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As your skin changes, your makeup should evolve with it, and that starts with finding the best foundations for mature skin. These formulas deliver even texture, a healthy radiance, and fine-line-blurring coverage without clinging to dryness or settling where you don’t want it. Many of today’s standout bases are infused with skin-care power players such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and even retinol to help tackle common concerns—think: fine lines, dark spots, redness, and dehydration.
We put in the legwork—consulting pro makeup artists and leaning on our trusted team of editors—to uncover the foundations that stay smooth, flexible, and crease-free, no matter how expressive you are.
Our Top Foundations for Mature Skin
- Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation, $69
- Best for Very Dry Skin: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, $65
- Best Light-Coverage: Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, $49
- Best Medium-Coverage: Nars Light Reflecting Foundation, $54
- Best Full-Coverage: Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Foundation, $48
- Best for Oily Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation, $69
- Best Lightweight: Ogee Complexion Perfecting Serum Foundation, $48
- Best Foundation Stick: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick, $68
- Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation, $14
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What to consider when looking for a foundation for mature skin
- How to prep mature skin for foundation
- How to apply foundation on mature skin
- What type of foundation works best for mature skin?
- Should mature skin go with a lighter or darker foundation?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
Armani Beauty
Luminous Silk Foundation
Nordstrom
Sephora
Why it's worth it: Constantly name-dropped by makeup artists and enthusiasts, Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation has earned its icon status with ample accolades, including an Allure Best of Beauty Award. Countless makeup artists, including Beau Nelson and Amrita Mehta, count Meghan Markle's favorite foundation as a go-to for mature clients due to its soft-focus finish and weightless texture. "This one has been a staple in my kit for over 15 years," New York City-based makeup artist Lisa Aharon attests. "It blurs pores and fine lines while leaving the skin with a fresh finish," she says, adding that the medium coverage is ideal for concealing sun spots and other imperfections such as blemishes.
New York-based makeup artist Lauren D’Amelio Ventre loves that it’s packed with hydration—something aging skin needs more of—and helps make the skin look plumper and smoother. “It leaves a beautiful and flawless finish, and the formula melts into the skin seamlessly,” she says. Even though it’s ultra-hydrating, it’s also lightweight and won’t turn greasy throughout the day, which is why she often reaches for it for long events like weddings.
Allure creative director Amber Venerable before applying the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
Amber Venerable
Venerable after applying the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
Amber Venerable
Tester feedback from Allure creative director Amber Venerable
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“I like minimal to light foundation coverage and I thought this had great coverage while also being very lightweight on my skin. My skin was radiant and glowing so it lives up to the term luminous to say the least! Love it!”—Amber Venerable, creative director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin
- Finish: radiant
- Shades: 40
Best for Dry Skin: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Chanel
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Chanel
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation is one of New York City-based makeup artist Crystal Gossman and Mehta's top picks for mature skin. "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," says Mehta.. “This foundation feels like a lightweight serum but has light-to-medium, buildable coverage, helping to maintain that fresh-faced look.” Aharon is another fan of this hydrating base, saying a healthy glow is her favorite finish, especially for mature skin, as it tends to lean dry. With the addition of light-reflecting pigments, wearers are left with a luminous, even complexion.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, jasmine stem extract
- Finish: radiant
- Shades: 35
Best Light-Coverage: Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
Hourglass
Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: For those days when you're craving light, breathable coverage that looks super natural, you'll want to reach for Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, Allure's 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner. 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. If you have dry skin and want a plumping tint with skin-care perks, this is the one to try.
Tester feedback from Allure editor in chief Jessica Cruel
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"I'm not big on foundation for every day. Every one I try feels like a mask on my skin that I can't wait to wash off, so there is no way I could commit to wearing it five days a week. I typically reserve base makeup for days when I have to be on TV or at an event. This skin tint feels more like a face lotion—in fact, I often apply it with just my hands. The coverage is very light. However, it's enough to make people think I did something to get a natural glow." —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
More to know
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- Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter extract
- Finish: dewy
- Shades: 18
Best Medium-Coverage: Nars Light Reflecting Foundation
Nars
Light Reflecting Foundation
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Why it's worth it: If you're looking for the perfect balance between coverage and skin care, the Best of Beauty-winning Nars Light Reflecting Foundation is ideal for mature skin that craves hydration without heaviness. What sets it apart is Nars's Photochromic Technology, a photo-friendly micro powder that adapts to light so your skin tone looks natural in every setting, from selfies to professional photos. It won’t wash you out or flashback, which is key if you’re going to an event where you’ll be photographed.
Beyond the finish, the formula is packed with skin-loving ingredients like biomimetic oat to calm redness and Japanese lilyturf to help lock in moisture. Over time, your skin looks smoother and more radiant, even without makeup. But when you do wear it, the lightweight texture won’t settle into fine lines. Instead, it gives you a healthy-looking glow with just the right amount of medium coverage.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: biomimetic oat, Japanese lilyturf, cacao peptides, milk thistle, turmeric
- Finish: radiant
- Shades: 36
Best Full-Coverage: Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Foundation
Makeup by Mario
SurrealSkin Foundation
Sephora
Kohl's
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—but don’t let the “full-coverage” label fool you. This formula is incredibly lightweight, buildable, and never cakey. Karol Rodriguez, a NYC-based makeup artist, said this foundation is one of her go-tos for people with exceptionally dry skin, which mature folks are prone to. Founder Mario Dedivanovic recommends using just one pump, applying it where you need the most coverage, and building from there. That’s easy to do thanks to skin-friendly ingredients like polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate (an ester that gives it a silky, glowy—not greasy—finish), plus hydrating staples like glycerin, grapeseed oil, and sunflower oil to help lock in moisture.
Even though it leaves a slightly dewy finish, our testers with oily skin found it held up beautifully throughout the day without turning shiny. Want something sheerer? Mix a pump with your favorite moisturizer and pat it on with your fingers for a more natural, skin-tint effect.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 30
Best for Oily Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
Pat McGrath Labs
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
Ulta Beauty
Nordstrom
Sephora
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 adds that the natural-finish formula self-sets (translation: no powder needed) and “boosts natural hydration” thanks to moisture-retaining glycerin. That makes it especially great for oily skin, but if you want to add a light dusting of powder, it won’t look heavy.
What really sets this one apart is the ultra-refining Diamond Core Powder, which diffuses light and blurs imperfections for a silky-smooth, lit-from-within finish. For sheer coverage, pat it in with your fingers and for more fullness, use a brush—it builds beautifully without ever looking heavy.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: diamond core powder, amino acids, raspberry leaf extract
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 36
Best Lightweight: Ogee Complexion Perfecting Serum Foundation
Ogee
Complexion Perfecting Serum Foundation
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Gossman swears by this foundation for one major reason: It refuses to settle into fine lines. Instead, it glides over the skin with a seamless, second-skin finish that instantly softens texture—a game changer for anyone with mature skin. The formula is packed with skin-care-forward ingredients like brightening vitamin C, antioxidant-rich gooseberry juice, smoothing daisy flower, and jojoba oil (loaded with vitamin E) for lasting hydration and bounce.
The coverage is beautifully buildable—sheer to medium—and no matter how many layers you tap on, it still feels weightless. Think of it as your everyday glow enhancer: a skin tint that evens, brightens, and adds life back to your complexion without ever looking heavy. Perfect for those who want radiance rather than heavy coverage.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vitamin C, gooseberry fruit juice, daisy flower, jojoba oil
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 20
Best Foundation Stick: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick
Westman Atelier
Vital Skin Foundation Stick
Nordstrom
Credo Beauty
Sephora
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 nourishing ingredients like squalane for moisture and phytosphingosine, a naturally occurring lipid found in the skin, to soothe. This cream formula melts into the skin, whether you apply it straight to your face 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. Due to calming ingredients like squalane and camellia seed oil, Aharon says this fragrance-free foundation is suitable for sensitive skin, regardless of age.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vegetable-derived squalane, berryflux vita extract, camellia seed oil, coconut oil
- Finish: natural
- Shades: 21
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation
L'Oréal Paris
True Match Super Blendable Foundation
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: D’Amelio Ventre not only loves the shade range of this drugstore foundation (we’re talkin’ 47 shades!), but the formula “helps lock in moisture and has a finish that looks like skin, but promotes a glowy and even complexion.” It’s so creamy that she says it’s extremely easy to blend and can easily be layered for a more full-coverage look. It doesn’t have skin-care ingredients like the other foundations on this list, but it still has that smooth, buttery feel we love. We noticed this formula can look a bit cakey around drier areas like the mouth and nose, but as long as you moisturize beforehand, it wears smoothly.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: N/A
- Finish: natural
- Shades: 47
Frequently Asked Questions
What to consider when looking for a foundation for mature skin
As you age, your complexion gains texture and leans toward 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.
How to prep mature skin for foundation
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. Gossman adds that layering on hydrating serums and essence toners will give the skin that juicy, plump feel and a natural tackiness to help foundation grip without needing a primer.
However, if you know you’ll be out and about all day—or have a special event— primer can be helpful for extra long-wearing benefits Barose recommends blurring formulas and straying away from mattifying formulas. 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,” he explains. “Focus on lines or [other areas] of your face [you want to] blur.”
How to apply foundation on mature skin
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. “Lastly, I'll apply concealer, plus 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.
What type of foundation works best for mature skin?
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.
Should mature skin go with a lighter or darker foundation?
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. “As we age, sun exposure can bring out freckles and pigmentation, so going a touch darker evens everything out,” adds Gossman, who likes to pair that with a lighter concealer in targeted areas to brighten and lift.
Meet the experts
- Amrita Mehta is a bicoastal makeup artist.
- Beau Nelson is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
- Crystal Gossman is a New York City-based makeup artist.
- Fiona Stiles is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
- Gucci Westman is a New York City-based makeup artist and founder of makeup brand Westman Atelier.
- Lavonne Wood is a Little Rock, Arkansas-based makeup artist.
- Lisa Aharon is a New York City-based makeup artist.
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist.
- Sandy Linter is a New York City-based makeup artist.
- Tony Tulve is a New York City-based makeup artist.
How we test and review products
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.
Our staff and testers
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.