Embracing your look as you age means to suit your ever-evolving skin—something the best foundation for mature skin can certainly help with. To veil anything from dark spots to fine lines and wrinkles, the right complexion products make all the difference.
Read on to discover the best foundation for older women that pairs immaculate coverage with a natural finish, as chosen by pro makeup artists, editors, and a few celebrities.
When we tapped makeup pros Carolina Dalí-Trites, Tobi Henney, and Janice Kinjo, each of them recommended Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation. While Kinjo notes it’s her go-to “that won’t settle into fine lines,” Dalí-Trites believes it “looks and feels like a second skin.” Henney shares that she reaches for this formula while working with Diane von Furstenberg for an event or photoshoot: “I use this a lot in my work, as it creates the most flawless base for all skin types.”
Gucci Westman, the founder of her eponymous beauty line, describes her latest complexion solution as “a lightweight oil that—when you apply it to your face—becomes more like a cushiony serum.” The formula is powered by supercharged skin-care actives: ginseng extract, sunflower and almond oil, pomegranate extract, tsubaki oil, ginger root complex, and a skin-shielding complex. These come together to not only condition the skin but to even tone and smooth texture.
Celebrity makeup artist Meredith Baraf, who counts Brooke Shields, Erin Andrews, and Frankie Foye as clients, shares a laundry list of foundations that “melt into the skin and don’t tend to creep into fine lines and wrinkles or accentuate pores.” One of them is this weightless Chanel pick.
Not ready to give up the feel of a warm-weather glow? Baraf cites Saie’s formula as her pick. Sheer, dewy coverage truly never goes out of season.
Last month, when I tapped three models to test out some of our favorite foundations for mature skin, each of them told me the Prada foundation was their favorite. They were surprised the formula was unlike any matte finish they had tried before. Instead of feeling cakey and settling into fine lines, it felt nourishing, comfortable, and lightweight while on set.
If a stick foundation is more your speed, Baraf is a fan of Merit’s lauded complexion stick. It’s especially useful for mess-free application, storing in your makeup bag, or combining the benefits of a foundation and concealer in one.
Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint is one of the most acclaimed tinted moisturizers on the market, and makes for an excellent foundation for mature skin. Because of its lightweight, serum texture, it applies similar to skin care—meaning you can apply quickly and go on your way.
Jones Road’s foundation is more like a tinted balm than the complexion products you’re likely used to. That being said, this can be applied like a moisturizer—scooped out of its jar and blended with fingers. (A brush or sponge certainly works, too.) Remember: a little goes a long way!
In British acting beauty and wellness director Lauren Murdoch-Smith’s review of Glossier’s Stretch Concealer, she said it was “ticking all of the boxes.” Why? It’s a hydrating elixir that doesn’t sink into fine lines, nor get overly dewy after a few hours of wear.
“This foundation has great coverage and is perfect for those with drier skin types,” says Henney. “The shade range is beautiful, and the packaging is super chic!”
Looking to achieve runway-ready glam that won’t settle into fine lines? Look no further than Pat McGrath Labs’s foundation. The formula is basically everything you’d want in a foundation for mature skin: lightweight, hydrating, and natural satin finish while smoothing skin wherever you place it.
“I love this foundation for when I’m getting my clients ready for a red carpet or important event,” says Henney. “I use this on my client Vera Wang, and we love how it looks on the skin and in photographs.”
In Iris Apfel’s installment of Beauty Secrets, she began her makeup routine with Clé de Peau’s Radiant Fluid Foundation. At 73, the model is now partial to more natural-looking makeup, thanks in part to this foundation’s bare-skin-like finish.
“The best foundations use great skin-care ingredients,” says Kinjo. “You want ingredients that help collagen production, like my favorite Sisley Paris Sisleÿa Le Teint Anti-Aging Foundation.”
One may assume that a matte-finish foundation is out of the question, so as to avoid exaggerating the look of skin texture or fine lines. Baraf, however, recommends Dior’s foundation (in the matte or glow variant) as a suitable option.
Those partial to a cream foundation, especially throughout colder temperatures, should consider Koh Gen Do’s Maifanshi Moisture Foundation. Kinjo dubs it a “hydrating formula with great coverage.”
So you’ve discovered your favorite foundation above, but you’re still a bit unsure to apply it. If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that makeup application technique makes all the difference.
“A key to looking youthful as we age is avoiding heavy or cakey makeup; less is definitely more here,” says Baraf. “You can use thin layers of product to build in places if need be. Most important is layering your gorgeous skin care underneath your foundation to ensure your foundation melts into your skin and looks fresh.”
To make your foundation application smoother, the right moisturizer, hydrating face mist, and perhaps a glow-boosting serum can be helpful even before applying the foundation.
Next, Dalí-Trites says to “mist your foundation brush or sponge with a hydrating face mist; this will help add an extra layer of hydration, allowing the foundation to best glide onto the skin and blend seamlessly.”
Described as a lightweight luminizer, Saie’s Glowy Super Gel is the ultimate under-makeup product for mature skin.
As Dalí-Trites describes, a hydrating face mist allows foundation to blend into a skin-like finish. Avène’s Thermal Spring Water is one of the best.
You’d be surprised how much a good makeup brush or sponge can level-up your makeup game, especially when it’s as good as Cle de Peau’s tool known to blend foundation without a trace.
The choice is honestly yours in the makeup brush versus sponge debate. Those interested in the latter should really look no further than the classic Beautyblender.
We’d argue that the concealer is just as important as the foundation, particularly if under-eye bags or dark circles are of concern.
Rising temperatures, important events, and minimizing shine are some of the reasons to learn how to properly set foundations for mature skin. After foundation, you can apply concealer to the under eyes (or wherever else) before dusting on a light veil of powder—especially to the T-zone and around the mouth. Caution against using too much, though.
“If you need to take away some shine, use translucent powder sparingly,” says Kinjo. “Overpowdering makes your skin look dry.”
And there you have it—a flawless makeup base.
Because a hydrated, glowing complexion is key before applying makeup for women over 50, you’ll want to employ a featherweight veil of setting powder to avoid cakiness. Luckily, this Charlotte Tilbury formula is as imperceptible as they come.
As with other mature skin care products, experts recommend picking a foundation with multifunctional, skin-loving properties. “I look for a foundation that targets the concerns of mature skin, such as loss of radiance, uneven skin tone, and moisture balance,” explains celebrity makeup artist Carolina Dalí-Trites. The right level of hydration ensures that the formula melts into skin without caking or creasing.
To find your correct foundation shade, best practice is to match to the jawline and neck for consistency. Those of us who have varying shades around our face can splurge on two foundation shades, or rely on concealer for color-correcting.
