Maintaining optimal hydration in skin is essential for all skin types, especially mature skin. “As we age, collagen breaks down and cell turnover slows, which contributes to the look of dry, thin skin,” says New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD. “When skin is hydrated, it looks plumper and fine lines are minimized. Overall, it ages more gracefully.”
Signs that your skin is in need of moisture include inflammation, fine lines, itchiness, redness and a tight feeling. “In the office, we offer dermaplaning—a manual exfoliation technique—and the Clear + Brilliant laser, which increases skin’s ability to soak up potent topicals for a plump, radiant look,” says Dr. Russak.
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Exfoliation can help enhance skin’s hydration because it promotes cell turnover, and products made with hyaluronic acid can help skin retain water and instantly smooth any roughness. To boost your skin’s hydration levels at home, we like Nature’s Gate Papaya Lotion ($11) for its tropical-papaya scent and hydrating vitamin E–oil blend and Perricone MD Hyalo Plasma ($135) because it’s formulated with three types of hyaluronic acid that hydrates not one, but three layers of skin.
