Self-test
Is this type you?
- ◎The horizontal lines on your forehead and the vertical lines between your brows are visible even when your face is at rest.
- ◎Crow's feet at the corners of your eyes and under-eye bags are noticeable in the morning.
- ◎Your skin is drier than it used to be; a day without moisturizer leaves it feeling tight.
- ◎Your jawline and neck aren't as defined as before; when you gently pinch your skin and let go, it takes longer to snap back.
- ◎Shaving nicks and acne marks heal more slowly than they used to.
- ◎Sun spots have appeared on your cheeks, forehead or the backs of your hands.
- ◎Fine broken capillaries and enlarged pores are more noticeable on your nose and cheeks.
In depth
The science of your skin
Men's skin starts aging with an advantage: the dermis is thicker, collagen density is higher and sebum doesn't decline noticeably with age. That's why fine lines often appear later in men. But the picture changes from middle age on. Men's skin has lower antioxidant capacity and is more vulnerable to the immune-suppressing effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays. Smoking and not protecting against the sun are also more common habits in men. As a result, even though wrinkles start later in men, they develop deeper and in a pattern of their own: a measurement study in Japanese men and women found that forehead wrinkles were more pronounced in men in every age group. Having less fat tissue in the inner cheeks also makes hollowing around the eyes and midface visible earlier on a man's face.
With age, the skin's inner workings also slow down. Measurements show that the hydration level of men's skin gradually drops after age 40, and that the skin's ability to bounce back after being stretched also declines markedly with age. From middle age onward, the acidity of the skin's surface decreases, which slows barrier repair; this is linked to shaving nicks and irritation taking longer to heal. The biggest external accelerators of aging are sun, smoking, air pollution and lack of sleep. The good news: regular sun protection can slow the progression of signs of aging, and retinoids are ingredients with clinically demonstrated effects on fine lines and texture. With mature skin, the goal isn't to stop time but to strengthen the shield and support the speed of repair.
Priorities
What does it need?
01
Sun protection is non-negotiable
With mature skin, sunscreen is the most powerful anti-aging step. If you're bald or have thinning hair, protect your scalp, ears and the back of your neck too; a hat makes a big difference.
02
Renew with a retinoid
Retinol and other retinoids are research-backed ingredients for fine lines, texture and uneven tone. Start with a low dose, a few evenings a week.
03
Moisture and lipid support
Skin hydration drops with age. A richer moisturizer with ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid supports the barrier and softens the look of lines.
04
Adjust your shave to slower repair
As skin thins and loses elasticity, the blade cuts it more easily. While shaving, gently stretch your skin with your free hand, press less and don't neglect post-shave care.
05
Antioxidant armor
A morning serum with vitamin C or niacinamide may help support lower antioxidant capacity and add an extra layer of defense alongside sunscreen.
Mature skin (45+)
Sun protection is non-negotiable
Step by step
Mature skin (45+) routine
5 steps
- 01
Gentle cleanse
Use a fragrance-free cleanser in a cream or light gel texture, or just lukewarm water. Mature skin reacts worse to harsh cleansing than it used to.
- 02
Pre-shave prep
Shave after your shower and leave a creamy shaving product on for a minute. On your neck and jawline, gently stretch the skin with your free hand to flatten the surface; this lowers the risk of nicks.
- 03
Shave and post-shave
Shave with a sharp blade, with the grain and without pressing. Rinse with cool water and apply an alcohol-free balm with panthenol.
- 04
Antioxidant serum
Apply a serum with vitamin C or niacinamide to your face and neck.
- 05
Moisturizer and sunscreen
Over a moisturizer with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Your ears, the back of your neck and, if your hair is thinning, your scalp are part of this step too.
What you can add to your routine
A team that changes with age
With age, the composition of the bacterial community on your skin changes too; declining sebum and rising pH contribute to this shift.
Protecting acidity supports repair
From middle age onward, the acidity of the skin's surface decreases. Cleansers and moisturizers with a pH close to the skin's help support both barrier repair and the environment of beneficial bacteria.
Care you can use in your routine
EcoProbiotic MenCare range ↗
Moisturising01Prebiotic Face CreamA thin layer morning and evening; on shaving days, right after you shave. Moisturises the skin and supports its barrier.View ↗
Body02Prebiotic Shower GelThoroughly cleanses the areas that hold sweat; moisturises the skin and supports its barrier. Morning or evening, every day.View ↗
Scalp03Prebiotic ShampooFor an oily, itchy scalp. Removes oil and dirt and supports the scalp barrier; suitable for daily use.View ↗Reading labels
Ingredient guide
✓What helps
- Retinol and other retinoids: the most researched ingredient group for fine lines, texture and tone.
- Vitamin C: provides antioxidant support and plays a role in collagen production.
- Niacinamide: supports the barrier, even tone and the look of redness.
- Peptides: ingredients that target the skin's support structure.
- Ceramides and cholesterol: for the barrier mortar that thins with age.
- Hyaluronic acid and glycerin: support hydration levels.
- Panthenol: soothes after shaving and supports repair.
- Broad-spectrum sun filters: every morning, all year round.
!Be careful with
- Jumping straight into high-dose retinoids: causes redness and flaking and makes you quit the routine.
- Alcohol-based aftershave lotions: strip away moisture that's already declining.
- Harsh, gritty scrubs: irritate thinning skin.
- Using retinol and strong acids on the same evening.
- Heavy fragrance: can trigger sensitivity that increases with age.
- Using sunscreen only in summer.
All year round
By season
Winter
Winter dryness is more pronounced in mature skin. Use a richer night cream, cut back on retinol if needed, avoid hot showers and consider running a humidifier at home.
Summer
Sun spots and aging progress most in this season. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. If you use retinol, pay extra attention to sun protection.
Seasonal transition
Fall is a good time to start retinol or increase the dose; the sun is weaker and your skin adapts to the new active more easily.
Caution
Common mistakes
- ✕Never starting because you think skincare won't make a difference at this age.
- ✕Starting retinol at a high dose every evening, then quitting entirely when irritation hits.
- ✕Leaving your ears, the back of your neck and a thinning scalp unprotected from the sun.
- ✕Shaving thinning skin while pressing as hard as you used to.
- ✕Leaving your neck and the backs of your hands out of your skincare routine.
- ✕Ignoring a mole or sore that changes, bleeds or doesn't heal.
Popular searches
Most asked about Mature skin (45+)
Your questions
Frequently asked questions
01Can men use retinol?+
Yes. Retinol and other retinoids are among the most researched ingredients and can be effective on fine lines, texture and tone in men's skin too. Start with a low dose, 2–3 evenings a week, use it together with a moisturizer and don't skip sunscreen in the morning. If you get irritation in the shaving area, use it less often.
02Why are wrinkles deeper in men?+
Because men's skin is thicker, lines usually start later. But men's skin has lower antioxidant capacity; add a lack of sun protection, smoking and strong facial expression muscles, and wrinkles can develop more deeply, especially on the forehead and around the eyes.
03Is it worth starting skincare after 45?+
Yes. Research shows that using sunscreen every day slows the progression of signs of aging even in middle age. Moisturizing and retinoids can also support the look and comfort of your skin at any age. It's not too late to start.
04Why do I cut myself shaving more as I get older?+
With age, skin thins, loses elasticity and the surface becomes more uneven; the blade can catch on the folds. Because repair slows down too, nicks take longer to heal. Gently stretching your skin while shaving, using a sharp blade, pressing less and always moisturizing after shaving all help.
05What kind of moisturizer should I choose for mature men's skin?+
A fragrance-free cream moisturizer with ceramides, cholesterol, glycerin and hyaluronic acid is a good start. Applying sunscreen over it in the morning and a richer night cream in the evening supports the moisture that declines with age.
06When should I see a dermatologist?+
If you notice a mole or sore that changes in shape, color or size, bleeds or doesn't heal within a few weeks, see a dermatologist without delay. Also, if you have rough, crusty sun spots, persistent redness or prominent broken capillaries on your face, suitable approaches can be planned after a doctor's evaluation.
Scientific basis
Sources
- 01Aging in the Male Face: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors.
Keaney TC · Dermatologic Surgery · 2016 · doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000000505
Reviewed evidence that men have a thicker epidermis and dermis but lower antioxidant capacity in their skin, and that combined with smoking and poor sun protection habits, wrinkles develop more prominently in men.
- 02Gender-dependent differences in degree of facial wrinkles.
Tsukahara K, Hotta M, Osanai O, Kawada H, Kitahara T, Takema Y · Skin Research and Technology · 2013 · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0846.2011.00609.x
Showed that across all age groups men's forehead wrinkles are more pronounced than women's, and that other facial wrinkles also tend to be deeper in men up to age 65.
- 03Skin physiology in men and women: in vivo evaluation of 300 people including TEWL, SC hydration, sebum content and skin surface pH.
Luebberding S, Krueger N, Kerscher M · International Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2013 · doi:10.1111/ics.12068
Measurements in 300 people showed that men's sebum production is higher than women's at every age and does not decline with age, that skin surface pH in men stays below 5, and that the hydration level of men's skin gradually drops after age 40.
- 04Mechanical properties of human skin in vivo: a comparative evaluation in 300 men and women.
Luebberding S, Krueger N, Kerscher M · Skin Research and Technology · 2014 · doi:10.1111/srt.12094
Showed that skin elasticity and firmness decline with age, that the ability to bounce back after being stretched is affected most by aging, and that this change follows a different course in men and women.
- 05Stratum corneum acidification is impaired in moderately aged human and murine skin.
Choi EH, Man MQ, Xu P, Xin S, Liu Z, Crumrine DA et al. · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2007 · doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700913
Showed that the acidity of the skin's surface decreases from middle age onward and that this slows barrier repair.
- 06Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.
Hughes MC, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC · Annals of Internal Medicine · 2013 · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002
Found that over four and a half years, signs of skin aging progressed less in people who used broad-spectrum sunscreen every day than in those who used it occasionally.
- 07The skin aging exposome.
Krutmann J, Bouloc A, Sore G, Bernard BA, Passeron T · Journal of Dermatological Science · 2017 · doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.09.015
Reviewed the contribution of external factors such as sunlight, air pollution, smoking, diet and sleep to skin aging.
- 08Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety.
Mukherjee S, Date A, Patravale V, Korting HC, Roeder A, Weindl G · Clinical Interventions in Aging · 2006 · doi:10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327
Reviewed the clinical effects of retinoids on fine lines, uneven tone and texture, as well as side effects such as irritation.
