These Foundations Reign Supreme For Women Over 50

Embracing your look as you age means adjusting your skin care and make-up regimens to best suit your ever-evolving skin. With that comes a new focus on finding the best foundation for mature skin. To veil anything from dark spots to fine lines, the right complexion products make all the difference.

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As you would with your skincare salves of choice, 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,” explains celebrity make-up artist Carolina Dalí-Trites. The right level of hydration ensures that the formula melts into skin without caking or creasing. With this in mind, read on to discover the best foundations for mature skin that pair immaculate coverage with a natural finish.

The best foundations for mature skin at a glance:

• Best crease-proof foundation for mature skin: Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation, £34
• Best foundation for oily mature skin: Chantecaille Future Skin Oil Free Foundation, £75
• Best foundation for a dewy, hydrated finish on mature skin: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturiser, £27
• Best matte foundation for mature skin: Dior Forever Matte Foundation, £48
• Best long-lasting foundation for mature skin: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £46
• Best foundation for skincare benefits: Sisley Sisleya Le Teint Anti-Aging Foundation, £119
• Best foundation for an undetectable finish: Jones Road What The Foundation Tinted Moisture Balm, £42

The clean beauty balm

• Why we love it: Beauty mogul Bobbi Brown is famously not a fan of foundation. Her prescription for flawless skin? A sheer, buildable balm that unifies the skin tone more naturally instead. Applied with the fingers or using a brush, this balm doesn’t require much effort to melt into the complexion, but gives the polish of someone who’s spent an age preening thanks to its skin-perfecting finish.
• More to know: In Brown’s own words, this product is where moisturiser meets foundation, and the jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate in this formula ensure skin is sufficiently nourished. It’s a particularly good pick for those navigating the drier skin that comes with age – jojoba oil closely mimics skin’s own sebum, which decreases as you get older.

The fan-favourite

• Why we love it: Weightless and incredibly long-wearing, this foundation is one to know for a “your-skin-but-better” finish. It has a medium coverage that can be layered without masking skin, and a dewy formula which dries down to become totally waterproof. One you can rely on for comfortable wear on long days out, it harnesses the oil-blotting powers of bamboo silk to keep shine under control. And it’s chock-full of hydro lipids to moisturise and reinforce your skin barrier. What’s not to love?
• More to know: You will likely have seen already fans singing its praises on TikTok, but if you haven’t here’s the low down: women of all ages are flocking in the thousands to rave about its quality. The common thread in all those glowing reviews is that this formula performs beautifully, boasting a perfecting effect and stays-put formula that looks flattering whether you’re 15 or over 50.

The smart solution

• Why we love it: Fermented Arnica is one of several clever ingredients powering Gaga’s hit foundation, and its inclusion is a godsend for those with skin issues of any kind. A soothing anti-inflammatory with wound-healing properties, it means this foundation doesn’t just paint over problem skin, but actually targets concerns. Redness is reduced, pigmentation is addressed with each wear, and to top it all off, it has a soft focus finish that is nothing short of phenomenal.
• More to know: On this foundation, medium coverage means pigmented enough to camouflage blemishes, without the oily sheen you can get on lower coverage formulas. In fact, it sets to a demi-matte finish, so it’s a great pick for those who want the best of both worlds. What’s more, it contains more than 20 antioxidant ingredients to defend against free radical damage, so it’s a smart choice for protecting the health of your skin.

The glass skin essential

• Why we love it: For a filter, Dior’s new product has serious colour payoff – so much so that it works like a foundation. Distinctly glossy, its skincare-heavy formula keeps your face thoroughly nourished, and as for dullness? Consider this your cheat code for immediately illuminating skin. A little goes a long way to add a tinted sheen, which we love for staying in place without settling into expression lines.
• More to know: Coming in 10 flattering shades, the possibilities are endless with this multipurpose balm. It can be put to work as an illuminator, or bronzer – in short, however you see fit. Use it as a primer, mix a few drops into your other products to boost their radiance, or apply your shade match over bare skin for a glowing base. Perfect for dry mature skin.

The peptide-infused pick

• Why we love it: Every pigment in Glossier’s first ever foundation comes encapsulated in amino acids. Incredibly cool, yes, but also an indispensable innovation for women who find their foundation tends to settle in lines – these smoothing peptides fuse to and flex with the skin to prevent major creasing.
• More to know: You’d be wrong to think Glossier only caters to those with already flawless complexions – this foundation conceals sun spots, blemishes and more with an impressive skin-like finish. Loaded with rosehip, squalane and plankton – the formula is 89 per cent skincare – it also improves the appearance of said skin concerns over time.

The radiance booster

• Why we love it: 56 shades, a solution supercharged with skincare – there’s plenty to love about MAC’s latest foundation. It plumps skin with 10 per cent hyaluronic acid and is formulated with 80 per cent skincare overall, so if you’re after a make-up hybrid that helps condition the skin, it’s a very good port of call.
• More to know: A departure from MAC’s more heavy-duty make-up, leave your preconceptions at the door for this formula. Its vitamin E, jojoba, cucumber and a total of 33 skincare actives combine to create a luminous soft-focus effect, blurring pores and smoothing lines with a seamless, undetectable finish.

The all-around pick

• Why we love it: When we tapped make-up pros Dalí-Trites, Tobi Henney, and Janice Kinjo, each of them recommended Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation. 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.”
• More to know: Inspired by charmeuse silk, this oil-free foundation is infused with finely milled colour pigments to impart medium coverage and a radiant, airbrushed finish that resembles a lit-from-within glow.

The weightless wear

• Why we love it: Celebrity make-up 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.
• More to know: Formulated with 40 per cent water and light-reflecting pigments, the foundation has a silky, barely there feel and instantly hydrates skin for up to 12 hours.

The serum foundation

• Why we love it: Dalí-Trites calls Ilia’s her go-to for mature skin because it “adds moisture, gives the skin a healthy natural glow, [and] good amount of coverage while still letting the skin look like skin.
• More to know: Think of this as the high-coverage counterpart to its acclaimed Super Serum Skin Tint. Kinjo says it’s “for those who want clean, vegan make-up [that] will keep skin glowing all day.” While niacinamide and allantoin help brighten and soothe skin, this is formulated to counteract the look of pores, redness, and uneven skin tone through its weightless medium-coverage formula.

The tinted moisturiser

• Why we love it: Not ready to give up the feel of a warm-weather-favorite tinted moisturiser? Baraf says Saie’s formula is her pick. Sheer, dewy coverage truly never goes out of season.
• More to know: The Saie Slip Tint utilises a blend of hyaluronic acid, pansy flower, and liquorice root extract to brighten, hydrate, and protect skin with ease.

The lightweight oil

• Why we love it: Gucci Westman previously described the latest 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 skincare actives: ginseng extract, sunflower and almond oil, pomegranate extract, tsubaki oil, ginger root complex, and a skin-shielding complex. These come together to not only condition the skin, even tone, and smooth texture.
• More to know: What’s more, the weightless light-to-medium tint blends with ease to reveal a dewy, radiant finish perfect for year-round wear.

For dry skin

• Why we love it: “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!”
• More to know: Tom Ford’s Soft Radiance foundation features a blend of 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.

For a big event

• Why we love it: “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.”
• More to know: Get your skin camera-ready with Shiseido’s foundation designed to adjust to your skin’s needs. Featuring a blend of 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.

Celebrity-approved

• Why we love it: In Maye Musk’s instalment of Vogue’s Beauty Secrets, she began her make-up routine with Clé de Peau’s Radiant Fluid Foundation. At 73, the model is now partial to more natural-looking make-up, thanks in part to this foundation’s bare-skin-like finish.
• More to know: Infused with hyaluronic acid and skin-luminising properties, this foundation is crafted to enhance your skin’s glow, suppleness, and moisture. Apply it with a sponge, as Musk does, or your preferred brush, for light-to-medium coverage.

The skin care hybrid

• Why we love it: “The best foundations use great skincare ingredients,” says Kinjo. “You want ingredients that help collagen production, like my favourite Sisley Paris Sisleÿa Le Teint Anti-Aging Foundation.”
• More to know: 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 matte finish

• Why we love it: 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.
• More to know: 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.

The best foundation for oily mature skin

• Why we love it: This is a foundation whose performance proves its price tag justifiable: something we can say with confidence after putting it to the test. Impossibly radiant and yet retaining incredible shine control, its weightless gel formula stays put on the skin for several hours of wear. It offers custom coverage that’s indistinguishable from your own skin, no matter how much you apply, and boasts light reflecting particles that photograph beautifully – making it a great pick for weddings and other big-deal occasions.
• More to know: Made with Chantecaille’s planet-conscious, cruelty-free philosophy in mind, there are zero nasties in this formula. Instead, it’s bursting with botanicals that soothe inflammation and calm redness in the skin, including aloe vera, arnica and chamomile.

The intensive hydrator

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

The plumper

• Why we love it: Enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening rose complex and plumping coconut extract, Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation promises goodness while offering buildable coverage, which helps minimise the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots.
• More to know: One of the most active-rich formulas on the market – and available in 17 shades – it will help to target skin concerns at the same time as delivering a smooth, even complexion.

For the city

• Why we love it: Clarins’s Everlasting Youth Fluid contains the brand’s patented anti-pollution complex, meaning that this foundation is great for those who live in the city. Beyond fending off nasties, it will also conceal age spots and imperfections, as well as restoring a radiant complexion thanks to extracts of chicory and red jania. You’ll be left feeling firm, smooth and radiant.
• More to know: A foundation for any skin type, from dry to oily, Clarins’s formula will let your skin breathe without compromising on effective coverage.

Tips for applying foundation in an ageless make-up routine

So you’ve discovered your favourite foundation above, but you’re still a bit unsure how to apply it. If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that your technique makes all the difference.

“A key to looking youthful as we age is avoiding heavy or cakey make-up; 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 moisturiser, 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.” From there, you can go in with concealer to the undereyes (or wherever else) before applying 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. “Overpowering makes your skin look dry.” And there you have it – a flawless make-up base.