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Did you know there are only about 12,000 practicing dermatologists in the US? So, statistically speaking, with over 300,000 people voting in the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards, a few of you might be dermatologists. But it’s definitely safe to say that most of you aren’t.
Now, that’s not to say you don’t have well-informed opinions on how to take care of mature skin—you’re an Allure reader, after all, and if you have mature skin, there’s undeniably some wisdom under that epidermis. But sometimes you just want confirmation from the pros that what you’re using is actually a smart choice.
So we chatted with a few dermatologists about which of this year’s Readers’ Choice Award-winning skin-care products get their most enthusiastic thumbs up for cleansing, treating, and protecting mature skin. Does your favorite get the expert OK? Find out below.
Click through to see if your favorite skin, hair, makeup, and body products were voted most-loved in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards. Then, read their reviews.
See All the Expert Recommendations
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
- CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
- Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
- Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
- Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
- Supergoop Play Mineral Lotion SPF 30
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60
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Sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60
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Daily sunscreen use is essential to help prevent further collagen breakdown and discoloration, says Jenna Queller, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boca Raton, Florida. “I personally use this sunscreen and often recommend it to patients because it offers high broad-spectrum protection in a formula that feels comfortable and hydrating on the skin,” she says of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60. And Dr. Queller is especially impressed with how this face- and body-friendly chemical-filter formula feels. “One of the biggest challenges with sunscreen is consistency, and elegant formulas like this make daily use much easier.”
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
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Clean Body Lotion
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
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Sephora
Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, tells her patients to apply Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream straight out of the shower, especially on dryness-prone elbows, knees, and shins. “Mature skin tends to lose lipid barrier function over time. This cream combines polyhydroxy acid (PHA) exfoliation with deep hydration, a rare combination that gently resurfaces without stripping,” she says, adding that that’s why she keeps coming back to it herself. “The niacinamide also helps with the uneven tone that becomes more common with age.”
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
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Facial Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
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“CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser remains one of the best accessible cleansers for mature skin because it cleanses without disrupting the barrier,” says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, a Danville, California-based board-certified dermatologist, who says mature skin generally tolerates creamy, hydrating cleansers much better than foaming or aggressive exfoliating washes.
Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana, couldn’t agree more and, in fact, uses this cleanser herself. “It is a great product for mature skin because it is very gentle and helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier instead of stripping it, as skin naturally becomes drier and more sensitive with age,” she says. Dr. Queller often recommends it to patients, too: “A gentle cleanser with ceramides and hyaluronic acid helps maintain hydration while supporting the skin barrier,” she says.
Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
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Body Wash
Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
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If you’ve ever thought that Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash is highly underrated, just know that dermatologists agree. “Many body washes strip lipids and worsen dryness, especially in older patients,” Dr. Badreshia-Bansal says of the six-time Readers’ Choice Award winner. “This formula helps maintain hydration and leaves the skin more comfortable after showering, which is important because mature skin loses moisture more rapidly.”
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
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Lip Balm
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
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Sephora
“As lips age, they become drier and thinner, so rich, hydrating lip products, like this lip mask, are great for mature lips,” says Sejal Shah, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who uses the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask personally, as does Dr. Queller, who recommends applying a generous layer before bed. Dr. Reszko is also a fan of this balm, which comes in over a dozen fun flavors (Berry, Strawberry Shortcake, and Peach Iced Tea, to name a few). “This mask uses hyaluronic acid and antioxidants (vitamin C and pomegranate juice) overnight when skin is in repair mode, and consistent use over several weeks makes a genuinely noticeable difference,” she says.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
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Clean Facial Moisturizer
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
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Ulta Beauty
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Sure, Drunk Elephant became the most coveted skin care among tweens, but lest we forget, many of its products are formulated to deliver some serious benefits for more mature skin. A little goes a long way with Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream, according to Dr. Spearman, who recommends applying a small amount after any serums you may use. “It's a great product for mature skin because it delivers deep, barrier-supporting hydration, which helps address common age-related concerns like dryness, loss of elasticity, and a weakened skin barrier,” she says, giving a shout-out to its three types of ceramides.
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub
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Body Scrub
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub
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“Body skin is so often left out of the [mature skin] conversation, but it thins and dries just like facial skin does,” says Dr. Reszko, who recommends using the incredibly moisturizing Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub once or twice a week. “The shea butter here is genuinely emollient, and the physical exfoliation helps with the rough, crepe-like texture many people start noticing on their arms and legs with age.”
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
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Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
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La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer seems to be as popular among dermatologists as it is among Allure readers. Dr. Badreshia-Bansal says she recommends it frequently because it combines ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin in a way that strengthens the skin barrier without feeling heavy. “I especially like it layered over retinoids at night to minimize irritation,” she says, while Dr. Shah says she personally uses it because the lightweight texture absorbs quickly, resulting in softness without greasy residue. Dr. Queller also uses and recommends it because mature skin is often drier and more sensitive, she says, and its ingredients address those concerns without feeling heavy.
Supergoop Play Mineral Lotion SPF 30
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Clean Sunscreen
Supergoop Play Mineral Lotion SPF 30
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“Sun exposure is the single biggest driver of visible aging, and by midlife, most of us are dealing with decades of accumulated UV damage,” says Dr. Reszko. “I love this mineral lotion because it provides broad-spectrum protection without the concerns sometimes associated with chemical filters, and its texture layers well under makeup.” She recommends applying a quarter-sized amount of Supergoop Play Mineral Lotion SPF 30 to your face and neck—never forget the neck!—every morning as the last step in your routine, and then reapply it every two hours if you're outside for extended periods.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
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Serum
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
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Dr. Queller appreciates how accessible and straightforward The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides) is, not to mention how well it layers with other skin-care products. “Hyaluronic acid is a great addition to a mature skin-care routine because it helps attract and retain moisture, giving skin a plumper, more hydrated appearance,” she says.
Dr. Reszko echoes that recommendation: “Our natural hyaluronic acid levels decline noticeably with age, so replenishing it topically makes a real visible difference in plumpness and hydration,” she says. But that’s not all. “The vitamin B5 supports barrier repair, which matters a lot for skin that has thinned or become more reactive over time." Both dermatologists say that the key is applying it to slightly damp skin before your moisturizer to give the hyaluronic acid something to bind to, followed by a richer cream on top to lock everything in.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
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Exfoliant
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
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The BHA in Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant—salicylic acid—benefits more than just acne-prone younger skin. “Salicylic acid at this concentration penetrates the pore lining and accelerates cell turnover, which slows significantly as we age,” says Dr. Reszko. “It addresses dullness, enlarged pores, and texture without the irritation that more aggressive exfoliants can cause.” She suggests starting two to three times per week in the evening, after cleansing and before moisturizer, and always following with sunscreen in the morning.
See all of the makeup, hair, skin, and body products readers voted as their 2026 favorites beauty products here.