Despite what you might have heard, aging is not a skin-care emergency. Your face does not need to be “fixed,” signs that time has inevitably marched on don’t need to be reversed, and doing absolutely nothing to address the many normal versions of mature skin is not neglectful. But because our skin—and our perception of it—do change with age, it’s also completely understandable to want to adjust the way you take care of it, whether that’s simply preventing dehydration and dangerous sun damage or addressing the visible effects of elasticity loss because, sure, you’d like to look a little less line-y.

So while the Allure Best of Beauty Awards come in handy when you’re wondering what to add to your beauty inventory, it’s an especially good guide for putting together a routine for mature skin—just ask board-certified dermatologists. Actually, that’s exactly what we did.

Sure, this year’s winners have already survived some intensive editor scrutiny, but Delray Beach, Florida, dermatologist Francesca Lewis, MD, Fort Wayne, Indiana–based dermatologist Dara Spearman, MD, and New York City dermatologist Dawn Queen, MD, had plenty to say when we asked them which Best of Beauty red seal recipients earn their admiration for the needs of skin that isn’t quite as naturally taut as it once was.

Their recommendations aren't an official prescription for a regimen makeover, nor are they an argument for throwing out every product in your bathroom cabinet that isn’t listed below. However, they do serve as an especially trustworthy way to narrow down a product or two that you might want to try next as you navigate the changes that come with aging skin.

Keep scrolling to see the nine 2026 Best of Beauty winners that dermatologists recommend for mature skin.

See All the Expert Recommendations

• Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream
• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
• Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Serum
• Dove Serum+ Radiance Oil Wash
• Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
• SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Cleanser
• Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer
• EltaMD UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50

Collagen loss is something you more or less have to accept as you get older, so finding a moisturizer that helps improve its production while time is pushing back is a reasonable priority. “For mature skin, collagen is lost over time, so a cream that supports collagen production and targets skin laxity and wrinkles can be an important part of a skin-care routine,” says Dr. Queen, who recommends Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream to fill this role.

Medik8 knows that collagen alone isn’t powerful enough to impact what’s happening to the collagen already in your skin, so in addition to the collagen amino acids in its Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream formula, it takes a multitasking approach by relying on peptides, ceramides, and enzymes to bolster collagen production and repair sun damage. Furthermore, moisturizing ingredients squalane and hyaluronic acid ensure that skin looks and feels bouncy.

Although this cream can be used any time of day, Dr. Queen prefers it as “a luxurious overnight moisturizer that should be used as the last step in your routine at night.”

Vitamin C has had—if you’ll pardon the pun—an exceptionally long shelf life in the skin-care world. But even though there are seemingly countless serums touting it as the key ingredient, dermatologists continue to recommend SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. “Vitamin C is one of the cornerstone ingredients I recommend for aging skin, and C E Ferulic is a classic for a reason,” says Dr. Lewis. Both she and Dr. Queen have deemed it truly worthy of the often-bestowed, rarely deserved “holy grail” label.

Dr. Queen's enthusiasm for C E Ferulic comes down in part to the formulation, which has recently seen a bit of a shift: It contains 15% L-ascorbic acid, the form of vitamin C she says is the most well-studied, along with vitamin E and ferulic acid. Those additional antioxidants help stabilize the formula and enhance its antioxidant benefits. “A potent vitamin C serum like this one can help address years of cumulative UV damage that contribute to fine lines, discoloration, and photoaging in mature skin,” she says.

Dr. Spearman (we’re three for three on this recommendation) particularly appreciates its diminishing effects on uneven tone, fine lines, and dullness. “Vitamin C is also helpful for supporting collagen production, so it can be a nice addition to a preventative skin-care routine,” she says.

All three dermatologists recommend using it in the morning after cleansing because that’s what they personally do. Yes, unlike some products that dermatologists recommend because they're theoretically excellent, this one is actually in their bathrooms. “Consistency is much more important than using a large amount,” Dr. Spearman says, so there’s no need to drench your face in it, despite how tempting that may be.

Not everyone can (or wants to) use a retinoid. Dr. Queen considers Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Serum a good alternative option. She’s speaking from both a professional perspective and personal experience with the product, which she says made her skin feel noticeably more hydrated and bouncy.

“Resveratrol is the hero ingredient here,” she says, noting its antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and the potential it has shown in collagen production. She also points to the formula’s peptide complex for supporting the appearance of firmer, smoother skin.

This is not to say that it's a one-for-one retinoid replacement—wouldn’t skin care be considerably easier if it were?—but it does give people who can't tolerate that category an option that demonstrates the power of gentler ingredients. And besides, treating mature skin doesn't have to mean aggressively attacking every visible line. Sometimes the goal is simply to make skin look healthier, more hydrated, and more resilient—and let it continue being the face of a person who has, presumably, been having a pretty good time.

Your face isn't the only place where skin changes with age, which is why Dr. Spearman likes Dove Serum+ Radiance Oil Wash for those with mature skin. “The skin on our body tends to get drier as we age, so I like that this is a more moisturizing body wash,” she says of the formula, in which hydration-holding glycerin gets higher billing on the ingredient list than water. “It helps cleanse the skin without leaving you with that dry, tight feeling afterward,” and jojoba oil keeps the skin feeling soft.

Although this body wash works overtime to stop skin from feeling stripped, Dr. Spearman says you’ll get the most out of it depending on next steps. “One thing I always recommend for dry skin is to apply a moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp after showering,” she says. “The combination of a moisturizing body wash and a body lotion can make a big difference.” Doing this addresses dryness at two points rather than expecting a body wash to do the entire job by itself—even though Dove Serum+ Radiance Oil Wash absolutely could.

Dr. Spearman uses it herself, and promises you don’t need to be pushing any particular decade to qualify for it. “I think it's a nice everyday body wash, regardless of age,” she says.

While your figurative skin may be thicker than it was when you were younger, your actual skin may be at its most sensitive well into adulthood. “As skin matures, the barrier can become drier, more sensitive, and more prone to inflammation,” Dr. Lewis says. “I like Tower 28 SOS Spray because its hypochlorous acid formula is incredibly versatile and soothing.”

She’s impressed with how it helps calm visible redness and irritation, making it especially useful when mature skin is reactive or the skin barrier is compromised. In fact, she uses it regularly—even after in-office laser procedures.

“I recommend misting it onto clean skin after cleansing and allowing it to dry before applying serums and moisturizer,” Dr. Lewis says, noting that it can be re-sprayed throughout the day whenever skin feels irritated or flushed. "I especially like it during periods when the skin barrier is compromised or when someone is using stronger actives and needs something gentle in the rest of their routine.”

Some serums are designed around one particular concern. Dr. Lewis likes SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum because it takes a multifaceted approach, combining sophisticated ingredients like growth factors and peptides with skin-supporting algae and glycerin to address a variety of visible changes associated with mature skin.

“TNS Advanced+ is one of my favorite comprehensive anti-aging serums because it targets several of the changes we see with mature skin at once,” she says, specifically citing fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and overall firmness.

Dr. Queen also recommends the dual-chamber formula, giving a lot of the credit to growth factors. “Growth factors are designed to support the skin’s natural renewal processes and collagen production, which can be particularly beneficial in mature skin that has lost elasticity and firmness.” She recommends applying one pump from each chamber and blending them together on your hand before spreading the combo over your face before using moisturizer and sunscreen.

“I particularly like incorporating growth factors as part of a comprehensive skin-aging strategy and alongside in-office treatments,” Dr. Lewis says, calling out the same key ingredient as Dr. Queen. “For someone who wants to invest in one high-performance anti-aging serum, this is a product I recommend frequently in my practice.”

A cleanser has one of the least glamorous jobs in skin care: remove the day's accumulated makeup, sunscreen, and oil without irritating your skin, only to be unceremoniously rinsed down the drain. But that doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly important, and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Cleanser takes its task very seriously.

Dr Spearman recommends this nine-ingredient formula because it’s undeniably gentle and very deliberately designed to not replace the day’s grime and wilting makeup with that infamous post-wash feeling of tightness (not to be confused with the more desirable feeling of tautness). “For mature skin, that's really important because you want to cleanse without taking away the moisture your skin needs,” she says.

“As we get older, our skin tends to become drier, and our skin barrier can be more easily disrupted,” says Dr. Spearman, who uses this cleanser. “This is a nice option for someone who wants something gentle and hydrating,” as opposed to something that leaves skin squeaky-clean—which, despite the enduring popularity of the phrase, is not the goal for mature skin.

The glycerin and thermal spring water will do their part, so make sure you do yours: No aggressive scrubbing, no overzealous washcloth action, just simple cleansing gestures with a simple cleanser.

There’s a tendency to treat mature skin as though it needs one aggressive ingredient after another, but while intense exfoliants have their place, Dr. Queen makes a strong case for Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer, which works its firming magic without irritants.

“As the skin ages, it’s more prone to dryness, which makes fine lines more visible and can make the skin look less bouncy,” she says. “The peptides in this formula are designed to support collagen and elastin, which can help improve how plump and firm the skin feels.” Because sometimes another acid is not the answer. Sometimes three elasticity- and texture-targeting peptides are—especially when they’re delivered in an easily absorbed gel-cream.

Dr. Queen recommends using Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer morning and night—before sunscreen in the a.m. and as the last step in your p.m. routine—as a straightforward option for someone who has mature skin and doesn’t want their skin-care regimen to require a flowchart.

If your routine currently contains half a dozen serums, two exfoliants, and a NASA-adjacent moisturizer, but sunscreen is an afterthought, these dermatologists want you to know that you’re missing the most crucial step. Thankfully, it’s never too late to start using sunscreen, and it’s never too late to start using a sunscreen beloved by multiple derms.

Dr. Lewis particularly likes EltaMD UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 because of its lightweight feel, high level of protection, and suitability for so many skin types, including acne-prone. “Mature skin can absolutely still be acne-prone, and finding a sunscreen that addresses both concerns without feeling heavy is important,” she says.

Dr. Queen also calls it one of her favorite sunscreens because, in addition to being one of the most reliable ways to fight lines and discoloration, the nongreasy formula works well with makeup.

The doctors' instructions won’t come as any surprise: Apply it every morning as the final step of your skin-care routine, covering your face, neck, chest, and any other exposed areas generously. (Dr Queen is a big believer in the two-finger rule to get a sufficient amount.) And don’t forget to reapply when you're outdoors, particularly after sweating or swimming.

It may be low-frills compared to some other skin-care products, kind of like how eating vegetables is less exciting than ordering dessert, but it’s going to do a lot of the healthy heavy lifting in your regimen.

Discover even more 2026 Best of Beauty winners:

• Best of Beauty 2026: Skin-Care Winners
• Best of Beauty 2026: Body Winners
• Best of Beauty 2026: Splurge Winners

Now, watch Gabriette and Amelia Gray spill their secrets: