Stinging and flaking skin after 60: an expert says it's a sign to change your routine, not to raise your retinol dose

The cream that suited you at 40 won't necessarily suit you at 60. It sounds obvious, yet plenty of people keep buying the same jar out of habit for years. Searches for skincare routines after 60 rose by around 45 percent in a year - and with them the industry's attempts to sell those very women something new. Three experts offer something more modest and more useful: the signs that it really is time to change your routine.

"After 60, stinging and persistent flaking are signs you need to rethink your routine," says beauty expert Danielle Louise. Especially if you use retinol. The other signals are tightness after cleansing, sensitivity you never used to have, sudden dryness and hair that has become thinner and is losing volume.

Cosmetologist Ester Moreno talks about "cosmetic stagnation". Skin gets used to a constant stimulus, so an active ingredient that once worked wonders can become less effective. The ingredient isn't bad - it has probably just done its main job already. Life changes such as a long trip, a new job, a stretch of insomnia or medical treatment can change your skin more than we think. Age is a reason to take stock, but there's no birthday on which your routine automatically changes. Moreno advises caring for your skin according to its current needs, not according to trends.

Estrella Pujol, who owns a beauty centre, puts the sun first. The difference in sun-protected skin shows from the age of 30. "I've seen clients of 60 with healthier, more radiant skin than many women of 30," she says. Protection should be broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, and not just on the face - but on the neck, chest and backs of the hands too, with shade and clothing as extra protection.

The seven mistakes to avoid, according to Danielle Louise:

• cleansers that leave your skin tight - a gentle cleanser is better, with moisturiser applied while the skin is still slightly damp;
• raising the retinol dose and combining it with peels in search of faster results;
• using sun protection only on the face;
• washing your hair less often as a general rule - your scalp decides the frequency, not your age;
• careless use of hairdryers and straighteners - lower heat, heat protection and gentle handling of wet hair;
• taking supplements without medical advice - for thinning hair, see your GP first;
• giving up your own style because of your age.

A similar principle applies to make-up: light, hydrating textures instead of heavy full-coverage foundations, and no thick eyeliner, which makes the eyes look smaller. The message from all three experts is the same - beauty after 60 isn't giving up, it's a different approach. And what the adverts won't tell you: sometimes the answer is a gentler cream, not a pricier one.