The Best Hydrating Products For Mature Skin, According To An Editor In Her 40s

Something strange happened to me this summer. One day the skin on my face, especially on my forehead, suddenly became extremely dry. This was something I’d never experienced before and I didn’t know why. It’s the middle of summer and this dryness isn’t a normal winter thing. What on earth is going on?

As a beauty editor, I’m always trying new products, but nothing new enough to blame recently. In my head, I ran through a list of possible culprits. My skin is naturally oily/combination/acne-prone, but it’s been drier ever since I hit menopause. Is this a new facet of it? Sorry. Being a good kid, I’ve been reapplying sunscreen and using it more diligently than usual. Is this a punishment for my efforts? Hopefully not!

I needed an expert opinion about my sad summer skin, so I reached out to board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Melanie Palm, MD, MBA. Art of Skin MD “Dry skin during menopause is extremely common and is primarily due to declining estrogen levels, which play a key role in maintaining skin hydration and elasticity,” explains Dr. Palm of San Diego, California. “As estrogen levels fall, the skin’s ability to retain moisture decreases, leading to dryness and a thinner skin barrier, which makes skin more sensitive in the summer as temperatures rise and exposure to sunlight increases.”

Menopause had been a big factor in my skin’s condition, so it was entirely possible that my sudden dryness was due to that. But I had doubts about sunscreen. “Sunscreen is essential for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, but some types can make dryness worse,” says Palm, adding that you should avoid products containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or benzyl alcohol. (I often use mineral sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so that may have played a role.) Instead, Palm recommends choosing a sunscreen that’s designed for sensitive or combination skin and contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, and peptides. “Products with these ingredients will help protect against UV damage without drying out your skin,” she continues.