Surprisingly, millennials and baby boomers have similar things on their minds as they take a stroll down the beauty and skincare aisle. According to 2025 Vogue magazine GWI data showed that both generations are more likely to seek out skincare products that target dry skin and help reduce signs of aging.
“This generation is pushing for innovation specifically in the skincare and wellness sectors with an age-agnostic approach to their mature skin routine,” Hannah Mauser, chief beauty strategist at WGSN, said of baby boomers’ skincare routines. “Cell renewal, hydration and protection are top priorities for baby boomers as they look for formulas that enhance their skin and work with it, not against it.” However, the way the two generations tried to achieve their goals in skin care differed. While younger generations were open to trying new skincare products, baby boomers preferred to stick with tried-and-true brands and products.
Meanwhile, 2025 He studies In ethics, medicine, and public health, I found that the two generations tried to address aging in different ways as well. While the younger generation made an active effort to stay informed about anti-aging trends, the older generation did not share the same sentiments and preferred to stick with information they already knew. Millennials were focused on rejuvenating their skin to reduce signs of aging, while baby boomers simply wanted to take care of their skin the best they could. The differences between the two generations do not end there, as they often argue about the basics of skin care.
Millennials don’t think cold creams are worth all the hype
After years of watching Hollywood icons use cold creams, many baby boomers have begun to consider it a glamorous beauty secret. Not only did this generation use the product religiously, but they also recommended it to millennials, often describing it as the only beauty product they would ever need. However, the beloved product has not aged well.
During a 2016 conversation with HuffPostDermatologist Patricia Wexler explained that the cold cream was actually a “water-in-oil emulsion” mixed with beeswax and aromatherapy. The product is aptly named due to the cooling feeling it leaves on the skin. While cold creams can help rejuvenate dry skin, they come with a lot of downsides that millennials feel have been largely ignored by the older generation. talking to attractiveness In 2015, cosmetic chemist Joseph Cincotta stated that cold creams should be used as makeup removers, not moisturizers. He went on to explain that the formula of most cold creams works best for removing makeup and treating inflamed skin.
Cincotta stated that the level of mineral oils and soaps can dry out the skin with prolonged use, despite initially providing moisture. What’s more, Cincotta noted that the cold creams were free of ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which can actually help nourish the skin. In addition, in chat with Town & Country MagazineDermatologist Ava Shamban points out that the baby boomer favorite was initially packed with skin-rejuvenating ingredients. However, they have been replaced by ingredients such as petroleum jelly and mineral oil due to the needs of mass production.
Millennials don’t want to feel “squeaky clean” after their skincare routine
During the baby boom era, keeping skin “perfectly clean” was important. For many, their skincare routine was incomplete unless the skin felt completely tightened afterwards. However, to achieve this feeling, many skincare products on the market have had to be formulated with ingredients that do not nourish the skin in the long term. Chat with Birdie In 2023, Maryam Zamani, MD, MD, of facial plastic medicine and oculoplastic surgeon, stated that the “squeaky clean” feeling that comes after using a cleanser or toner was often a result of simple alcohols like ethanol, which can rob the skin of its natural oils and affect the skin barrier.
Dr. Zamani warned that toners containing ethanol can dry out particularly sensitive skin, and that general skincare products that contain alcohol are not suitable for those with acne-prone or oily skin. On paper, using products that pull oil from the skin seems like a good idea. However, during a 2020 conversation with essenceMarla Reńe, founder and owner of Marla Reńe Skincare, explained why alcohol-based powders weren’t a good idea: “It makes our skin respond by producing more oil. So it’s very counterproductive.”
For some boomers, the idea of “perfectly clean” skin manifested itself not through overusing alcohol-based skincare products, but through over-washing their faces. talking to Vogue IndiaDermatologist Dr Madhuri Agarwal said that washing your face too much can deplete its natural oils and make it dry.
Millennials believe that moisturizer is essential for oily skin
Many baby boomers saw moisturizing as only necessary for those with dry skin. Some believe that moisturizing oily and acne-prone skin will only make it more oily and lead to more problems in the long run. However, millennials firmly believe that moisturizing should be an essential part of everyone’s skincare routine.
According to Dr. David Orentreich, a dermatologist at ClinicOily skin does not equal well-hydrated skin. As he puts it: “Although sebum – the oil produced by sebaceous glands – may be abundant, the surrounding skin may be dry.” Dr. Orentreich also pointed out that water and oil play different roles for the skin, and the latter cannot act as a moisturizer. Moreover, Sanova Dermatology He notes that keeping the skin hydrated can tell the body that it does not need to produce additional sebum to compensate for dryness. While it is clear that You should still moisturize if you have oily skinFinding the right product may take some trial and error.
During Dr. Orentreich’s conversation with Clinique, he explained that skin can actually become oilier and more acne-prone if someone with oily skin chooses an oil-based moisturizer. Using a moisturizer with minimal water content did not serve the purpose either. Healthline She recommends choosing a moisturizer that is lightweight, non-comedogenic, water-based, and of course, oil-free. Chat with todayBoard-certified dermatologists recommend people with oily skin use moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, and salicylic acid, and come with soothing properties. Dr. Sandra Oska warned that it is best to avoid products containing “heavy silicones and occlusive oils, such as coconut or mineral oils.”
The younger generation cannot understand the older generation’s obsession with tanning
these days, Everyone knows what happens to your skin when you don’t use sunscreen. Since this knowledge was not readily available to baby boomers, they ended up thinking of tanning as a good thing and often spent hours outside without sunscreen to achieve that “healthy” sun-kissed glow. Some have even taken things a step further and started using baby oil in hopes that it will make their tan faster. In chat with BirdieDermatologist Michelle Farber, MD, says that baby oil can help people tan faster because it increases the attractiveness and absorption of UV rays.
However, exposing your skin to UV rays without any type of sun protection can increase the risk of skin cancer, lead to premature aging, and make a person more susceptible to sunburn. As awareness about the dangers of tanning began to grow, tanning beds became increasingly popular as people began to view them as a safer way to achieve the same results.
talking to Cleveland Clinicsays dermatologist Jennifer Lucas, MD Indoor tanning beds have never been safer for the skin than the sun. “Banning machines are as harmful as the sun, if not more harmful,” she said, before explaining that the invention emits 10 to 15 times more UV rays than its natural counterpart. The website indicated that using a tanning bed even once before the age of 35 increases the risk of skin cancer by 75%. Ultimately, Dr. Lucas stressed that the only way to get that sun-kissed glow without the risks is to use tanners at home or get a spray tan.
Millennials don’t find themselves reaching for walnut scrubs anymore
Many millennials have vivid memories of using the walnut, apricot, or peach scrub their baby boomer parents created for their first-ever skincare routine in their younger years. On some levels, the obsession with exfoliants makes sense. After all, it left skin soft and tingly, two hallmarks of a good skincare routine in those days. However, the scrubs were not cooked well. talking to BirdieDr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, declared that scrubs that used physical exfoliants like ground walnut shells were “very abrasive to the skin and (can) actually cause micro-injuries, or micro-tears, as well as inflammation and infection.”
Additionally, board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Orit Markowitz, stated that the belief that physical exfoliants helped get rid of flaky skin was mostly a myth because it only provided temporary results. In the long run, over-exfoliating the skin with harsh exfoliants can do more harm than good. While chatting with selfOver-exfoliation can temporarily damage the stratum corneum, the outer layer of skin, said Evan Reeder, MD, a dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health. Therefore, the skin can be more vulnerable to mild triggers, bacterial infections, and other problems.
It’s possible to avoid ill effects by using exfoliants for shorter periods of time, says dermatologist Susan Obagi, MD. Likewise, Dr. Engelman told Byrdie that it’s best to use an exfoliant with a physical exfoliator only once a week, at most, and be gentle with it. In general, Dr. Engelman and Dr. Markowitz believe that chemical exfoliants get the job done much better.
