11 Best Foundations for Mature Skin That Won’t Settle Into Fine Lines

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.

Best for Dry Skin: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

Chanel

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

$65

Chanel

Why it's worth it: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation is one of Mehta's top picks for mature skin because "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," she says. “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.

Charlotte Tilbury

Beautiful Skin Foundation

$49

Nordstrom

$49

Revolve

Why it's worth it: Charlotte Tilbury's aptly named Beautiful Skin Foundation (available across 30 shades) was an instant hit among Allure editors. Our testers loved the radiant finish and healthy glow it delivers—without veering into greasy or oily territory, even after a full day of wear. Most said the medium-coverage base seamlessly concealed redness and discoloration without creasing or settling into fine lines, which makes it especially great for mature skin. The formula is packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid (sourced from coconut extract) and cassia angustifolia (a.k.a. senna) seeds, which help plump skin instantly while improving smoothness and brightness over time. It also includes bixa orellana (annatto) seed and damask rosewater, two antioxidant-rich, calming ingredients that make this foundation a perfect match for sensitive skin.

Best for Oily Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation

Pat McGrath Labs

Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation

$69

Nordstrom

$69

Revolve

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.

Best with SPF: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream

IT Cosmetics

Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream

$47

Amazon

$47

Nordstrom

Why it's worth it: Think of IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream as a three-in-one foundation, broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen, and color corrector (hence the CC in its name). Though CC creams usually provide sheer-to-medium coverage, this pick has a full-coverage finish that leaves behind a seamless, non-drying base (thanks, hyaluronic acid). For additional skin therapy, it also contains two antioxidants: niacinamide to brighten and vitamin E to boost moisture levels. For a sheerer finish, we suggest trying the IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow, which has a serum-like texture that also provides broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection.

Best Balm Foundation: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder

Danessa Myricks Beauty

Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder

$36

Sephora

Why it's worth it: The Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder is such a game-changing formula that it won an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award in 2022 and was used by bicoastal makeup artist ShaDara Holmes to boost Tracy Chapman's already-stunning complexion for her 2024 Grammy performance. This balm-to-powder foundation instantly blurs blemishes and hyperpigmentation while smoothing skin texture for an even finish. It utilizes a mix of magnesium oxide and carbon dioxide to balance oil and blur pores like a powder, yet squalane ensures its finish sits on the fine line between dewy and matte.

After testing it for years, we’ve used this foundation in many different ways. You can use a lighter or darker shade to highlight and contour, wear it underneath another base as a primer, or even treat it like a powder. As the day goes on, the formula adjusts its oil absorption to match your skin’s needs, so it will keep you looking fresh without over-drying.

Westman Atelier

Vital Skin Foundation Stick

$68

Nordstrom

$68

Credo Beauty

$68

Violet Grey

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, Aharon says this fragrance-free foundation is suitable for sensitive skin, regardless of age.

Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation

L'Oréal Paris

True Match Super Blendable Foundation

$14 $10 (29% off)

Amazon

$10

Walmart

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, she says it’s extremely easy to blend, and it 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.

As you age, your complexion gains texture and leans on 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.

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.

SkinCeuticals

A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced

$185

SkinCeuticals

$185

Dermstore

$185

Bluemercury

Dermalogica

Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream

$118

Amazon

$115

Dermalogica

$115

Bluemercury

Primer is always an important step before applying makeup of any kind, but not all of them provide the same smoothing effects you'd like. According to Barose, you'll want to ditch mattifying formulas and swap them for formulas with blurring finishes. 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.”

Milk Makeup

Hydro Grip Primer

$38

Amazon

$38

Ulta Beauty

Smashbox

Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer

$42

Amazon

$42

Nordstrom

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.

Saie

The Base Foundation Brush

$30

Amazon

Beautyblender

The Original Beautyblender

$20

Amazon

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.

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.

• Beau Nelson is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
• Amrita Mehta is a bicoastal makeup artist.
• Lisa Aharon is a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Lavonne Wood is a Little Rock, Arkansas-based makeup artist.
• Tony Tulve is a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist.
• 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.
• Sandy Linter is a New York City-based makeup artist.

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.

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.

Mature skin makeup is all about hydration. We've rounded up everything you need for a flawless base (and beyond):

• The Best Concealers for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists
• The 13 Best Primers for Smoothing Out Fine Lines
• 9 Best Eye Shadows for Mature Skin
• 9 Best Powder Foundations for Mature Skin to Blur Fine Lines and Texture

Done reading? Now, watch supermodel Cindy Crawford go through her classic beauty routine:

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