Winter Skincare Products for Women Over 50 That I Use and Like

Winter skin is just different. Once the temperature drops and the heat starts running inside, my skin can start feeling drier and tighter than it does during warmer months. I notice it most when my face feels uncomfortable after cleansing or when makeup starts emphasizing dry areas that normally don’t bother me.

I use a LOT of skincare throughout the year, and my routine changes depending on the day, so I want to be clear that this is not my complete skincare routine. If you saw what I packed just for a trip to my mom’s house, you would understand. Lol. Instead, I’m sharing a handful of winter skincare products that I use, like, or have recently started testing.

Some of these have been around my bathroom for quite a while, while others are new enough that I’m only sharing first impressions. That distinction matters to me because I’m happy to tell you I like the texture of something after a week, but I’m not going to pretend it transformed my skin overnight.

This post has been updated with current recommendations and links for a better reader experience.

Why Mature Skin Can Feel Drier in Winter

Cold outdoor air and heated indoor air can both contribute to moisture loss, so skin may feel tighter, rougher, or more easily irritated during the winter. I don’t completely overhaul everything I use just because the weather changes, but I do pay attention to what my skin is telling me.

That may mean using a richer moisturizer, backing off exfoliation for a few days, or adding an extra hydrating product. Some days my skin handles active ingredients beautifully, and other days it clearly wants moisture and nothing else. I’ve learned that listening to it usually works better than following a rigid routine.

Cleansers I Like for Winter

Cleansing is one of those basic steps that can make a big difference when your skin is dry. I want my face clean, especially at night when I’ve worn makeup and sunscreen, but I don’t want it feeling tight or stripped afterward.

Prequel Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Oil

The Prequel Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Oil is new to me, and I bought it specifically for evenings when I’ve been wearing makeup and want to double-cleanse. It is an oil-based cleanser designed to be used as that first cleansing step to help loosen makeup, sunscreen, and everything else that has collected on your face during the day.

I follow it with another cleanser, and so far, I like having this extra step on makeup days. I haven’t been using it long enough to make any grand claims, but I do like that I can use it when I need it rather than turning double cleansing into a requirement every single night. The formula includes cica oil, rice bran oil, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid.

Prequel Gleanser + Glycolic

Unlike the cleansing oil, I’ve been using the Prequel Gleanser + Glycolic for quite a while. I recently ordered a refill, and mine stays right in my shower, which is usually a pretty good indicator of what I’m actually using.

This cleanser contains 5% glycolic acid along with glycerin, so it cleanses while also giving me some exfoliation. I like that combination, but I still pay attention to how my skin feels. If my face is already dry or irritated, that isn’t the time for me to pile on several exfoliating products at once. More is not always better with skincare. Sometimes more is just red. Lol.

Obagi Nu-Derm Foaming Gel

The Obagi Nu-Derm Foaming Gel was included in my original winter skincare post, and I wanted to keep it in this updated version because Obagi is a brand I actually know and like. This is a traditional foaming cleanser designed to remove makeup, excess oil, and everyday buildup.

I tend to have more confidence talking about products from brands I have experience with than grabbing something unfamiliar simply because it happens to have thousands of Amazon reviews. There is nothing wrong with trying something new, obviously, but skincare is one area where I appreciate a proven favorite.

Moisturizers for Dry Winter Skin

Moisturizer is probably the category where I notice the biggest seasonal difference. During colder weather, I’m much more likely to appreciate something richer, although I still like lighter products when I’m layering several things underneath makeup.

The first two moisturizers are both new to me. They arrived last week, so these are very much my first impressions. I’m enjoying both of them so far, but one week of use is not enough for me to make any claims about long-term results.

Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Cream Intensive Plumping Moisturizer

The Pro-Collagen Peptide Cream Intensive Plumping Moisturizer is noticeably richer. You can even see the difference in my photo because the lighter moisturizer spreads almost like a serum, while this one holds its shape like a traditional cream.

Since my skin tends to run dry anyway, I really like the thicker texture. I can see myself reaching for the lighter one when I want something easy to layer and using this richer version when my skin feels like it needs more moisture. Again, these are first impressions, and I’ll have a much better idea of how they work for me after I’ve used them longer.

Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer

The Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer is much lighter than the Intensive version. The texture feels more like a gel-serum than a traditional cream, and it spreads very easily across the skin.

So far, I like it for days when I want hydration without a heavier layer. It feels easy to use underneath other skincare and makeup, which makes it a good daytime option for me. I’ve only been using it for about a week, so these are still first impressions, but I’m enjoying the lightweight texture.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream – Fragrance Free

Olay Regenerist is one of those skincare names that has been around forever, and there is a reason so many women recognize it. The fragrance-free version is the one I would gravitate toward, especially in winter when skin can be drier or a little more reactive.

I like that this Micro-Sculpting Cream is richer without being positioned as some exotic, complicated treatment. Sometimes you just want a dependable moisturizer from a brand you already know.

Daytime Moisturizers With SPF

Sunscreen does not disappear from my routine just because summer is over. UVA rays are around throughout the year, so I still want sun protection during the colder months.

I also appreciate products that can combine moisturizer and SPF because I’m usually layering other skincare products underneath. If I can simplify one step without giving something up, I’m all for it.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ with SPF 35

I have a feeling a lot of you have used Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion at some point. It is one of those products that practically needs no introduction.

This version has SPF 35, which makes it especially convenient for daytime. I like the idea of getting hydration and sun protection in one step, especially when I’m already layering other skincare underneath.

Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50

Have you heard of Paula’s Choice? It’s an interesting brand. “Founded in 1995 by Paula Begoun, a beauty expert and author often referred to as the “Cosmetics Cop,” the brand emphasizes transparency, research, and consumer education.” Do YOU want to tell the Cosmetics Cop no? lol.

This rich Daily Hydrating Fluid Face Moisturizer contains antioxidants and is perfect for giving your skin that extra hydration boost in the winter. It’s also a great base for makeup, and will help your foundation go on flawlessly. Treat your skin to a little luxury with this one!

Sunscreen does not disappear from my routine once summer is over. UVA exposure happens throughout the year, and it can come through windows, too, which is particularly worth remembering if you spend a lot of time driving.

What I like about a lightweight SPF like this is that it is easier to layer with everything else I might be using that morning. That matters because the sunscreen you’ll actually apply consistently is far more useful than the beautiful bottle sitting untouched in the drawer.

A Little Extra Hydration When Skin Feels Dry

Not everything has to be an essential step in a skincare routine. Sometimes you just want something that feels good when your skin is dry, or you need a quick refresh during the day.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rose Water

I’ve bought the Mario Badescu Facial Spray for my granddaughter multiple times, so I know it’s a product she would highly recommend.

It is lightweight, easy to mist on, and one of those simple products that can feel refreshing when skin feels dry. I would add one caution here, though: it does contain rose fragrance, so if you are sensitive to fragrance, that is worth knowing before you buy it.

Exfoliation Can Still Have a Place in Winter

I don’t believe we need to stop every active ingredient as soon as cooler weather arrives, but I do think winter is a good time to pay closer attention to how much exfoliation your skin is tolerating.

Mine changes from day to day. Some days I may use an exfoliating product, and other days my skin may be telling me very clearly that it wants moisture and nothing else. I listen. Well, at least I try to. Lol.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Here’s Paula, the Cosmetics Cop, again. This high-end exfoliator refines texture, smooths rough patches, and leaves your skin glowing and looking healthy. Perfect for winter, it works to clear away dullness and bring back radiance. Pamper your skin with this splurge-worthy exfoliator!

The Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is another product I wanted to carry over from the original article. It contains salicylic acid, which exfoliates without using a physical scrub.

This is the kind of product I work into my skincare rather than automatically using it every single day regardless of what else I’ve applied. Since the Prequel Gleanser + Glycolic already contains an exfoliating acid, I don’t feel the need to follow every use with another acid just because I can. Skin doesn’t award bonus points for enthusiasm.

If mine starts feeling dry, tight, flaky, or irritated, I back off. There are plenty of skincare ingredients I enjoy using, but using every one of them on the same night is not the goal.

I Don’t Use the Same Skincare Every Day

This is probably the most important thing to explain about my skincare. I don’t have one rigid routine that I repeat seven days a week. I use different products on different days depending on what I’m testing, what treatments I’m using, and what my skin needs.

I also use plenty of skincare products that are not mentioned anywhere in this post. This article isn’t meant to be a complete inventory of my bathroom cabinet. We would all need snacks before we got through that post. Lol.

And my skincare doesn’t stop with bottles and jars. I also use several devices and tools on different days, including red-light masks and other at-home skincare gadgets. If you’re curious about that part of what I do, I recently shared Skincare Tools for Women Over 50: What I Own and Use.

That is why I would rather show you products that fit into different parts of my skincare than pretend I follow one neat little five-step routine every morning and night. I don’t, and I don’t think you need to either.

If you’re trying several new skincare products, one of the most helpful things you can do is introduce them gradually. If you start five new products on Monday and your skin becomes irritated by Thursday, good luck figuring out who the culprit is.

That is especially true when you’re using retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin C, or other active ingredients. I use several active skincare products myself, but I don’t necessarily use all of them on the same day. My skin gets a vote.

What I Look for in Winter Skincare After 50

At this stage, I pay more attention to how my skin behaves than I do to an imaginary perfect skincare routine. If something leaves my face feeling uncomfortably tight, I’m probably not going to keep reaching for it. If a moisturizer feels good, layers well with my other products, and keeps my skin comfortable, that matters to me.

I also put a lot of weight on what I actually continue to use. The Prequel Gleanser + Glycolic earned a refill. I’ve bought the Mario Badescu Facial Spray for my granddaughter multiple times.

Those details tell you a lot more than me simply declaring everything in a post “amazing.”

Winter Skincare Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

You certainly don’t need every product in this article. You may already have a cleanser, moisturizer, treatment, and sunscreen that work beautifully for you, and if you do, keep using them.

I’m sharing these because they are products I have experience with, have purchased, or am currently testing, not because I think everyone needs to replace their skincare every season. For me, winter skincare is less about buying an entirely new routine and more about adjusting what I’m already doing when my skin starts feeling drier.

Sometimes that means adding more moisture, and sometimes it means using fewer active ingredients. Occasionally, the most helpful thing I can do for my face is stop messing with it for a couple of days. That may be the cheapest skincare advice I’ve ever given you. Lol.

If your skin becomes persistently red, painful, itchy, cracked, or irritated, that is also a good time to talk with a dermatologist instead of continuing to experiment. I can tell you what I use and how something feels on my own mature skin, but I’m not a dermatologist, and no skincare product works exactly the same way for every woman.

What about you, Gurls? Does your skincare change once colder weather arrives, or do you tend to use the same products throughout the year?

Did you find something helpful in today’s post? Share it with a friend or save it to Pinterest so you can find it again later. That simple click also helps more women over 50 discover our little corner of the internet, and I truly appreciate it.

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Verse Of The Day

Matthew 13:52 (NIV)
⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”