16 Best Foundations for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists

Editor's tip: Makeup artist Delina Medhin says that the hydrating formula is ideal for someone looking for minimal coverage, but her advice is to always moisturize regardless. "It's the first step to beautiful makeup," she says.

Key ingredients: glycerin | Finish: radiant | Shades: 40

Best for Light Coverage: Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint

Why it's worth it: For those days when you're craving light, breathable coverage, you'll want to reach for Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, Allure's 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner. When "hydrating" is in the name, standards will be high, but this light-diffusing formula overcomes the pressure. Chock-full of moisture-replenishing ingredients such as meadowfoam seed oil, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and shea butter, this light-coverage skin tint nourishes and evens out tone and texture while allowing your natural complexion to peek through.

Editor's tip: This tint seamlessly glides onto the skin when you apply it with your fingers, but if you prefer applying foundation with a brush, the Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush (another Best of Beauty Award winner) has a slanted slate of soft, vegan fiber bristles that mimic fingertip application.

Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter extract | Finish: dewy | Shades: 18

Best for Medium Coverage: Nars Light Reflecting Foundation

Why it's worth it: If you're constantly being photographed (selfies count), the Best of Beauty-winning Nars Light Reflecting Foundation is a must for looking camera-ready. Thanks to what Nars calls Photochromic Technology, a photo-friendly powder adjusts your skin tone based on the intensity of light so your complexion won’t look washed out in pictures. Ingredients like elasticity-boosting peptides and brightening turmeric improve your complexion with regular wear, so it looks glowing and gorgeous even when you're not wearing this lightweight foundation.

Tester feedback: All of our editors said this tint-like formula covers redness, splotchiness, and general discoloration. Former associate news editor Gabi Thorne, who is a full coverage-foundation type of gal, was particularly impressed by how buildable Light Reflecting Foundation proved to be. "I didn't need too much to get the coverage that I want and love, and it practically melted into my skin as I buffed it with a brush," she said. "It has a luminous finish that just makes you glow even if you skipped some of your skin-care routine."

Key ingredients: biomimetic oat, Japanese lilyturf, cacao peptides, milk thistle, turmeric | Finish: radiant | Shades: 36

Best for Full Coverage: Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Foundation

Why it's worth it: Our 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner for best full-coverage liquid foundation went to Makeup by Mario's SurrealSkin Foundation. Standout ingredients include polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, an ester that leaves a glossy (not greasy!) finish and allows the foundation to easily glide across the skin. To attract and retain moisture, there's glycerin, grapeseed oil, and sunflower oil. Despite its slightly dewy finish, our testers with oily skin said that this foundation doesn't become greasy after hours of wear.

Makeup by Mario founder Mario Dedivanovic says that one pump goes a long way and applies the product in areas where coverage is needed most before building up. For sheerer coverage, you can add a pump of foundation to your favorite moisturizer and use your fingers to pat the mixture on.

Editor's tip: We recommend heading to your local Sephora to swatch and shade-match because the flexible nature of the shades can be a little misleading when seen on models online.

Key ingredients: glycerin, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil | Finish: satin | Shades: 30

Best for Dry Skin: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

Why it's worth it: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation is one of Mehta's top picks for mature skin because "the formula is made of 40% water, leaving the skin hydrated and plump, while the radiant finish helps to create a smooth, glowy, seamless, and skin-like blend," she says. “This foundation feels like a lightweight serum but has light-to-medium, buildable coverage allowing you to focus the coverage where you need it, helping to maintain that fresh-faced look.”

Aharon is another fan of this hydrating base: "A healthy glow is my favorite finish, especially for mature skin as it can tend to lean dry," she says. With the addition of light-reflecting pigments, wearers are left with a luminous, even complexion.

Editor's tip: If you're looking for a higher-coverage, subtly matte finish that's still hydrating (thanks to glycerin and vitamin E), pick up Chanel's Ultra Le Teint Flawless Finish Foundation.

Key ingredients: glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, jasmine stem extract | Finish: radiant | Shades: 35

Best for Sensitive Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

Why it's worth it: Charlotte Tilbury's aptly named Beautiful Skin Foundation (available across 30 shades) was an instant hit among Allure editors. Our testers loved the radiant finish that didn't lean into greasy or oily territory throughout the day and most said that the medium-coverage base concealed their redness and discoloration seamlessly without creasing.

Packed with hyaluronic acid (derived from coconut extract and cassia angustifolia seeds), this formula hydrates immediately and works to improve skin's smoothness and brightness over time. Other ingredients like bixa orellana seeds (anatto) and damask rosewater are worth calling out for their antioxidant-rich and soothing properties, making this very suitable for sensitive skin.

Editor's tip: Thorne alternates between patting and rubbing motions with her foundation brush to build up coverage. As someone who prefers fuller coverage, she didn't find that the formula’s coverage was cakey at all.

Key ingredients: apple fruit water, glycerin, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, damask rosewater | Finish: dewy | Shades: 30

Best for Oily Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation

Why it's worth it: Are we really surprised that Dame Pat McGrath gets the votes of two professional makeup artists, Lavonne Wood, and Tony Tulve, with her 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," Wood tells Allure. Tulve also points out that the natural-finish formula self-sets (meaning, no need for powder) and "boosts natural hydration," courtesy of glycerin.

Editor's tip: This foundation has true medium coverage but you can sheer it out with the Sublime Perfection Primer or build the coverage by applying the Sublime Perfection Setting Powder afterward.

Key ingredients: diamond core powder, amino acids, raspberry leaf extract | Finish: satin | Shades: 36

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream

Why it's worth it: Think of IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream as a three-in-one foundation, broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen, and color corrector (hence the CC in its name). Though CC creams usually provide sheer-to-medium coverage, this pick has a full-coverage finish that leaves behind a seamless, non-drying base (thanks, hyaluronic acid). For additional skin therapy, it also contains two antioxidants: niacinamide to brighten and vitamin E to boost moisture levels.

For a sheerer finish, we suggest trying the IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow, which has a serum-like texture that also provides broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection.

Tester feedback: "As someone who still fights active breakouts, this cream provides amazing coverage for all blemishes, dark spots, and scars," Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development, says. "It brightens my whole face and lasts all day long."

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E | Finish: natural | Shades: 22

Best for Allover: Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

Why it's worth it: Whether you need your daily face coverage or are looking to even texture and tone from the neck down, Dior’s Backstage Face & Body Foundation has you covered. This gravity-defying formula provides buildable, medium-to-full coverage as additives like hydrating hyaluronic acid and moisture-sealing squalane ensure your skin looks plumper and more supple. Despite these skin-loving ingredients, this is a no-budge formula that stays put without leaving behind a greasy film. Another bonus? This foundation is waterproof, so splash it up.

Editor’s tip: Los Angeles-based makeup artist Nick Barose, who works with stars, including Kim Cattrall, says: "This liquid formula is especially great on mature skin. It’s a bit matte, but once it sets you don’t need to use powder. This way, you can still get your natural glow to come to life.” He uses it on the face as well as the hands, neck, and legs.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, squalane | Finish: natural | Available shades: 43

Best Shade Range: Lisa Eldridge Beauty Seamless Skin Foundation

Why it's worth it: When choosing a foundation for mature skin, “look for a liquid formula that sets with a velvety finish even without using powder,” Barose says. “For example, my favorite foundation to use on Kim Cattrall is this Lisa Elridge formulation.” Available in 41 hues, the medium-coverage Lisa Eldridge Beauty Seamless Skin Foundation has a soft-focus finish and is infused with ingredients such as Uji tea extract to calm skin, absorb excess sebum, and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. It’s also made with bamboo stem extract, which offers antioxidant protection and improves firmness. Finally, a dash of glycerin helps skin retain moisture.

Editor’s tip: Need a lift? The foundation is infused with Flimexel, a patented ingredient that gives a subtle lift. It's a biopolymer network that forms a subtle, mesh-like veil on the skin that gives a more sculpted appearance—almost like wearing shapewear on your face.

Key ingredients: Uji tea extract, bamboo stem extract, glycerin | Finish: natural | Shades: 41

Best Long-Wear: La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

Why it's worth it: Elaina Badro, a Las Vegas-based makeup artist, favors La Mer’s Miracle Broth-infused Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20. For the uninitiated, the brand’s signature Miracle Broth is a blend of sea kelp, vitamins, and minerals designed to soothe the skin and diminish signs of aging. “It offers a buildable, medium coverage, and what’s really great about it is that its color won’t fade—even in humidity," says Badro. "It also contains the Miracle Broth, which we all love about La Mer, and it helps to hydrate the skin and soften fine lines.”

Editor’s tip: Another boon for wearing this in sunny, humid weather: It’s enhanced with SPF 20. Just don’t forget to apply your regular sunscreen, too. Most dermatologists recommend using a daily SPF of at least 30.

Key ingredients: Miracle Broth, hyaluronic acid, SPF | Finish: natural | Shades: 21

Best Balm Foundation: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder

Why it's worth it: The Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder is such a game-changing formula that it won an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award in 2022 and was used by bicoastal makeup artist ShaDara Holmes to boost Tracy Chapman's already-stunning complexion for her 2024 Grammy performance. This balm-to-powder foundation instantly blurs blemishes and hyperpigmentation while smoothing skin texture for an even finish. It utilizes a mix of magnesium oxide and carbon dioxide to balance oil and blur pores like a powder, yet squalane ensures its finish sits on the fine line between dewy and matte.

Editor's tip: This product can be worn alone or under foundation as a blurring primer, but shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis reported that this balm replaced almost all of her complexion products: "Not only does it give me what I define as my 'perfect' base, but it also cuts my glam time down because I can skip foundation and sometimes even concealer," she said.

Key ingredients: squalane, magnesium oxide, carbon dioxide | Finish: semi-matte | Shades 14

Best Foundation Stick: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick

Why it's worth it: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick, a 2022 and 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, has a second-skin-like finish well-suited for mature skin, plus it's loaded with skin-nourishing ingredients like squalane for moisture and phytosphingosine to soothe the skin. This cream formula melts into the skin whether you apply it straight to your skin or use a brush. "For radiance and a second-skin finish that doesn't settle into fine lines, I love this formula for mature skin," Aharon says.

Editor’s tip: Due to calming ingredients like barrier-supporting phytosphingosine, Aharon says this fragrance-free foundation is suitable for sensitive skin regardless of age.

Key ingredients: vegetable-derived squalane, berryflux vita extract, camellia seed oil, coconut oil | Finish: natural | Shades: 21

Best Powder Foundation: BareMinerals Loose Powder Foundation

Why it's worth it: Though the BareMinerals Loose Powder Foundation looks like a mattifying, tinted setting powder at first glance, this powder-based formula transforms into a glowy foundation reminiscent of a cream or liquid. The breathable, sheer-to-medium coverage formula creates a luminous finish that evens discoloration and blemishes without creating a cakey look like many powder foundations. Its silky, skin-like feel is another reason we (and our readers, considering it won a 2024 Allure Readers' Choice Award) love this foundation so much.

Editor's tip: Former Allure editor Elizabeth Denton has been using the highly regarded foundation since she was a teenager. “It was perfect for when my teenage self wanted just a little bit of coverage to even out my reddish complexion and cover up any pimples,” she says. “As I got older and wanted my skin to look a little more airbrushed, I continued to reach for the [loose powder foundation] because it can be so easily layered.”

Key ingredients: mica, bismuth oxychloride (stabilizes powder texture), titanium dioxide, iron oxides | Finish: radiant | Available shades: 30

Best with SPF: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50

Why it's worth it: If getting your glow on is your usual beauty mood, try swiping on Tom Ford's Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50. “This formula has a beautiful glow that enhances the skin radiance,” Barose says. “It’s also got great coverage that makes skin look like it’s perfect by nature.” Equal parts foundation and sunscreen, this medium-to-full coverage formula protects against UV rays while elastomers and light-diffusing powders reflect light as it hits your face, creating a glowy finish that doesn't venture into greasy territory. To keep midday dryness and foundation cracking at bay, it's spiked with hyaluronic acid and a trio of antioxidant-rich oils derived from crabwood, açai, and noni fruit. Pro tip: This foundation tends to separate in the bottle, so make sure you give it a hearty shake each time.

Editor’s tip: This foundation tends to separate in the bottle, so make sure you give it a hearty shake each time.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, andiroba (crabwood) oil, açai oil, noni fruit oil | Finish: radiant | Shades: 40

Best Drugstore: No. 7 HydraLuminous AquaRelease Skin Perfector

Why it's worth it: “I used to have a ‘no drugstore brand’ rule for mature skin, but so much has changed,” says Pilar DeMann, a Connecticut-based makeup artist. “A client of mine introduced me to this and now I have it in my kit and I use it on everyone. It’s sheer enough so you still see and feel the skin, but gives enough coverage so you can be photographed and still look great. It’s dewy and glides on. I just love it!” Closer to a skin tint than a traditional foundation, the product has a sheer, natural finish and offers variety: It can be used as a concealer, as an allover skin tint, and can also act as a tinted moisturizer.

Editor’s tip: The brand recommends applying the product with your fingers to unlock the patented AquaRelease Moisture Beads that help hydrate the skin.

Key ingredients: AquaRelease Moisture Beads, ceramides, Pro B5 Vitamins | Finish: sheer | Shades: 6

Frequently Asked Questions

As you age, your complexion gains texture and leans on the drier side. New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, previously told Allure that this is because your skin produces less collagen and fewer natural lipids, such as ceramides and fatty acids, which leads to dehydrated skin and a weaker moisture barrier. When it comes to base makeup, "Fine or not-so-fine lines and larger pores can make foundation look mask-like at best and incredibly unflattering at worst," explains Los Angeles-based makeup artist Fiona Stiles. That's why finding a hydrating foundation is paramount for looking fresh. Tulve recommends choosing liquid foundations as they "act more like a second skin." Overall, finding a buildable-coverage formula with skin-plumping, fine-line-minimizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane is the key to a flawless, crease-free base.

Before you touch your makeup brushes, prepping your skin is essential for creating the smoothest finish possible. "Moisture is key, so always make sure you start with a moisturizer that's hydrating but won't turn greasy and interrupt your foundation texture," Barose previously told Allure. Gucci Westman, the Los Angeles-based makeup artist and founder of Westman Atelier, also emphasized being vigilant about moisturizing your whole face, especially the area around your eyes.

Primer is always an important step before applying makeup of any kind, but not all of them provide the same smoothing effects you'd like. According to Barose, you'll want to ditch mattifying formulas and swap them for formulas with blurring finishes. He also gives balm-like formulations (like Danessa Myrick's Yummy Skin Moisture Repair Balm Serum) kudos for conditioning your skin while locking makeup in place. "You also don't need to wear it all over the face. Focus on lines or [other areas] of your face [you want to] blur," he explains.

Tulve leans into the "less is more" philosophy when applying foundation to mature skin. Denser, full-coverage formulations may end up accentuating fine lines, so use a buildable formula you can layer to your desired finish for a seamless, second-skin-like result. "I apply foundation on the larger areas of the face first, like the cheeks and forehead, then I go in and tweak around the nose and the chin area," makeup artist Sandy Linter previously told Allure. “Then lastly, I'll apply concealer, plus maybe a touch of foundation under the eye area.”

If you apply your makeup with your fingers, you may want to swap your digits for a makeup sponge or foundation brush to ensure even coverage. "[Using your] fingers can look blotchy, uneven, or gloppy, which can make your lines come out more," Barose said. To buff the foundation in, Barose recommends moving the brush in circular motions. “This will help the foundation spread smoothly, even over hard-to-reach areas with lines and wrinkles,” he notes. To ensure a smooth, blotch-free canvas, you can use a damp sponge as a final step to buff and blend.

According to Barose, the best foundations for mature skin offer substantial coverage but aren’t too thick. “I prefer liquids or creams that are somewhat glowy without being too shiny. This will help the skin look radiant and healthy,” he says. On the flip side, he advises those with mature skin to steer clear of matte or opaque foundations. “These can age you by accentuating textures and lines on the face,” he says.

In terms of color, “go with slightly warmer or richer tones,” Barose says. Liquid or cream foundations in particular can be blended down to add a “warm glaze” to the skin without making it look noticeably darker, he says.

• Beau Nelson is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
• Amrita Mehta is a bicoastal makeup artist.
• Lisa Aharon is a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Delina Medhin is a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Andrea Claire is a Toronto-based makeup artist.
• Lavonne Wood is a Little Rock, Arkansas-based makeup artist.
• Tony Tulve is a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist.
• Fiona Stiles is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
• Nick Barose is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
• Gucci Westman is a New York City-based makeup artist and founder of makeup brand Westman Atelier.
• Sandy Linter is a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Pilar DeMann is a Litchfield, Connecticut-based makeup artist.
• Elaina Badro is a Las Vegas-based makeup artist.

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range that includes consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best foundations for mature skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, and contributors, with a particular focus on our 40-plus reviewers. We also relied heavily on trusted makeup artists to speak to the efficacy of these products on mature skin. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete review process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine. You may simply be browsing for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Mature skin makeup is all about hydration, babes. We've rounded up everything you need for a flawless base (and beyond):

• The Best Concealers for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists
• The 13 Best Primers for Smoothing Out Fine Lines
• 9 Best Eye Shadows for Mature Skin
• 9 Best Powder Foundations for Mature Skin to Blur Fine Lines and Texture

Done reading? Now, watch supermodel Cindy Crawford go through her classic beauty routine:

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