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Say hello to dewy, radiant, and hydrated skin.
There’s nothing like finding the best foundation for mature skin—one that matches your skin tone just right, has the perfect amount of coverage (and that won’t sink into fine lines and wrinkles), and has a comfortable and luxe texture. Cosmetic companies already tout hydrating foundations for those with dry skin, foundations for acne-prone skin, and even options for those with oily skin. But, If you’re interested in aging gracefully, and in whatever way that makes you feel good, finding the best foundation for mature skin is key.
“Mature skin responds best to products that help hydrate and plump the skin,” explains Roberta Del Campo, M.D., medical advisor for BABOR and founder of Del Campo Dermatology & Laser Institute. Formulas that contain skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, or active ingredients commonly found in anti-aging serums like vitamin C, are effective at not only smoothing the skin, but keeping it healthy too.
The best part about the beauty world is that there are so many amazing products to choose from, making it so there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a dewy or natural finish or something high-coverage and long-lasting, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for the best foundations for mature skin experts recommend most, plus how to choose the best one for you.
We consulted Dr. Del Campo, Marisa Garshick, M.D., a leading board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery and advisor of BioRepublic, Kierra Lanice, celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert, and Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Blighlighter and Bloss, sifted through countless customer reviews, and conducted our own research to find the best foundations for mature skin available.
“This foundation incorporates a blend of hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, vitamin E and B5 making it good for all skin types, but especially those with dry skin,” explains Dr. Garshick. “It helps to deliver long-lasting [hydration] while providing buildable coverage, improving the overall complexion.” The skin-loving ingredients in addition to the beautiful finish it leaves on the skin make this foundation a total game-changer for all skin types, including those with mature skin.
This drugstore find is another favorite of Dr. Garshick, who notes that “in addition to offering SPF coverage, this product also includes pro-retinol Vitamin A as well as vitamin C, helping to improve the appearance of skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles.” The formula is also very hydrating which makes it comfortable to wear, better for your skin, and effective at concealing the visible signs of aging.
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost line is the real deal. And while Kerry Washington is a fan of the Multi-Use Balm, Dr. Garshick enjoys this formula because it “contains hyaluronic acid to help boost moisture, leaving the skin looking smooth and refreshed,” she explains. “Additionally, it is oil-free, making it a good option for those who may be dealing with dry skin as well as breakouts.
Makeup artist Bobbi Brown is known for giving the best makeup tips for women over 45, and she swears by the Jones Road What the Foundation for mature skin. “It’s like a tinted moisture balm, but it adds coverage to most places where you need it,” Brown explained. “It has beautiful oils infused in it and it gives a nice glowy finish that will absorb into the skin because it’s an oil.”
This product “is formulated to instantly blur blemishes and imperfections, and is super hydrating which prevents it from settling into wrinkles,” says Greenberg. Blurring and hydrating? Now that’s a win-win for a foundation for mature skin. Even better: This hypoallergenic, full-coverage foundation is also available in 100 shades and can be used as a concealer, too.
This CC cream is a game-changer for those with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, or an otherwise uneven skin tone. The cream formula offers light coverage while still brightening and even out the complexion, and keeping skin healthy with antioxidants, hydrators, and SPF. This product also has over 3,500 five-star ratings on Amazon, with one reviewer writing: “It does what it says…corrects my skin tone, goes on silky smooth, and protects my sensitive skin. As I've gotten older I've always looked for a product that would feel and look natural on my light/medium skin tone and not look like I'm wearing a mask! A little goes a long way too and I love it!”
This formula is one of Greenberg’s favorites because “it leaves a dewy finish and is also formulated with hydrating and brightening ingredients—perfect for mature skin!” It’s infused with hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide, and light-diffusing minerals to not only help with skin health but conceal wrinkles.
This cream-based foundation is an anti-aging superstar thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid (an amazing hydrator), vitamin C (a powerhouse antioxidant), and SPF (need I say more?) all of which work together to not only diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, but condition the skin and provide maximum skin health benefits. This highly-rated product has a ton of reviews on Ulta, with users calling it “flawless,” “hydrating,” and “reliable.” One reviewer even wrote: “This foundation is AMAZING!! It performs better and lasts longer than most of my high end ones.”
“For someone on the go, this water-based stick formulation is a great option,” explains Dr. Garshick. “The mineral-based formulation is good for those with sensitive skin, and in this creamy stick formula, it won’t leave the skin feeling dry or irritated.”
Greenberg recommends this buildable cream concealer and foundation because it “is ultra-moisturizing and leaves skin looking glowy,” she explains. It can be applied sheerly all over the face as a foundation but also works well on trouble spots and dark under eyes as a more high-coverage concealer product.
If you’re searching for a dewy, glowy finish with hydration and moisture as a focus, this formula is for you. The lightweight, radiant tinted moisturizer provides the ultimate no-makeup look and feels luxuriously smooth on the skin.“There are so many great things about this tinted moisturizer,” writes one of the many five-star reviewers on Sephora. “It’s light coverage but definitely buildable. It’s lightweight and SO natural looking.”
“This mineral foundation incorporates both SPF and antioxidants, helping to protect the skin against UV damage as well as environmental stressors that can contribute to free radical damage,” explains Dr. Garshick. “Additionally, the light-diffusing diamond powder helps to illuminate the skin, improving the overall appearance of shadows, fine lines, and pigmentation.”
This luxurious, medium coverage foundation lends a “satin glow finish for naturally flawless-looking skin and a no-makeup makeup look,” explains Lanice. It’s also oil-free and hydrating, while helping to “sculpt and brighten the skin, improve skin texture, and blur imperfections,” Lanice continues. It’s also super buildable, blends well, and creates a nearly airbrushed-looking complexion devoid of fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration.
Liquid foundations don’t have to be intimidating—especially with this medium coverage, buildable formula. It has a satin finish and provides 12-hour wear with a weightless feel, plus it’s “self-setting—meaning you don't need to lock it in place with a powder,” Lanice explains. The natural, blurred effect it lends to the skin makes it suitable for those looking to combat the look of fine lines and wrinkles, too.
This unique gel formula is oil-free, water-based, and lightweight and provides beautiful coverage. It’s made with reflective pigments which according to the brand, “provide adjustable coverage and ease the appearance of flaws.” The skin-friendly, soothing ingredients are also great for those with sensitive skin. One five-star reviewer even writes that “this product is what all foundations should be.”
This foundation is a classic for a reason. Lanice explains that the matte finish, 24-hour, oil-free and oil-controlling formula is why she recommends the product to those with mature skin. It’s also “sweat-, heat- and humidity-resistant,” Lanice notes. Pro tip: This foundation pairs nicely with the brand’s Advanced Night Repair Serum “for a radiant finish.”
“I love” this foundation, Greenberg says. “The coverage is buildable, and it contains a variety of skin-loving ingredients. One of the main ones is Ashwagandha which actually helps combat skin stress and reduces signs of aging!” It also contains hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to hydrate and protect the skin with every use.
This “ultra-lightweight, loose powder made from mineral pigments is great for oily, mature skin,” explains Dr. Del Campo. If a powder formula is right for you, this foundation is definitely the way to go as it creates a natural, healthy-looking appearance without drying out the skin.
This lighter coverage foundation is “lightweight and hydrating, easy to match, and infused with vitamin c, rosewater, and hyaluronic acid,” explains Lanice. It’s also founded and owned by women of color, which reflects in its inclusive shade range suitable for darker skin tones. The good-for-your-skin ingredients combined with an oil-free formula and sheer yet buildable coverage make this product a perfect pick for those with mature skin looking for a versatile and effective foundation.
This full-coverage and ultra-long wearing foundation “helps prevent color shifting and protect skin from pollution and blue-light damage,” Lanice explains. It also helps control oil and sebum production while still maintaining hydrated skin. The soft matte finish is transfer-proof too, according to Lanice.
✔️Go for hydration. All of the experts agree that it’s best to opt for hydrating formulas. “Mature skin responds best to products that help hydrate and plump the skin,” explains Dr. Del Campo. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acids, ceramides, squalene, triglycerides, which “will help to plump skin and give a smoother appearance to the foundation.”
✔️Look for sun protection. “While using sunscreen is an essential part of any skincare routine, if a foundation has sunscreen in it, it can provide an added bonus,” Dr. Garshick notes. If you’re out and about, and the sun is shining, you need SPF—no matter your age or skin type.
✔️Choose a lightweight, dewy formula. The more lightweight a foundation is, the less likely it will settle into fine lines and wrinkles, and will help the skin appear more plump and moisturized, according to Greenberg. Additionally, try looking for “something with a glowy or dewy finish, as many people with mature skin struggle with dullness,” Greenberg continues. “Matte finish formulations are typically not recommended for mature skin.”
✔️Consider your skin type. “Understanding your skin care concerns and how they relate to makeup can be of great benefit,” Lanice explains. For dull skin, look for a brightening formula and/or a formula with vitamin C. For oily skin, oil-free formulas that blur imperfections work well. And those with dry skin and/or prominent fine lines should search for ultra-hydrating and dewy foundations.