Best Foundation for Mature Skin

It’s important to remember that not every beauty product you see on social media or TV is suitable for aging skin. Your foundation is the key to achieving a smooth, even, and radiant makeup look! As we get older, dealing with spots, veins, pores, and dull skin can be a challenge, so finding the best foundation for mature skin is essential! The ideal foundation for mature skin is the one that suits your evolving needs, rather than what every 25-year-old TikTok influencer is promoting. I totally get that I mention this frequently. There’s a reason, you know!

I’m excited to share that I’ve tested and used all these wonderful foundations for aging skin! I’ll share with you why you enjoy them, the situations they’re perfect for, and some helpful tips and tricks on how to use them for the best results. No matter if your skin is dry or oily, you can choose a tinted moisturizer or go for a full coverage foundation, with plenty of options in between! Before applying foundation, it’s great to know a few makeup tips for mature skin.

Foundation Makeup Tips for Mature Skin

What to Apply Before Foundation Makeup

I have two great products that I think you’ll love to use before applying foundation on mature skin.

Moisture

Even if your skin was oily in the past (my hand is up!), it’s important to understand that due to hormonal changes, your skin now requires more protective moisture than it ever did before. The great news is that it’s truly the key to avoiding that crepey look around your wrinkles and sagging skin! We all have them to some extent, right? Applying the best foundation for mature skin is great, but remember to moisturize first! Otherwise, it might cling and cake up. Take a look at my favorites in Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin.

Primer

Primer is a wonderfully smooth product that you apply over your moisturizer. It’s super lightweight, so you can feel free to layer on the products without any concerns! Primer makes your makeup last longer, glides on smoothly, and allows you to use less foundation. (Particularly if you’re using one that’s on the pricier side!) Check out more about primers and the ones I love at Best Makeup Primer for Mature Skin.

How Much Foundation Should You Use

This one really matters! Just a little bit of foundation will do! If you’re looking for more coverage, feel free to add another layer! Just remember, starting with too much can lead to that caked-on look pretty quickly. A small pea-size amount is a great way to begin with most foundation formulas!

Applying Foundation on Mature Skin

Applying foundation to aging skin is quite different from how we used to do it in our 20s and 30s. Applying it with our fingers and rubbing it in might not achieve that flawless look you’re aiming for. Older skin can be a bit more challenging in that regard. I’ve got some great tips for applying foundation on mature skin!

Try out various tools!

As I mentioned, using your fingers to apply foundation won’t achieve that airbrushed finish you’re looking for. I see two options here. I like to use a flat foundation brush when I’m aiming for more coverage, but for my everyday look, I prefer beauty sponges. You don’t need to spend a lot to try things out! There are plenty of budget-friendly options available, including the beauty sponges I use at Best Makeup for Women Over 50+. Have you ever come across using a brush or a beauty sponge?

Using a brush

Put a little dot of foundation on the back of your hand, dip your brush to pick up a small amount, then swirl and buff it into your skin, starting from your nose and chin and blending outward. Just keep buffing until everything is nicely blended together!

When using a powder foundation, simply apply it with a large, fluffy brush using gentle circular buffing motions.

Applying makeup with a beauty sponge

A beauty sponge can be used either damp or dry! To achieve a beautifully airbrushed look, just dampen your sponge and give it a gentle squeeze to remove any excess water. Put a little dot of foundation on the back of your hand, then use your sponge to pick up a small amount. Gently dab it onto your face, starting from the center and blending outward. Just keep dabbing until everything is nicely blended together! A dry sponge will achieve a similar effect but with more coverage. What’s the best way to go about it? I begin by applying a light layer of foundation using a damp sponge, let it dry for a minute, and then gently dab a tiny bit more on any spots that need extra coverage with a dry beauty sponge.

Beauty sponges are really handy! If you happen to put on a bit too much foundation for aging skin, just flip the sponge over and gently dab off the extra. It’s a great little trick!

Discover the 3-minute Rule

Let each layer of moisturizer, primer, and foundation dry for about 3 minutes before applying the next one. That will make sure the application is great, with the products blending together beautifully.

Switch Up Your Color (and Maybe Formula) with the Seasons

Even though I’m really diligent about wearing sunscreen all year round, especially in winter, my skin still tends to lighten up a bit during the colder months, just like many others. So you can either keep a winter bottle of your foundation that’s a shade lighter than your summer shade or try out this money-saving tip!

Try using a drugstore foundation that’s 2 shades lighter than your usual shade, and mix it with your regular foundation to brighten it up for the winter. You won’t need to purchase an extra bottle, and you’ll still enjoy all the wonderful features of the higher-quality product.

Keep in mind that simplicity can be powerful!

I really can’t emphasize this one enough! Begin with just a small dab of foundation. If you’re looking for a bit more coverage, just let it dry for a minute and then add another light layer! Here’s a friendly tip: Avoid using foundation around your eyes. Women our age often use concealer, and with more products, there’s a greater chance of creasing and highlighting fine lines.

Best Makeup Foundation for Aging Skin

Best Foundation for Mature Skin

Tarte Skin Treat

This is my go-to foundation for everyday wear on mature skin! It’s lightweight, includes some extra sunscreen for you, is cruelty-free, and blends beautifully. It features skin-friendly ingredients and offers 12-hour wear. As stated on their website,

• Everyone noticed an immediate improvement in skin texture!
• 97% reported that their skin felt smoother and softer right away!

91% noticed that their pores and fine lines looked smaller after 4 weeks! I love using a damp beauty sponge to apply this over my favorite tinted moisturizer. Take a look below. Alright, so this is actually a tinted moisturizer. It seems to me that it’s more of a lightweight foundation. This option works wonderfully for normal to oily skin! However, if you have drier skin or are looking for more coverage, you might want to consider other choices. Keep on scrolling! 

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

Makeup artists and fans talk about the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation all the time, and it has won its star position with many awards. Because it has a soft-focus finish and doesn’t feel heavy, Meghan Markle’s best foundation is a go-to for older clients for makeup artists Beau Nelson and Amrita Mehta. “I’ve had this one in my kit for over 15 years,” says Lisa Aharon, a makeup artist from New York City. She explains: “It blurs pores and fine lines and leaves the skin with a fresh finish.” The medium coverage is ideal for concealing sun spots and other defects, like as freckles.

According to makeup artist Delina Medhin, the hydrating product is best for people who want light covering. However, she says that everyone should always hydrate. “It’s the first step to beautiful makeup,” she adds.

Best Full Coverage Foundation for Mature Skin

IL Makiage Woke Up Like This

This foundation offers fantastic full coverage, especially for mature skin! Il Makiage may be relatively new, but in just a few years, this foundation has become the most reviewed online! Special optically-corrective powders help to soften your skin’s imperfections, and it’s packed with nourishing and moisturizing ingredients.

Come along and discover the favorite foundation for mature skin, loved by fabulous celebrity women over 50 like Melissa Joan Hart, Melora Hardin, and Jackee Harry! Vogue discovers that the Il Makiage Foundation “lasts so beautifully throughout the day and controls oil and shine without looking thick or caked.”

They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for you to try it at home! Be sure to apply this gently, and feel free to add another layer if you think it needs it! If you go for a heavy layer, you might end up with cakiness, but that’s something that can happen with all foundations. This one works wonderfully with a flat foundation brush, and a damp sponge is also a great option for achieving a more natural look! Wonderful foundation for mature women!

This foundation has received the most reviews online! 

Mario SurrealSkin Foundation

One element that really stands out is polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, which is an ester that gives the makeup a smooth, shiny look without being sticky. Glycerin, grapeseed oil, and sunflower oil can be used to draw in and keep wetness in. The testers with oily skin said that this foundation doesn’t make their skin greasy after hours of wear, even though it has a slightly shiny finish.

Mario Dedivanovic, founder of Makeup by Mario, says that one pump of the product covers a lot of ground. He suggests using it where it’s needed most and then building it up. You can add a pump of foundation to your best lotion and pat the mixture on with your fingers for a lighter look.

If you want to test and match shades, you should go to your local Sephora because the shades can look a little different on models online because they are so fluid.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin but Better

This is the first CC cream. CC stands for “color correction,” which is exactly what it does. It smooths out scars, redness, and dark circles. It’s one of the best foundations for older skin, acne and has a cult following. Why? It has makeup, an anti-aging product, and a sunscreen with SPF 50+ all in one! While the company says this is a full coverage foundation, I’ve found that if you apply it with a damp beauty brush, you can get both light and full coverage. This makeup works for all skin types, so my daughter even uses it.

Light Coverage Foundation

Drmtlgy Tinted Moisturizer

I’m absolutely in love with DRMTLGY and all of its products! Their under-eye concealer is my favorite product ever! Have you ever come across an under-eye concealer with SPF??? I’m absolutely in love with this tinted moisturizer! I start with this as my first layer, let it dry, and then apply a light layer of foundation using a dry beauty sponge! Absolutely ideal for daily wear! And, even more SPF! It also includes hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and a generous amount of niacinamide (vitamin B3). What a fantastic combination of anti-aging benefits, light coverage, and sun protection.

Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint

Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint is the ideal choice for days when you want light, airy makeup. The bar is set high when the word “hydrating” is in the name, but this light-diffusing recipe rises to the occasion. This light-coverage skin tint is full of moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and shea butter. It evens out your skin tone and structure and feeds your skin while letting your natural skin tone show through.

If you like to use your fingers to apply makeup, this tint goes on smoothly. But if you’d rather use a brush, the Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush has a curved slate of soft, vegan fiber bristles that make it look like you’re using your fingers.

Best Drugstore Foundation for Mature Skin

E.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation

What about a $6 foundation? That would be the best cheap foundation for middle-aged skin. Over 27,000 people have given this foundation 5 stars on Amazon. It blends easily and has a soft satin finish. This is sold at most budget shops and even some food stores, but you’ll find a wider range of colors. It has medium coverage and chemicals that keep the face moist, which is great for older skin. This is one of the few drugstore brands that are cruelty-free too.

Best Makeup Foundation for Oily Skin

Tarte Amazonian Clay 16-Hour Foundation

There’s no question that the Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation is the best foundation for older skin that tends to be oily. This has a natural matte finish that doesn’t dry cakey and keeps the shine in check. It has great coverage that can be built up, and it feels as light as mousse. Their website says (and I agree!)

• 100% agreed that it makes pores look smaller.
• 100% agreed that it makes fine lines look less noticeable.
• I agree that it doesn’t look or feel like cake.
• I totally agree that it makes skin look perfect and smooth.
• I totally agree that it covers up heat and flaws.

I use a wet beauty sponge to put this on. Make sure you hydrate well before you start, and the end result will be perfect! This is what I use in the summer and when I go somewhere hot. 

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Foundation

Is anyone really surprised that Dame Pat McGrath has the support of two professional makeup artists, Lavonne Wood and Tony Tulve, for them Best of Beauty-winning Sublime Skin Foundation? “The foundation is seamless and looks like a second skin—and it can be worn by the youngest teen to Dame royalty.” Tulve highlights that the natural-finish formula sets itself, so there’s no need for powder, and it “boosts natural hydration,” thanks to glycerin.

This foundation offers a lovely medium coverage, and you can easily lighten it up with the Sublime Perfection Primer or enhance the coverage by using the Sublime Perfection Setting Powder afterward.

Best Powder Foundation for Mature Skin

Laura Geller Balance and Brighten Powder Foundation

Have you had a chance to check out the commercials for the Laura Geller Powder Foundation? I stopped using powder foundations a while back, as they often highlight lines and pores. However, there’s this… If you’re dealing with dull skin and are looking for light to medium coverage, this color-correcting powder foundation might surprise you in the best way! This powder foundation has received awards from the National Rosacea Society and the Psoriasis Foundation, making it a fantastic choice for problem skin. Plus, it’s dermatologist approved for use after skin treatments that may leave your skin feeling a bit tender. And it really works! Simply sweep it on with a large, fluffy brush! No cakiness or creasing here! Just a lovely, natural look that smooths out your skin tone and adds a bright touch to your complexion. This is the best powder foundation you’ll find! Check out the video on their website! Looking for some reassurance?

Reviews of Laura Geller Foundation

This is definitely the easiest and most flattering makeup foundation I’ve ever tried! I’m absolutely loving it! I’ve been around for quite a while!

“The perfect lightweight clean coverage for mature skin.”

“This foundation has really allowed me to enjoy wearing makeup again!” I had lost hope after trying this. It’s super simple to apply, and you don’t need a degree to get started!!!

“I’m really pleased with this foundation; it smooths out my skin tone without settling into my wrinkles and crinkles!” I was a bit worried about using a powder formulation because my skin tends to be dry, and I really dislike that cakey appearance. But this offers a lovely light coverage that maintains a natural appearance.

Well, that’s all there is to it! From my experience, and trust me, it wasn’t cheap, I’ve found the best foundation for mature skin in every category! Makeup is a wonderful way to boost our confidence and express who we are. Discover how to have fun with the perfect products and tools!

I’d love for you to share this post with anyone who might enjoy discovering my favorite picks for face foundations!