Skin concerns and beauty routines shift with age, so who better to consult on the best beauty products to use than women over 40? Along with polling our coworkers, friends and loved ones about their mature beauty must-haves, I also got recommendations from my colleagues on products they’ve previously gifted their moms and other women in their lives.
While these are year-round essentials, they’re also handy for this gifting season. After all, beauty gifts are a great last-minute present or stocking stuffer. Most women over 40 I know would appreciate a gift that reminds them to take an extra moment of self-care. Think a luxurious body cream or refreshing under-eye masks. Or even take a cue from her own routine and restock one of her holy-grail products.
If you’re looking for more gift ideas, we have plenty of recommendations. Check out our guides to the best gifts for moms, best luxury gifts and unique gifts that are sure to standout.
“Tatcha is one of the most beautifully packaged skin care brands out there, and it just so happens to also be really effective,” CNN Underscored managing editor Rachel Quigley said. “If they haven’t tried Tatcha before, this is a perfect gift set to get them started. They are sure to be hooked once they try it.” The kit includes one moisturizer each for the day and night: the editor-favorite Dewy Skin Cream and redness-reducing Indigo Overnight Repair moisturizer.
As someone who has dozens of tubes and always welcomes more, I feel like lip balm is a universally safe gift option. “This lip balm has been my saving grace as it’s gotten colder out,” CNN Underscored copy editor Danielle Poiesz said. “Not only does it give (the illusion of) a little more fullness to my lips but it adds just the right amount of shine, holds the hydration for hours and has a light sweet berry flavor. In fact, I find it works better overnight than Laneige’s viral Lip Sleeping Mask — gasp! — Yes, I went there.”
Poiesz’s friend Lorrie Noggle said our pick for the best color-correcting under-eye cream is one of her holy-grail products. “It’s light and super moisturizing — that’s all I need these days. (These [eye] bags aren’t going anywhere without surgery!),” Noggle said. “It’s also easy to find if I need it in a pinch, and it doesn’t feel heavy under concealer.”
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“My mom swears by this Kiehl’s face moisturizer,” CNN Underscored associate testing writer Carolina Gazal said. “As someone with sensitive skin, she is incredibly mindful of ingredients, and she loves how hydrating and nonirritating it is.”
Tatcha is also a favorite beauty brand of our senior lifestyle editor’s mom. “I’ve given my mom Tatcha products multiple times, and she’s always excited to receive them,” Tamara Kraus said. “Whenever I ask her what she wants for the holidays, Tatcha skin care is always at the top of her list because it makes her skin so dewy and glowy.” This limited-edition set comes with three essentials: a creamy face wash, hydrating moisturizer and a glossy lip mask.
This under-eye tightening gel is a unique product that those with mature skin will appreciate. “My mom and I tested this eye-tightening cream for a review, and we loved the results so much that we’re still using it almost every day,” CNN Underscored testing and updates writer Michelle Rae Uy said. “It takes seconds to apply, and it lasts all day. Plus, you only really need a small amount each time, so that tube will last you a long while. I was thinking of getting some work done around my eyes, but with this, I won’t have to. It saved me a whole lot of money.”
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For an extra dose of self-care, Quigley loves this all-in-one facial wand that combines red light therapy, facial massage, therapeutic warmth and galvanic current. Linda Abdelrahman, mom of our home and gifts editor, is also a fan and said it “helps with her under-eye puffiness and feels like facial massage.”
Solawave is currently running a “buy one, get one free” promo on its skin care devices, so you can pick up one for yourself too.
Every skin care routine needs a quality sunscreen, even in the winter. “This Tizo mineral sunscreen is so smooth and satisfying, it feels luxurious,” Noggle said. “It helps balance texture and tone, and both works great on its own and is a fantastic primer under foundation.”
CNN Underscored associate home and gifts editor Nikol Slatinksa said this anti-aging serum that she gifted her mom has become a staple in her mom’s routine. “My mom noticed an immediate improvement in her skin after using it; namely, the serum made her skin look less dull and more radiant,” Slatinksa said. “I always send her the product link when I see it on sale because it’s very expensive. Even though my mom doesn’t like spending a lot of money on beauty products, she’s repurchased this serum twice since I gave it to her.”
Abdelrahman was gifted the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and this night cream, and she said both have become her most favorite products. “I use them every night, and they have a soft scent but a rich and luxurious feel,” she said. The Advanced Night Repair line has been around for decades, so its products are truly time-tested classics.
My mom always has soft skin and, according to her, Osea’s body care is responsible. She loves the luxe textures of the products and considers the Undaria Algae Body Oil her absolute favorite. “It’s not greasy, it feels really refined,” she said. She also started using the body butter (my personal favorite), which is thick and rich, and perfect for winter. This set includes full sizes of both hydrating products, plus a body wash.
A classic product you can pick up at the drugstore, Weleda’s Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream is a multitasking formula that can be used as a hand cream, body lotion and even face moisturizer. Plus, it’s safe for sensitive skin. “My mom has repurchased this moisturizer multiple times,” Slatinksa said. “She has dry skin and loves the thick formula. A couple months ago, she had an allergy test done and learned that she’s allergic to fragrances in skin care and makeup products. She was so upset that she had to stop using so many of her favorite beauty products, but because this cream is gentle and fragrance-free, she gets to keep using it.”
CNN media and entertainment senior editor Sandra Gonzalez swears by this golden serum. “Two years shy of 40, I’m starting early to accept my creases as they come and have found that the key to my acceptance is hydrated skin,” she said. “Nothing does that better than this Guerlain serum, which leaves your skin so buttery and hydrated.” She noted that it even passed the ultimate user test: “After I started using this, my husband, who to my knowledge was not paid for this comment, asked me if I was doing something different because my skin looked ‘so glowy and radiant.’ Sold! Forever.”
This vitamin C serum comes recommended by CNN senior editor Cheri Mossburg. “It’s excellent for sensitive skin, it actually works to lighten the dark spots that developed on my cheeks and it’s very affordable,” she said. If you’re shopping for a Korean beauty enthusiast, this is a great pick to introduce them to a brand that we don’t see on shelves here in the US.
CNN Underscored updates writer Ellen McAlpine said her mom has a whole lineup of Drmtlgy products in her routine. This exfoliating mask is a favorite for combatting dull skin and texture. McAlpine’s mom said it doesn’t totally eliminate the appearance of pores, but it does clean deeper than soap, and she likes to pair the mask with the brand’s Tingl Exfoliating Pads.
Skin can quickly get dull and dry in the cold winter months, so layering on hydrating products is essential. Mossburg loves applying this milky toner that’s infused with skin barrier-supporting ingredients. “This formula is my absolute first stop after washing my face,” she said. “My skin slurps it up without leaving any hint of stickiness.”
CNN Underscored testing editor Suzanne Kattau said this affordable moisturizer keeps her over-50 skin feeling soft and supple. In addition to the skin benefits, Kattau loves the convenient packaging too. “I simply press down on the pump and the perfect amount of cream comes out every time,” she said.
“My mom has used France Laure products for years,” our associate testing writer Gareen Puglia said. “This Calm Cleansing Milk is her go-to makeup remover because it has a thick and nourishing formula. It’s also a great option for sensitive skin. I’ve tried it and love how gentle it feels. A little goes a long way too.”
Last year, I gifted my mom Oribe’s Gold Lust Collection gift set because she loves the hair oil so much, and the oil continues to be the one product she repurchases from the line. “The hair oil makes me feel like I’ve just walked out of the salon,” she said. “It keeps my fine hair from being super electric, and it doesn’t weigh it down.”
“My siblings and I had previously gifted my mom a Revlon hair-dryer brush, and after almost five years, it finally bit the dust a few months ago,” CNN Underscored associate editor Jillian Tracy said. “My mom just upgraded to this L’Ange dryer at the recommendation of her hairstylist. I tested it myself over the fall holidays and found it just as easy to use as the Revlon, but the titanium barrel design better achieves a sleek and smooth look. It also seemed to retain heat a bit better than the Revlon, which meant that my hair dried and styled faster, leaving me more time to focus on the rest of my getting-ready routine.”
A luxurious shampoo is an easy way to upgrade her shower routine. This one comes recommended by Alison Harris, another friend of Poiesz’s. “I use this Ouai Clarifying shampoo once a week to rid my hair and scalp of any excess product,” she said. “It really helps breathe life back into my hair.”
Glossy lip balm is truly one of the greatest inventions. You get the color and shine of a normal lip gloss, but with the nourishment and comfort of a balm. This Naturium tinted gloss made my mom’s wish list this year, so she can add to her collection of shades.
This palette is perfect for locking in blush so it doesn’t fade. Mossburg loves the versatility of having both the powder and the cream formulas, which you can use by themselves or layered together. Plus, all the shades are beautiful so it’s hard to go wrong.
Glossier’s Perfecting Skin Tint is a favorite of Mossburg. “It offers just enough color to subtly even out skin tone, yet it is light enough that it won’t settle into fine lines,” she said. While color cosmetics like foundation or tinted moisturizer are tricky to shop for on behalf of someone else, they’re everyday essentials that women can always use more of. So, if you’re able to peek inside her makeup bag and get her shade, consider restocking her favorite formula.
For mature skin, makeup artists recommend using pressed powder over loose powder. Poiesz loves this formula, which she’s been using for decades. “It’s lightweight and provides fresh-feeling, matte coverage,” Poiesz said. “It’s great on oily skin too, which I’ve found is pretty rare, so when I have an oily patch, I can just do a quick application in that spot and the shine disappears. It’s also never caused a breakout on my acne-prone skin. All tried-and-true wins in my book!”
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and we ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
For this story, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw rounded up beauty product recommendations from CNN staffers and other women over 40 that also make great gift ideas.
