My 56-Year-Old Mom and I Compared Our Favorite Foundations—These 11 Tick Every Box

Pros: Has a radiant finish without looking greasy, provides buildable medium coverage to easily disguise blemishes and dark spots

Cons: Contains silicones

Shades: 40

Key ingredients: Micro-fil technology, glycerin

It's a cult favorite for a reason! Luminous Silk is creamy and medium coverage, and it leaves you with a glowy, never greasy, visage. The formula features a special Micro-fil technology that helps pigment better adhere to your skin and look flawless. Whether you'd like to disguise dark spots, smooth fine lines, or even overall tone, this liquid foundation has you covered. My mom, who was influenced by TikTok to buy it, specifically calls out its creaminess, noting it has lots of coverage.

Customer review: "I seriously never write reviews and I never have [liked] liquid foundation. This is the best stuff ever! Goes on so smooth and bendable. I was told I looked like I had airbrushed skin! #Sold."

Pros: Contains SPF, very lightweight and breathable yet provides medium coverage

Cons: Has a glowy finish

Shades: 22

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, SPF

"Usually, I use CC+ Nude Glow," my mom tells me. "It's not cakey and goes on smoothly." The formula is incredibly lightweight with impressive payoff, meaning you don't need to pile on product to achieve your desired level of coverage. When it comes to using foundation for mature skin, less is more—too much product can settle into fine lines.

Customer review: "One of the best skin tints out there. Light smooth coverage that gives enough coverage that you can cover hyperpigmentation and age spots. It's skin care with medium buildable coverage. Worth the splurge."

Pros: Provides a natural "your skin but better" look, a little goes a long way for evening skin tone

Cons: Very sheer

Shades: 16

Key ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, olive oil, castor oil

If I applied this foundation with my eyes closed, I'd think I was using moisturizer. That's just how hydrating and soothing the formula feels on my skin. It's brimming with sodium hyaluronate, a very small molecular size of hyaluronic acid that can shimmy deep into your pores and provide immediate moisturizing, skin-plumping effects. I'd recommend finger-painting with this one as opposed to using a sponge or brush, as it effortlessly melts with the warmth of your skin. Oh, and don't be alarmed by its whip-thick texture; it's actually one of the most sheer, lightweight options on this list.

Customer review: "I am an active 65 year old woman who feels more 'supple and smooth' than my skin looks! But I also have never been a fan of layers of makeup and especially using foundation like spackle. So I was intrigued by What the Foundation. And yes, ladies in my age bracket, it is gentle, subtle, moisturizing, light and complements and enhances our skin tone and texture. I am super pleased!"

Pros: Matte formula that's not too drying, natural and buildable coverage, incredible shade range

Cons: Contains silicones

Shades: 50

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E

Okay, those with mature skin typically should opt for dewy formulas over matte, but this underrated number is the ultimate exception. "It has a natural matte finish that looks velvety and luminous but not shiny. It has medium coverage that disguises everything—rosacea, breakouts, dark circles, and hyperpigmentation included," notes WWW associate beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock in a review. "I also have uneven skin tone on my nose and cheeks and some dullness on my forehead and chin. This foundation covers it all without looking like a foundation at all." Sounds like a winner to me!

Customer review: "This is my favorite foundation. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized and looking flawless. I have mature skin, and this is perfect for those fine lines."

Pros: Effortlessly fuses to skin, feels like silk with a soft, satin-like finish

Cons: Not as dewy as other options

Shades: 29

Key ingredients: Camellia-seed oil, glycerin

"When I wore this out, I had three different people compliment my skin. Is that not the dream? It's proof that this product puts the focus on my skin, not the makeup," McLintock once shared about this natural-looking foundation. She's not the only one to sing its praises: In a clinical evaluation from the brand, women reported a 33% more radiant complexion immediately after use and smoother skin after one month. The texture is velvet soft, and it delivers the prettiest satin finish. Would you expect anything less from Chanel?

Customer review: "I am 45 years old and have dry skin. I also have some light dark spots on my cheeks. I bought many foundations from different brands to find a perfect match for my face. This is by far the best foundation. It gives medium coverage but it settles well on wrinkles and smoothes all wrinkles and gives my face a glow. I would definitely recommend this for 40 plus [aged] women."

Pros: Noncomedogenic, moisturizing without looking too greasy

Cons: Can be a bit messy

Shades: 13

Key ingredients: Allantoin, bisabolol, niacinamide, SPF

Most serum foundations are way too oily for my liking, but not this Ciele pick. It sinks into skin so effortlessly, providing a moisturizing yet not-too-glowy base that never reads greasy. It's great for covering up dark spots and preventing new marks from forming, as sun damage is the number one culprit for hyperpigmentation. (This formula boasts SPF 50!) Not to mention, it includes allantoin and niacinamide to soothe and even out skin tone.

Customer review: "Such a beautiful skin tint—not greasy or heavy, just beautiful coverage. I've been on the hunt for the perfect tinted SPF, and this checks all the boxes. Mature skin approved."

Pros: Great for on-the-go touch-ups, has a natural-matte finish that doesn't dry out the skin

Cons: Not suitable for dry skin

Shades: 42

Key ingredients: Ceramide-peptide complex, kelp extract, butterfly lavender extract

To be honest, I wasn't expecting to love this foundation stick. The natural-matte formula just sounded way too cakey, but boy was I proven wrong. This foundation blends like an absolute dream, even on drier, thinner areas like my under-eyes. Not only does it never settle into fine lines, but it also seamlessly blurs pores and texture for a full 12 hours without reapplication. A clinical study by the brand found that 100% of participants said their skin looked healthier and more youthful after 28 days, and 98% said it reduced the look of fine lines and wrinkles. I, for one, am obsessed.

Customer review: "I have dry sensitive skin, and I'm in my early 40s. I was concerned this foundation stick would be dry and cakey. I was wrong! Beautiful glowing finish. This is my new everyday foundation."

Pros: Has incredible longevity with a nice, luminous finish

Cons: Contains silicones

Shades: 10

Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, olive squalane, shea butter, mineral water

Greenberg calls this liquid number a lightweight and glowy product that she swears by. It contains the brand's signature T3 Oil—a blend of jojoba oil, olive squalane, and shea butter—to help skin appear soft and supple. While it also contains four types of powders to build coverage, it never leaves behind a cakey finish. In fact, I'd call it one of the dewiest options on this list.

Customer review: "Beautiful, light to light-medium coverage, natural skin like finish that does not cling to dry patches or make my pores look larger, works well on top of physical sunscreens (titanium and zinc oxide) and most importantly—there is very little transfer and it doesn't come off in this hot and humid, July weather! I've even worn it while jogging 4 miles and it still looks beautiful!"

Pros: Super hydrating and glowy, a little goes a long way

Cons: May feel a bit too thin and serum-like

Shades: 14

Key ingredients: Fermented kefir, niacinamide, microcapsules suspended in skincare essence

"My go to is the Shiseido Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation, which also has SPF for an added bonus," says Lobell. "I usually apply it with my fingers to really press it into the skin." She specifically loves how the lightweight formula contains lots of pigment, so a little bit goes a long way. This means you won't ever run the risk of looking cakey.

Customer review: "Hands down my favorite glowy foundation. It really gives that glass-skin look and wears surprisingly well on hot days with a good setting spray. Feels like nothing on my skin and gives light-medium coverage."

Pros: Super malleable and creamy, easy to use as an allover foundation or in specific spots as a concealer

Cons: Has a waxy consistency before you work it into the skin

Shades: 20

Key ingredients: Arnica, edelweiss, safflower-seed oil, castor oil, soybean oil

Lobell typically avoids cream and balm foundations for mature skin, as they can look a bit heavy. "There are some more balm-type foundations, however, that give a great look to mature skin, like Monika Blunder Beauty's Blunder Cover," she notes. The oil-infused pigment melts upon application, covering everything from rosacea to hyperpigmentation to fine lines without appearing cakey. With arnica, edelweiss, and gentle hydrating oils (safflower seed, castor seed, and soybean to name a few), it never aggravates sensitive skin.

Customer review: "I like this foundation because it really works on my 64 year old complexion. [I've] been able to wear this foundation an entire day without dryness or oxidation. As a black woman, with neutral warm skin tone, the shade I purchased shade SECHS-00. I found it flattering and natural."

Pros: Light-as-air formula, extra sun protection, seamlessly layers with other skin and makeup products

Cons: Very sheer coverage

Shades: 15

Key ingredients: Glycerin, SPF, mineral-rich seawater, vitamin C

Lobell also calls this Nars number an excellent choice. It's technically a tinted moisturizer, meaning it's much more sheer than a foundation, but if you're looking for just a wash of pigment to even out skin tone, you really can't go wrong with this pick. "After wearing it all day, I completely forgot I had any makeup on whatsoever. That's how lightweight this is," notes WWW UK junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay in a review. As you can guess from the light-as-air formula, this one won't dare exacerbate skin texture and fine lines.

Customer review: "I have tried a lot of tinted moisturizers from high-end to drugstore. None come close to Nars Pure Radiant. The finish is beautiful! The coverage is amazing! It is so hydrating and covers all of my imperfections without the heavy feel. It does not collect in lines or wrinkles. Minimizes the look of large pores. If you have light/medium skin with gold undertones, (like I do) try the color Groenland. Your skin will look radiant!"