My neighbor Margaret is 67 and has skin that honestly looks better than some people I know in their forties.
Meanwhile, her sister visits from across the country a few times a year, and despite being three years younger, looks noticeably older.
Same genetics, completely different results.
After getting curious about this, I started paying closer attention to what people with great skin actually do versus what they think they’re supposed to do. Turns out, a lot of us are unknowingly aging ourselves faster by sticking with outdated habits that no longer serve us.
If you’re still doing these things, it might be time to reconsider your approach.
1) Using harsh, stripping cleansers
Remember when we were told to wash our faces until they felt “squeaky clean”? That tight, almost dry feeling after cleansing was supposed to mean your skin was actually clean.
Yeah, that advice has aged about as well as some of those old skincare routines.
Harsh cleansers strip away your skin’s natural oils and damage the moisture barrier. After 60, your skin already produces less oil naturally, so stripping what little you have leaves your skin looking dull, dry, and yes, older.
I made this mistake for years, using foaming cleansers that left my face feeling tight. Once I switched to gentler, creamy cleansers, the difference was noticeable within weeks. My skin looked plumper and more hydrated.
Your cleanser should remove makeup and dirt without leaving your skin feeling parched. If your face feels tight after washing, that’s not clean. That’s damaged.
2) Skipping sunscreen on cloudy days
How many times have you looked outside, seen gray skies, and decided to skip the SPF?
Here’s the thing about UV rays. They don’t take days off just because you can’t see the sun. Up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate clouds, meaning you’re still getting sun damage even when it’s overcast.
The women I know with the best skin in their sixties and beyond wear sunscreen every single day, regardless of the weather or whether they’re planning to go outside. It’s as automatic as brushing their teeth.
Sun damage is cumulative. Every unprotected day adds up over the years, showing up as age spots, wrinkles, and uneven texture. You can use the most expensive serums and creams in the world, but if you’re not protecting your skin from UV damage, you’re basically taking one step forward and two steps back.
Make SPF 30 or higher part of your morning routine, rain or shine.
3) Over-exfoliating to chase that “glow”
Exfoliation can be wonderful for your skin. The keyword here is “can be.”
Too many people over 60 are exfoliating daily, sometimes multiple times a day, because they’ve heard it gives you glowing skin. And while gentle exfoliation does help remove dead skin cells and brighten your complexion, overdoing it creates the opposite effect.
Excessive exfoliation damages your skin barrier, increases sensitivity, and actually accelerates aging. Your skin becomes red, irritated, and more prone to wrinkles because you’ve stripped away the protective layers.
I went through a phase in my late thirties where I was using a physical scrub in the morning and a chemical exfoliant at night. My skin looked inflamed and aged rather than glowing. When I scaled back to exfoliating just twice a week, everything calmed down.
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and more delicate. It needs gentler treatment, not more aggressive scrubbing.
4) Applying products to dry skin
Do you apply your serums and moisturizers to completely dry skin? This is one of those habits that seems logical but actually works against you.
Slightly damp skin absorbs products much better than dry skin. When your skin is damp, it acts like a sponge, pulling hydration and active ingredients deeper into the layers where they can actually do something.
The better approach is to pat your skin mostly dry after cleansing, leaving it slightly damp, then immediately apply your serums and moisturizers. This locks in that extra moisture and helps your products work more effectively.
It’s such a small change but makes a real difference in how hydrated and plump your skin looks. I started doing this a few years ago after reading about it, and I honestly can’t believe I spent so many years doing it wrong.
Your expensive skincare works better when you apply it correctly.
5) Using the same products year-round
Your skin’s needs change with the seasons, but many people use the exact same routine in humid summer and dry winter alike.
In winter, indoor heating and cold outdoor air create a much drier environment. Your skin needs richer, more occlusive moisturizers to prevent moisture loss. In summer, humidity is higher and your skin might need lighter formulations to avoid feeling greasy or clogged.
Women with great skin adjust their routines seasonally. They might use a lighter gel cream in summer and switch to a heavier balm in winter. They add hydrating essences when the air is dry and scale back when it’s humid.
Your skin is telling you what it needs if you pay attention. Tight and flaky in winter? Add more moisture. Breaking out in summer? Lighten up your products.
One routine doesn’t fit all seasons, especially as your skin becomes more sensitive with age.
6) Neglecting the neck and chest
Quick question: do you stop at your jawline when applying skincare?
Most people do, and that’s exactly why their neck and chest often look older than their face. The skin on your neck is thinner and more delicate than facial skin, with fewer oil glands. It shows age quickly if you’re not taking care of it.
I see women all the time with beautifully maintained facial skin and necks that tell a completely different story. It’s such a missed opportunity because treating these areas takes literally seconds more.
Whatever you put on your face should go on your neck and chest too. Cleanser, serums, moisturizer, and especially sunscreen. Apply with upward strokes rather than dragging the delicate skin downward.
7) Sleeping on cotton pillowcases
This might seem like a minor detail, but the surface you sleep on for 7-8 hours every night actually matters.
Cotton pillowcases absorb moisture from your skin and can create friction that leads to sleep lines and wrinkles over time. After 60, when your skin is already losing elasticity and moisture, those sleep lines don’t bounce back as quickly as they used to.
Silk or satin pillowcases create less friction and don’t absorb moisture from your skin and hair. They’re gentler on aging skin and can help prevent those creases that eventually become permanent wrinkles.
I was skeptical about this until I tried it myself. The difference wasn’t dramatic overnight, but after a few months, I noticed my skin looked less creased in the morning and felt more hydrated.
For something that costs less than a decent moisturizer and lasts for years, it’s worth considering.
Final thoughts
Looking at this list, you might notice a theme. Most of these habits come from outdated advice or from doing too much rather than too little.
Your skin after 60 needs a gentler, more thoughtful approach than it did in your twenties or even your forties. It’s not about having a ten-step routine with the most expensive products. It’s about understanding what your skin actually needs and dropping the habits that work against it.
Start by picking one habit from this list to change. Maybe it’s finally committing to daily sunscreen or switching to a gentler cleanser. Small, consistent changes add up to significant results over time.
Your skin has carried you through decades of life. Treat it with the care and respect it deserves.
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