As we age, our skin care routines tend to change in order to address different concerns — like fine lines and wrinkles, loss of hydration and crepiness — all of which naturally occur as we get older and begin to lose more and more collagen. The same can be said for our makeup routines, especially with complexion products since they have the power to enhance mature skin or leave it looking dry, dull and cakey.
"Mature skin is characterized by reduced sebum production, which makes it prone to dryness," explains Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist.
"Aside from evening skin tone, concealing blemishes and preparing skin for other makeup products, foundations for mature skin can also improve hydration by enabling skin to maintain moisture," he adds.
Luckily, there’s a well-spring of beautiful foundations formulas on the market to choose from. Along with Camp, Shop TODAY consulted professional makeup artists and another renowned dermatologist to learn what to look for while choosing foundations for mature skin (as well as what to avoid).
Keep scrolling to find the best expert-approved foundations for mature skin. We even included Shop-TODAY-mom-favorite foundations from Neutrogena, Ilia, Jones Road and more.
Best drugstore foundation$9.97$14.78
Best all-day foundation$14.97$16.99
Best for sensitive skin$undefined$19.99
Best for traveling$30.00$45.00
Best foundations for mature skin, according to experts and Shop TODAY moms
Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, recommends this budget-friendly drugstore option from Neutrogena.
“This foundation stick’s shade range is super impressive to me because the tones are just right,” says Natalie Dresher, a lead makeup artist and the owner of Makeup By Natalie.
“I love that its a lightweight formula, evening out the skin in an easy stick form!” She also loves that “the stick is small and compact which makes it great for travel or touch-ups.”
“This foundation stick also has skin moisturizing ingredients which is perfect for anyone with drier, more mature skin,” notes Dresher.
“This is one of my favorites,” says makeup artist Jonet Williamson. “It’s where foundation meets sun protection for a radiant glow.”
“Mineral sunscreens, such as the kind used in this medium-coverage SPF 25 foundation, are thought to be better tolerated by those with sensitive skin,” suggests Camp. “This product also contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and squalane to soothe and hydrate skin,” he adds.
“Whenever I have a red carpet or special event client with fine lines, nine out of 10 times I’m reaching for this bottle,” suggests Dresher. “I love that it’s designed for both face and body application, making it easy to even out the chest and neck as well,” she explains.
“The lasting power of this foundation is also impressive, and it doesn’t settle into any fine lines or expression lines,” Dresher notes.
Caitlyn Dominic, a makeup artist in Charlotte, North Carolina, refers to this Dior pick as her absolute favorite foundation. “Anyone and everyone, including those with mature skin, can wear foundation — there are no rules with makeup, and it all comes down to personal preference,” she states. “However, what I tend to reach for the most when I’m doing makeup on mature skin clients is a lightweight foundation,” Dominic recommends.
“I love this foundation for mature skin because it’s super hydrating and great for all skin types including sensitive skin,” makeup artist Brianna Farfel says. “It also has light buildable coverage, so you can add more for those areas that might need a little more attention.”
“It has amazing coverage and contains light-reflecting technology to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Williamson says.
“This is a super dewy, hydrating formulation that’s perfect for dry and combination skin,” says makeup artist Elisa Flowers. “Not only does it offer good skin care with clean and cruelty-free ingredients, but it delivers a radiant, luminous glow. I wear it all the time.”
“I love that it has SPF 40 in the formula and that it leaves skin feeling so soft and moisturized, but still has enough coverage for dark spots and redness,” Farfel says.
“The key ingredient that I love in this one is niacinamide because it helps calm redness and reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines.”
“The coverage is very beautiful, buildable and radiant,” says Flowers. “I also love adding this serum not only to the face but the body because it gives gorgeous coverage and an all-over glow.”
Williamson recommends this option from Lancôme, assuring it never comes off dull or cakey. Still, she recommends pairing it with a hydrating primer, especially if your skin leans dry. “It wears so beautifully throughout the day,” she says.
Flowers says, despite this foundation’s matte finish, it still looks natural and light on the skin. It even contains the aforementioned synthetic fluophlogopite to aid in oil absorption and blurring the look of texture and pores.
“This is one of my favorite foundations because it looks so beautiful both on camera and in person,” raves Flowers, who also mentions its no-transfer 24-hour wear.
“The formula has a natural radiant finish that won’t settle into fine lines or cling to dry patches,” says Williamson.
Shop TODAY editor Vivien Moon’s mom, Julia Moon, tested this foundation from Giorgio Armoni. She loves it for its blendable formula and lightweight finish. J. Moon also appreciates how doesn’t accentuate her fine lines and that it settles nicely into her skin.
She tells us that it has a “very nice texture” and that it’s “silky” and “lays pretty nice on the skin.” J. Moon also notes that it even “gives it [her skin] a little moisture, but at the same time is not too shiny. Nice coverage.”
“The texture feels super lightweight and looks amazing on all skin types,” raves Williamson. It also contains diamond core powder, which boosts radiance and minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines, according to the brand.
“This beautiful formula contains ingredients like squalane, aloe, jojoba oil and shea butter, and can be worn either super sheer or built up to medium-full coverage,” Farfel says. “It has an amazing blurring effect because it contains mineral pigments, which help with smoothing out fine lines and pores.”
Shop TODAY Beauty Awards winner
This full coverage foundation has a lightweight consistency that feels easy to apply on most skin types.
“This is a really nice foundation. It not only blends so well, but it doesn’t feel heavy or wet,” said commerce editor Rebecca Brown.
More foundations for mature skin to shop
This lightweight foundation provides an even texture and helps to hydrate the skin thanks to the glycerin ingredient. It’s also supercharged with water to keep your skin hydrated all day long.
Don't break the bank with this cost-effective pick from Maybelline. This multi-use concealer helps erase the look of dark circles and helps with blemishes.
Many reviewers rave about how smooth it feels even on dry skin. “I loved everything about this product. It is part of my 3 routine products to completely hide the red spider veins on my face. I was completely shocked,” added one verified shopper.
According to reviewers, this formula feels light but it conceals nicely. “Let me start with the coverage which leaves my 68-year-old complexion flawless. The feel is creamy and moist but not oily or heavy and lasts,” said one reviewer.
While it offers sheer coverage, this foundation has a silky texture and will protect your skin. “Some foundations make me look older but this one does not! I have a backup tube because I don’t want to run out!” said one reviewer.
This popular product adjusts to match your skin tone and is designed for all skin types.
What's different about foundations for mature skin?
“Foundations for mature skin tend to be more lightweight but still have enough coverage to disguise concerns such as redness or dark spots,” says Farfel. “Most of them also have skin care benefits within the formula, as well as SPF, and are very hydrating to create a glowy look.”
It all comes down to consistency, finish and ingredients. “A good foundation should blur, not mask — hydration and strategic blending make all the difference,” explains celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz.
While moisturizing formulas are typically great for mature skin because they result in a fresh, radiant finish, Farfel notes that they may feel too sticky or greasy for some skin types.
Williamson adds that foundations for mature skin are distinct in that they often chiefly focus on hydration, plumping, firming, protecting from UV damage and sometimes even filling in fine lines.
What to look for in foundations for mature skin
Williamson recommends looking for foundations formulated with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, grapeseed oil and vitamin E for added hydration, as well as silicone-based formulas because they’re best for filling in fine lines and wrinkles.
She also prefers opting for a “natural-radiant finish” that she says “looks gorgeous on mature skin.”
"To improve skin hydration, look for ingredients that maintain the skin barrier or heighten skin moisture levels, like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin and aloe vera," recommends Camp.
If your skin is mature but still on the oily side, Flowers suggests looking for formulas that contain minerals to help absorb excess shine and subtly blur pores. “Look for ingredients such as mica or synthetic fluorphlogopite, which is a more eco-friendly and sustainable version of mica,” she suggests. “Also look for iron oxide, zinc oxide and titanium.”
When it comes to texture, Farfel recommends going with creamy or serum-like formulas as these will appear the most natural. “The finish should be soft, hydrated and glowy rather than matte because this will exaggerate wrinkles and dry out the skin,” she explains.
What should you avoid in foundations for mature skin?
Williamson advises against formulas that are super full coverage or overly matte. “These tend to fall flat, settle into fine lines and look a bit unflattering on mature skin,” she explains.
“I recommend staying away from thick and heavy powder foundations because powder is drying and can look chalky or draw attention to uneven texture, pores and wrinkles,” Flowers adds. “Also avoid super thick (liquid) foundation formulas which sit on the skin like a mask and accentuate uneven textures on the skin.”
Both artists highly suggest swatching foundations on the side of your cheek or the back of your hand before buying it to see what the finish actually looks like. “If the formula you’re trying out doesn’t look nice on the back of your hand, it will never look great on your face,” warns Flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Various makeup artists we spoke with agree: It's important to prep the skin before going in with foundation (or any type of complexion product), as this will create a solid canvas for the makeup to sit on top of without looking cakey or clinging to dry areas.
Flowers recommends exfoliating a couple times each week using your preferred method in order to remove dead skin and keep your complexion looking smooth and fresh. She also suggests using hydrating serums and moisturizers that plump up the skin, as well as sunscreen for UV protection during the day.
While primer isn’t completely necessary, Flowers says they can be ideal for anyone dealing with texture concerns, such as enlarged pores or uneven areas. “Try Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Primer for a smooth and hydrated look,” she advises. “And for those who need to disguise large pores and texture, try a blurring formula like Shiseido’s Synchro Skin Soft Blurring Primer or Tatcha’s The Silk Canvas Filter Finish Protective Primer .”
Williamson is also an advocate for priming mature skin. “I’d suggest using a blurring primer like Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Primer, ” she adds.
When it comes to actual application, using your fingers or a damp beauty sponge is your best bet. Williamson says a damp sponge will deliver the smoothest finish, while Farfel swears by using your fingertips, so do whatever feels right to you.
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How we chose
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best foundations for mature skin using a few methods: enlisting the recommendations of two board-certified dermatologists and five professional makeup artists, filtering our searches for top-rated products and combing through hundreds of online shopper reviews.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic such as foundation for mature skin. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Brendan Camp is a double board-certified dermatologist in dermatology and dermatopathology at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery.
- Dr. Marisa Garshick, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
- Natalie Dresher is a lead makeup artist and owner of Makeup By Natalie in New York, New York.
- Caitlyn Dominic is a makeup artist in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Brianna Farfel is a New York City-based professional makeup artist.
- Jonet Williamson is a professional makeup artist, content creator and beauty expert with more than 14 years of experience in the industry.
- Elisa Flowers is a professional makeup artist in New York City with more than two decades of experience.
- Renée Loiz is a celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles, California.
