Skincare Routine Over 60: Gentle, Rich and Protective

A skincare routine for over 60 should be built around comfort and protection: wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser in warm (not hot) water, apply a rich cream or ointment within 3 minutes of bathing, wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, and, if you want an anti-aging active, use a low-strength retinol two or three nights a week. Check your skin regularly for new or changing spots.

Below, each step is explained for thin, easily bruised skin, with a simple daily plan, the evidence on retinol after 60, which moisturizers help crepey skin most, and the spots that mean it's time to call a dermatologist.

How does skin change after 60?

After 60, skin usually becomes thinner, drier and more fragile. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains that the outer layer of the skin gets thinner, paler and less elastic, that fragile blood vessels mean older adults tend to bruise more easily, and that skin glands may produce less sweat and oil. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) adds that in your 60s and 70s skin is thinner and loses water more easily, and that medications and medical conditions can play a role too.

The aim of a routine at this age shifts accordingly. In your 50s, much of the effort goes into correcting sun damage; after 60, the priorities are keeping skin comfortable, avoiding injury and protecting it from the sun. Our skincare routine for your 50s covers the correction side if you want both.

What is the best daily skincare routine for over 60?

The best routine is short and consistent. Most people over 60 need three products in the morning and two or three at night.

Add a lip balm with SPF and a plain body moisturizer, and that's a complete routine.

How should you wash thin, aging skin?

Wash gently, briefly and with warm water. The AAD's guidance for this age group is specific: use a gentle, fragrance-free, moisturizing bar soap, cleanser or body wash; use warm, not hot, water, since hot water strips oils; wash with a soft cloth, because a buff puff or bath brush can irritate skin; and keep baths or showers to 5 to 10 minutes. The AAD also notes you may not need to bathe every day.

For the face, a cream or milk cleanser in the evening and plain water in the morning is enough for most people. The AAD lists glycerin, hyaluronic acid and lanolin as moisturizing ingredients that help reduce dryness, so look for them in your cleanser and moisturizer. The NIA adds that hot baths and using too much soap, antiperspirant or perfume can make dry skin worse.

One safety point: skip bath oil. Both the AAD and NIA warn that it can make the tub slippery and increase the risk of falling.

What is the best moisturizer for crepey skin over 60?

The best moisturizer for crepey, dry skin over 60 is a thick, fragrance-free cream, with an ointment on the driest areas. The AAD recommends applying a creamy, fragrance-free moisturizer formulated for dry skin within 3 minutes of bathing and throughout the day, and when skin feels very dry, an ointment instead of a cream, because ointments hold water in the skin better.

It helps to know what each ingredient type does. DermNet sorts them into three groups:

• Occlusives, such as petroleum jelly, paraffin and dimethicone, form a protective barrier to reduce evaporative water loss.
• Humectants, such as glycerin and urea, attract and retain water in the outer layer of skin.
• Emollients, such as lanolin, soften and smooth skin by filling small cracks.

A good cream for crepey skin has all three. DermNet notes that ointments are the most occlusive and longest-lasting, creams are lighter and need reapplying more often, and that moisturizers are most effective when applied immediately after bathing, with their benefit greatest over the first 6 hours. So a second application in the afternoon is worth it if your skin feels tight by then. Moisturizer won't reverse crepiness, but well-hydrated skin looks smoother. For more on why crepiness happens, see crepey skin causes.

Indoor air matters too. The AAD suggests a humidifier and keeping indoor humidity between 45% and 60% to reduce dry, itchy skin.

Is retinol safe over 60?

For most people, yes, at a low strength and a low frequency. One of the clearest studies on very old skin enrolled 36 people with a mean age of 87 living in senior residences. They applied 0.4% retinol lotion up to three times a week for 24 weeks on one arm and a plain lotion on the other. The retinol arm showed significantly less fine wrinkling, along with more collagen and glycosaminoglycans (water-holding molecules) in biopsy subgroups. The authors suggested that rebuilding the skin's matrix this way may make aged skin more resistant to injury and ulceration, which matters for thin skin that tears easily.

How to use retinol safely after 60:

1. Choose a low-strength retinol in a cream or lotion base.
2. Apply two nights a week at first, then up to three, as in the study. More often isn't necessary.
3. Apply after moisturizer if your skin stings, and stop for a few nights if it turns red or peels.
4. Avoid the eyelids, corners of the nose and any broken skin.
5. Wear sunscreen daily while you use it.

If you use prescription creams, have a skin condition, or take medicines that affect your skin, check with your doctor or dermatologist before adding a retinoid.

Why do you bruise so easily after 60, and what helps?

Easy bruising after 60 usually comes from thin skin and fragile blood vessels. DermNet describes senile (actinic) purpura as purple bruises, mostly on the backs of the forearms and hands, that appear after minor knocks and affect more than 10% of people over 50. Long-term sun exposure, oral or topical corticosteroids and blood thinners raise the risk. The bruises take up to three weeks to fade and need no treatment, though they can leave brown marks.

What helps day to day:

• Protect your arms. Long sleeves and gardening gloves reduce knocks and scrapes; the AAD notes that when you wear gloves, you also reduce your risk of injuring your skin.
• Keep up sun protection. DermNet says sunscreen and protective clothing help prevent further skin damage.
• Moisturize the forearms and shins, where dry skin and bruising overlap.
• Tell your doctor about unexplained bruises. The NIA advises talking to a doctor if you see bruises and don't know how you got them, since some medicines and illnesses cause bruising.

Do you still need sunscreen after 60?

Yes, every day. The AAD's answer to people who wonder if it's too late is direct: you do still need sun protection, and it recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher along with shade and protective clothing. The NIA notes that a hat and broad-spectrum sunscreen can help prevent more age spots from forming.

A few habits make sunscreen work better at this age:

• Apply it every morning, including cloudy days: the AAD says up to 80% of UV rays can get through clouds.
• Reapply about every two hours when you're outdoors, and after sweating or swimming.
• If your skin is dry, a lotion or cream sunscreen often feels more comfortable than a gel or spray.
• Check the expiry date and discard sunscreen that has changed color or consistency, as the AAD advises.

For the right amount, see how much sunscreen to use.

When should you see a dermatologist about a spot?

See a dermatologist about any spot that is new, different from your others, or changing. The AAD's advice for this age group is to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice a spot that is different from others, or that changes, itches or bleeds.

Two guides help you know what to watch for:

• The ABCDEs of melanoma: asymmetry, an irregular border, uneven color, a diameter that is usually larger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser (though melanomas can be smaller), and evolving, meaning a spot that looks different from the rest or changes in size, shape or color.
• Actinic keratoses: the NHS describes these as patches that feel dry, rough and scaly, or like sandpaper, usually on the face, hands, scalp and ears. They're not usually serious, but there is a small chance they turn into skin cancer, so see a doctor if a patch bleeds, grows, changes color, becomes tender or turns into a lump.

If checking your own back or scalp is hard, ask a partner or family member to look, or ask for a full skin check at your next appointment.

How can a selfie scan help after 60?

A regular photo makes slow changes in dryness and tone easier to see, and it helps you notice whether a richer cream or a retinol is making a difference. An app like Pori takes a selfie and returns an overall skin score with readings for Hydration & Moisture, Pigmentation & Tone and Anti-aging & Elasticity, plus before/after comparison and reminders to keep a routine going. Pro's ingredient scanner reads a product's barcode or label and flags each ingredient as beneficial, use with caution or avoid for your skin type, which can help you spot fragrance in a moisturizer before you buy it.

An app is not a diagnosis, and Pori doesn't check moles or tell you whether a spot is cancer. Any spot that is new, changing, bleeding or simply different from the rest belongs in front of a dermatologist.