16 Best Foundation for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Pros

Skin can appear fresh and dewy at any age. It helps to hydrate—and a lifelong dedication to SPF will work wonders, too. But the best foundation for mature skin can also work beautifully to create a silky-smooth canvas for any makeup look as they artfully veil fine lines, dark spots, and other signs of aging.

To help you discover which face bases quietly double double as fountains of youth (or just about), we pulled the best foundations for mature skin straight from the kits of top makeup artists, Vogue editors, and perennially glowing celebrities. When we tapped makeup pros Carolina Dalí-Trites, Tobi Henney, and Janice Kinjo, each of them recommended Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation. Inspired by charmeuse silk, this oil-free foundation is infused with finely milled color pigments to impart medium coverage and a radiant, airbrushed finish that resembles a lit-from-within glow.



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,” she says. Gucci Westman previously described the complexion solution from her eponymous beauty line 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 oils, 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. What’s more, the weightless light-to-medium tint blends with ease to reveal a dewy, radiant finish perfect for year-round wear.

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. Formulated with 40% water and light-reflecting pigments, the foundation has a silky, barely there feel and instantly hydrates skin for up to 12 hours.

Not ready to give up the feel of a warm-weather tinted moisturizer ? Baraf cites Saie’s formula as her pick. Sheer, dewy coverage truly never goes out of season. The Saie Slip Tint utilizes a blend of hyaluronic acid, pansy flower, and licorice root extract to brighten, hydrate, and protect skin with ease.

When we said matte makeup was back and better, we meant it—just take Prada’s foundation as proof. The elixir pairs ingredients like vitamin E, niacinamide, lactobacillus extract complex, and even SPF 17 to protect against UV rays and improve skin tone, texture, and moisture levels. Plus the soft matte finish delivers a soft-focus, filterlike blur that’s impossible not to love.

A little product goes a long way here; I’d recommend starting with a little bit of product—blending from the nose bridge outward. 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.

Formulated in partnership with aesthetician Biba de Sousa, this features a blend of fatty acids and sea daffodil to lock in moisture and minimize the look of dark spots. Give this formula a swipe to test its light-to-medium-coverage wear. 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.

This clean beauty product is a true multitasker. Because of its lightweight serum texture, it applies similarly to skin care—meaning you can apply it quickly and go on your way. It provides apt UV protection through SPF 40 while treating skin with a hydrating blend of niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid for a dewy glow.

Mixed into a cream-like consistency, this blends jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate (a small form of hyaluronic acid) to achieve a fresh, glowing complexion. The draw to Jones Road’s foundation is that it’s 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.) An excellent pick for summer, expect buildable, light-to-medium coverage. Remember: A little goes a long way! In British Vogue’s acting beauty and wellness director Lauren Murdoch-Smith’s test of Glossier’s new foundation , she said it was “ticking all of the boxes.

” Why? It’s a hydrating elixir that doesn’t sink into fine lines or get overly dewy after a few hours of wear. With light-to-medium coverage, this feels like a lightweight moisturizer and delivers a natural finish. Formulated with 89% skin-care ingredients—including squalane, glycerin, wild rose berry and plankton extracts, and amino acid–coated pigments—Stretch Fluid Foundation is sure to be a hit.

Tom Ford’s Soft Radiance foundation features a blend of SPF 50, hyaluronic acid, natural oils, and noni fruit extract to condition and calm skin. On the complexion front, light diffusing powders ensure the perfect luminous, medium-to-full-coverage 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 a natural satin finish while smoothing skin wherever you place it. It does this with a masterful blend of polymers (for long wear), pigments treated with amino acids (for its creamy texture and buildable coverage), plus diamond core powder (to boost radiance and blur lines or pores).

According to the brand, blend with your hands for a sheer finish or a brush for medium coverage. Get your skin camera-ready with Shiseido’s foundation, designed to adjust to your skin’s needs. Featuring a blend of SPF 30, mandarin-peel extract, light-adjusting technology, luminous pearls, and microcrystals, this foundation refines skin texture, reduces the look of hyperpigmentation, and smooths fine lines.

The finish is medium-to-full coverage, along with water-, transfer-, and crease-resistant wear. “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 Maye Musk ’s installment of Vogue’s 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. Infused with hyaluronic acid and skin-luminizing properties, this foundation is crafted to enhance your skin’s glow, suppleness, and moisture.

Not to mention, there’s even SPF 25 to protect against UV rays. Apply it with a sponge, as Musk does, or your preferred brush, for light-to-medium coverage. Persian acacia, chlorella, soy peptide, and white willow extracts are only a few of the ingredients that power Sisley’s light-coverage foundation.

While these work to reveal a radiant, supple complexion, mica, and powder pigments promote a smooth, even base. “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. Powered by mineral pigments and floral extracts of wild pansy, nasturtium, and iris, Dior’s matte foundation is anything but drying and provides smooth, soft-focus coverage and a nourished complexion.

Those partial to a cream foundation, especially throughout colder temperatures, should consider Koh Gen Do’s Maifanshi Moisture Foundation. Despite its creamy texture, it delivers sheer-to-medium wear that moisturizes and blurs skin texture thanks to a blend of mineral pigments, aloe extract, jojoba oil, squalane, and shea butter. Kinjo dubs it a “hydrating formula with great coverage.

” So you’ve discovered your favorite foundation, above, but you’re still a bit unsure how to apply it. If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that 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 look like a second skin , the right moisturizer, primer , 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 skinlike finish.

Avène’s Thermal Spring Water is one of the best. You'd be surprised how much a good makeup brush can level up your makeup game, especially when it’s as good as Clé 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 for mature skin 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 foundation for mature skin.

After foundation, you can apply concealer to the undereye area (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 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,” says 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.

“In my opinion, mature skin requires specific types of foundation,” says celebrity makeup artist Marquis Ward , whose clients include Abbott Elementary ’s Sheryl Lee Ralph. For mature clients, he opts for lightweight, hydrating, and buildable liquid or cream foundations. “These formulas are more forgiving on fine lines and wrinkles compared to heavy, matte foundations, which can emphasize texture and dryness,” he says.

He also recommends looking for products with skincare benefits, like hyaluronic acid for hydration or light-reflecting particles to add a youthful glow. As a rule of thumb, celebrity makeup artist Miho Suzuki recommends waiting 10 to 20 minutes after applying skincare to apply a foundation. “Allow time for the skin to absorb your serum or moisturizer,” she says.

“This will create a nice, even base so the foundation goes on smoothly.” For any age group, Suzuki recommends applying a scant amount of foundation to avoid caking—she typically uses three pea-sized drops, which she applies in steps to cover the whole face. “For each step, I apply with a big flat brush and work it in with a damp sponge,” she says.

“This process will help remove any excess and create a thin layer of foundation.” After the foundation has been applied, Suzuki recommends applying concealer to any areas that need extra coverage—though a light touch is always best. “For mature skin, I would avoid heavy concealer under the eyes where the skin is very thin or on any wrinkles,” she says.

“Liquid foundations are the most versatile and effective for mature skin—especially those with a satin or dewy finish,” Ward says. “They provide hydration and blend well without settling into fine lines.” He adds that serum-based foundations are another excellent choice for mature skin since they tend to combine skincare and makeup benefits.

“Avoid overly matte foundations, as they can make the skin look dull and emphasize texture,” he reiterates. “These steps have saved my life and have prevented foundation from settling into my clients’ fine lines and wrinkles,” Ward says:.