicker cream with more emollient and occlusive properties, go for it whenever you need it.
“You’re never too young or old to strengthen your moisture barrier,” says Dr Ho
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Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
She’s rich, she’s thick, and a true luxury to apply especially when in cooler or drier climates.
In a world full of luxury youth-enhancing creams where scent is part of the overall sensorial experience, The Rich Cream is (happily for us) fragrance-free and vegan. But what it lacks in scent, it makes up for in texture and efficacy. Loaded with essential fatty acids-rich evening primrose oil, hyaluronic acid, conditioning vitamin E, expect to see skin that’s soothed, strengthened, supple and luminous.
Augustinus Bader, The Rich Cream, $450 for 50ml, available at Sephora
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SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream
Consider SK-II’s Skinpower Advanced Cream as a power seed of youth for firm, radiant and regenerated skin. SK-II scientists discovered that the Aging Trigger Factor “AT-0” created by daily stressors, accelerates signs of ageing.
According to SK-II, Skinpower Advanced Cream targets the “AT-o” and stimulates new skin regeneration via its exclusive Pitera ingredient, alongside Kinren bio and white peony root extract. We love that it comforts and nourishes the complexion without being too heavy to wear, even in these hot and humid climes.
SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream, $283 for 50g, available at Metro
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Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Advanced Cream Soft
This triple-threat by Shiseido promises to even skin tone, help lift and define skin while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. The key for Shiseido, lies in its SafflowerRED and ReNeuraRED Technologies, which targets sagging and other signs of ageing, by strengthening the skin’s invisible nutrient network. The result? A complexion that’s visibly fresher, firmer, and lifted. We love its delicate scent and non-greasy, non-cloying, easy-to-wear texture.
Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Advanced Cream Soft, $185 for 50ml, available at Metro
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Caudalie Premier Cru
If you’re looking to age like fine wine, Caudalie’s vegan Premier Cru might just be the ticket.
Centred around the idea of prolonging youthfulness, this cream comes backed by an exclusive Caudalie x Harvard Longevity patent and is loaded with vine resveratrol. This triple-threat of a formula reactivates the skin’s natural youth mechanisms by boosting the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin in skin cells while targeting all signs of ageing. It also claims to help lift cheekbones, define the jawline and maintain skin’s density thanks to the inclusion of a patented extract derived from rosewood. And finally, Viniferine derived from vine sap, is a potent anti-dark spot ingredient, helping to boost radiance at a rate 62 times more effective than vitamin C and 43 per cent more effective than niacinamide.
Caudalie Premier Cru, $165 for 50ml, available at Sephora
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Clé de Peau Beauté Intensive Fortifying Cream
The night is when the skin repairs itself. Based on decades of research, scientists at Clé de Peau Beauté discovered ‘Skin Intelligence’, or the skin’s ability to intuitively repair and defend itself.
Of course, a little Clé de Peau Beauté boost doesn’t hurt, and this nourishing nighttime moisturiser helps the skin regulate its evening rhythms, cocooning it in Ononis Spinosa Root and Abelmoschus Esculentus extracts, which have been found in vitro to intensively target specific collagens and proteins critical to skin regeneration. It works to undermine the damage of daily UV damage during the night, and also contains skin brightening 4MSK to revive luminosity within the complexion.
Clé de Peau Beauté Intensive Fortifying Cream, $225 for 50ml, available at Sephora
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Noble Panacea The Absolute Active Replenishing Moisturiser
Not only does this creamy moisturiser deliver potent active ingredients to cells through its OSMV technology, helping to hydrate, plump, and redefine facial features—it helps to fortify the skin against oxidative stress and further degradation with retinol, micro-algae and black raspberry. Signs of fatigue are chased away as skin is left revitalised and luminous.
Noble Panacea The Absolute Active Replenishing Moisturiser, $595, available at Tangs
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SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra
Skin glycation occurs when sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin proteins, damaging the skin’s structure and manifesting as wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and an impaired skin barrier. To disrupt this natural process, SkinCeuticals’ A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra combats glycation-induced ageing with 12.6 per cent Proxylane and wild fruit flavonoid complex. Tell-tale signs of mature skin—from persistent nasolabial folds to compromised elasticity—are thus undone for skin that appears to be smoothed, hydrated, and healthier overall.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra, $326, available at iShopChangi and Shilla Duty Free stores at Changi Airport
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Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer
While we’re wary of any cream touting collagen as their main ingredient (spoiler: collagen molecules are considered too large to be absorbed by the skin), we are pro-peptides—short chains of amino acids that activate fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin. Case in point, Paula’s Choice’s Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer which contains three types of peptides to smooth and plump fine lines while supporting skin’s bounce and elasticity.
Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer, $69, available at Paula’s Choice
