The 17 Best Foundations for Mature Skin, Ranked by a Beauty Editor

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 36

Finish: Naturally luminous

Coverage: Medium

First launched in 2000, there’s a reason why Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation has stood the test of time – and garnered a cult following along the way. In just a few pumps it makes light work of covering age spots, redness and blemishes without creasing in fine lines and wrinkles. See the Micro-Fil technology as the cherry-on-top, naturally brightening the complexion for a radiant and glowy finish. We have every expectation that it will still be sitting here triumphantly in another 20 years. 

Standout Review: "This is a lovely foundation. It really suits mature skin, has a lightly luminous finish and doesn’t sit in fine lines. Light to medium coverage which can be built up if you wish. Chose the wrong shade first time so had to reorder a slightly darker shade."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 30

Finish: Glowy

Coverage: Medium

As we now know, hyaluronic acid is great to look for in a foundation for mature skin and with Charlotte’s magic formula the much-loved ingredient takes centre stage. Expect skin to remain moisturised and hydrated throughout the day, with the added Rose Complex blend targeting dullness, dryness, pigmentation and dark circles. For a super natural finish, use a blending sponge and gradually build onto the areas that need a little extra coverage. 

Standout Review: "This foundation is so good for ageing skin that still wants quite a lot of coverage. I have some pigmentation and this fully covers it but still makes my skin look natural and dewy.  Also the colour match for me (5 neutral) is the closest match I’ve ever had to my natural skin with any foundation. "

Formula: Gel

Number of shades: 15

Finish: Radiant

Coverage: Medium

An oil-free gel foundation with an ultra-lightweight texture and radiant finish. The buildable formula provides adjustable coverage and is enriched with soothing ingredients like aloe, chamomile and green tea to minimise redness and irritation. It’s also one of Soh’s go-to products when working with mature skin. "The gel texture is lovely and nourishing so it creates a beautifully hydrated base.”

Standout Review: "I haven’t worn foundation in years, my skin always felt claustrophobic in it, like it couldn’t breathe. However, as I’ve gotten older my ‘expression lines’ need a bit of help so I thought I’d give it a try. It really does give the effect of your skin but better!"

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 39

Finish: Dewy

Coverage: Medium to full

Not only is hyaluronic acid on hand for dehydrated skin in need of a little TLC, you’ll also find a trio of natural oils including noni fruit extract – FYI Miranda Kerr drinks its juice every day for a youthful complexion. The medium-to-full coverage foundation blends into the skin like a dream and light-diffusing powders create the perfect radiant finish. So. Much. Yes.

Standout Review: "My new HOLY GRAIL foundation!!! Ive used a lot of different foundations containing SPF (specifically spf 50) but others seemed to end up cakey-looking and like an oil slick on my mature, oily skin. This has great coverage without it looking heavy. Lasts 10+ hours on my skin without breaking down and looks just as good at the end of the day as to when I first applied. This one is just too darn good to pass up!!!"

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 8

Finish: Slightly dewy

Coverage: Light/buildable

Beauty doesn’t need to break the bank, and here is a perfect example. It’s a great one for everyday wear as, much like skincare, it can be applied quickly and easily onto the face with your fingers in the morning or on the go. If you like natural-looking coverage with a slightly dewy finish, look no further.

Standout Review: "I bought this just to use on holiday but have now binned the foundation I've been using for years as this is far better suited to my now 42-year-old skin. It applies better with fingers than a brush, and is buildable in problem areas. It gives a lovely natural finish but goes shiny after a while, so I still finish with powder as I always have done. Great product :)"

Formula: Stick

Number of shades: 20

Finish: Naturally radiant

Coverage: Buildable

World class makeup artist and founder Gucci Westman was inspired by what she was looking for and couldn’t find in a foundation when developing this product. As a rosacea sufferer, it was important for clean skin soothing ingredients, such as coconut oil and camellia seed oil, to feature in an easy-to-use creamy stick formula. In a recent interview with Goop, Westman said: "Real skin is never just one colour, so to get that effect, I use two shades of my foundation stick. I use number 3 as concealer to even out my skin where it’s red around my nose from my rosacea, or sometimes between my brows and along my chin. I use number 4 as foundation over larger areas when I have an important meeting.”

Standout Review: "Love this product. I feel 'clean' and healthy each time I use it. It covers well and does not sink into my crease lines. I feel it holds all day long. I continue to have strangers comment on my makeup. At recent visit to my hair salon I had 3 women ask me what my foundation was. Ordering more soon!"

Formula: Serum

Number of shades: 42

Finish: Satin matte

Coverage: Full

Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and three types of vitamin C work to reduce dark spots, discolouration, age spots, and blemish marks every time you wear Clinique’s clever concoction. For those with oily skin on the lookout for a full coverage foundation that will not budge, you’ve just met your match.

Standout Review: "At 62 I have older combination skin and with the added serums in this foundation it applies amazingly and covers my imperfections.. my favourite."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 20

Finish: Luminous

Coverage: Light

Skin loving ingredients like soy peptide, white willow extracts, chlorella and cherry blossom are at the helm of Sisley’s light-coverage foundation. The super moisturising blend softens lines and wrinkles while boosting skin's natural radiance and firmness –  prepare for the onslaught of compliments.

Standout Review: "This foundation is the best for women of a certain age... I have had so many compliments on my skin and from young people :) The foundation does not cake, lasts all day and seems to just melt into my skin hiding the many flaws. The best."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 36

Finish: Natural

Coverage: Medium

This foundation is loved by all ages and skin types for good reason. Infused with biomimetic oat, milk thistle and cacao peptides to defend against pollution and blue light, the buildable formula seeks to improve the general appearance of skin, even after it’s removed. The light-reflecting technology is just the ticket for giving the skin a healthy and natural allover radiance. 

Standout Review: "I have bought this for me. My mother asked what foundation I was wearing because apparently I looked lovely. So I bought it for her. My grandmother asked my mother what foundation she was wearing because she liked the way it look radiant and weightless on my mother's skin.... So I bought it for her. Buy it ... Young and old it's for all."

Formula: Balm

Number of shades: 16

Finish: Seamless

Coverage: Light to medium

Anything world renowned make-up artist Bobbi Brown touches turns to gold, and the foundation from her newest venture Jones Road is no different. Ingredients like jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate play their part in plumping and hydrating the complexion while the buildable light-medium coverage gives a your-skin-but-better finish. 

Standout Review: "Best foundation for dry, mature skin I've ever used. I bought "deep " and I'm quite fair, i mix it with a pump of clay de peu, and it goes on beautiful, reminds me of Chanel vita Lumiere but better, i wouldn't wear it without adding a paler, more conventional foundation as it wouldn't stay on as well. It adds moisture and looks dewy all day. Amazing product."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 30

Finish: Radiant

Coverage: Medium to full

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. It’s also water-, transfer-, and crease-resistant making it the perfect pick for summer.

Standout Review: "This was recommended to me for my mature skin, it’s medium coverage and silicone formula glides on and does not sit in my wrinkles or pores, there is also some skin loving ingredients so hopefully over time my skin will look even better! Not cakey and long lasting and I love the neat packaging too."

Formula: Serum

Number of shades: 30

Finish: Dewy

Coverage: Light

Hyaluronic acid and herbal squalane create a natural barrier that locks moisture into the skin while niacinamide brightens dark spots and smoothes fine lines. It feels exceptionally weightless on the skin – so much so, you won’t even realise you’re wearing base make-up at all. For any areas that need a little extra coverage, go in with a slightly heavier duty concealer like the Ilia Beauty True Skin Serum Concealer. 

Standout Review: "I wasn’t sure about this product at first as it was very different to other tinted sunscreens that I have used, but I am wanting to go chemical free with my make up with no nasties, so I gave this ago. It took a while to get used to it and the smell, but I have to say that I am now in love with it! My face looks and feels so radiant, I can’t wait to put it on in the mornings."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 49

Finish: Matte

Coverage: Full

Matte foundations are harder to come by these days—current makeup trends are all about glow and radiance. However, if you have oily skin and are prone to shine, then a matte foundation is your best bet for keeping skin looking fresh and even all day long. This lightweight formula prevents shine without looking dry or cakey.

Standout Review: "I've been using a lot of medium coverage, dewy skin tints lately and was a little skeptical of using a fuller coverage, matte foundation at my age. I was so pleasantly surprised! First of all, it's not a flat matte. It's a pretty natural finish if you ask me, at least on my combo skin after my normal skin prep. It didn't apply streaky with a brush or with a sponge and it didn't settle in or accentuate my fine lines. It wore beautifully throughout the day and was still holding strong by the evening when I was ready to wash it off. It really is sweat-proof and it holds up under a mask as well. I'm very impressed and will be repurchasing when I run out. It's nice to have a full coverage foundation in the rotation that looks nice on maturing skin."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 21

Finish: Natural

Coverage: Medium to Full.

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Infused with high-tech Micro-Pearls, Beauty Pie's Everyday Great Skin Foundation is loved for its natural but radiant skin-like finish. Plus, the fact there are multiple shades and undertones makes it easier than ever to find the shade that actually suits your skin tone.

Standout Review: "Arrived very fast. I thought it was Christmas so prettily wrapped it was a shame to open. Beautiful foundation feels like velvet on my skin stays on for hrs really good coverage and doesn’t settle in my wrinkles. Would highly recommend."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 9

Finish: Luminous

Coverage: Light.

Lumene's collagen infused foundation is a skin-care based formula that was created with the purpose of hydrating and smoothing the skin after continuous use. The SPF30 will help protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays all year-round without feeling to heavy on the skin or clogging pores.

Standout Review: "Good coverage with a natural finish. Has smoothed and improved my temperamental skin. Perfect for everyday!"

Formula: Powder

Number of shades: 50

Finish: Natural Matte

Coverage: Buildable (Light to Full).

You might think that mature skin would be incompatible with powder formulas, but there are currently loads of options on the market that don't dry out the skin or look cakey. One that every beauty-lover has been raving about lately is Fenty's soft matte powder foundation for its ability to keep the skin looking airbrushed without appearing dry or flaky. Not to mention the shade range is very impressive!

Standout Review: "This powder foundation is excellent, I'm 48 and it doesn't dry me out or age me 5 years like other powder formulas. Works well with the new Ease drop stick if you need more coverage without looking cakey. Of the multitude of celebrity makeup brands, Fenty is the only one I have purchased from with Rihanna's products becoming Staples/favourites."

Formula: Liquid

Number of shades: 43

Finish: Radiant

Coverage: Light to Medium.

If you like a radiant finish, then you will love this foundation from Dior. The serum-like formula features an 86% skincare base to hydrate the skin and let it breathe. However, it still manages to deliver impressive coverage and will last you from morning till night.

Standout Review: "I decided to sample 15 foundations on my 52-year-old face and she’s the best I found. The coverage incorporates my own skin tone so well I neither look nor feel that I’m wearing a mask. My skin has a hydrated, healthy looking glow, which lasted all day. As a base it accepted and, I think, enhanced the further products I used to make up my face."