The Best Foundations for Mature Skin, According To Beauty Experts

As you age, a great foundation can go a long way in making your complexion look brighter and healthier—the trick is finding one that works for your skin type. Along with concealer, a foundation suited to mature skin is the—ahem—foundation of a quick and easy makeup routine.

What to look for in a foundation for mature skin

In a word (or three): Hydration, hydration, hydration. Formulas that are going to infuse your skin with moisture and not leave it looking dry or cakey are key when looking for a mature skin foundation. You will likely want to swap your matte foundation for something a little more dewy.

As skin matures, moisture levels begin to drop, which can leave skin looking dry, dull and lacklustre. Foundations have come a long way from the heavy powders of yesteryear and are now formulated to hydrate and plump with skincare-worthy ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Tinted serums and tinted moisturizers are two types of base products to keep an eye out for as they’ll provide natural coverage and a glow-boosting finish. 

Whether you’re looking for high coverage or a sheer option that you can apply with your fingers, we’ve asked beauty experts to share their go-to foundations for mature skin.

Shop the best foundations for mature skin

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $62

“Having entered my post-menopausal era, my skin now fluctuates between flushed and red or dry and pale,” says Liza Herz, 60, a beauty writer and founder of beauty blog Old(ish). She reaches for this skin care-focused pick from Ilia—available in 30 shades—to address both skin extremes.

“It gives me natural-looking coverage while also doing some skincare heavy lifting with niacinamide for brightening, mineral SPF 40 to protect against sun damage and hyaluronic acid and squalane for much-needed hydration and plumping.” 

Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer, $56

Writer Lesa Hannah, 51, usually opts for a 2-in-1 tinted sunscreen, but she recently starting wearing foundation in the form of this SPF-infused tinted moisturizer. “I really love the finish,” she says. “Lots of tinted sunscreens can be either too opaque or really greasy.”

She loves that this formula, which comes in 14 shades, is sheer enough to let her real skin peek through.

M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF 15, $54

“My longest makeup relationship has been with the OG Studio Fix, which I now use mostly for TV appearances and special events,” says Shobana Lakkavally, 42, a makeup artist and TV beauty expert. It’s a formula she’s relied on for two decades. “It was the first foundation that catered to my skin tone,” she says. 

To this day, she’s still impressed by the formula and how it leaves her with a natural look that's somewhere between a dewy and matte finish. “In my 40s, I appreciate the way it smooths and fills in my pores like no other—we’ve aged well together—and with 67 shades, it’s still one of my favourites for clients too.” 

Radford Tint The Skin Perfector, $52

“I am legit obsessed with this tinted moisturizer, which I wear in the shade Sand,” says Janine Falcon, 56, a beauty writer and founder of Beautygeeks. “I'm almost finished with my first tube and already have a back-up.” 

From the Canadian brand Radford, this tint comes in five shades and contains vitamin C and licorice root extract for brightening, along with its barrier-boosting ingredients, including ceramides. Falcon loves the soothing texture and hydrating benefits of the formula.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $85

Jill Dunn, co-creator of Breaking Beauty Podcast, has been wearing this bestseller from Giorgio Armani—which comes in 40 shades and is also a favourite of professional makeup artists—for years.

“Although I do try a lot of new foundations, this one is always in the rotation because its medium coverage looks fresh on the skin no matter what your age,” she says. “It's never cakey or heavy and the application is incredibly seamless, whether you're a makeup novice or a pro!”

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, $64

This high-coverage base—which comes in 21 shades—is a favourite of beauty pros for its natural finish and built-in colour-corrector, which helps conceal redness and dark circles instantly. It boasts SPF 50+ coverage and contains a skin-loving cocktail of vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Merit the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, $52

This do-it-all stick is incredibly versatile and works as a foundation, concealer and contour. The shade range boasts 20 hues, which provide light-to-medium coverage. Thanks to its fine tip, you can paint on a very precise application. 

Vegan and cruelty-free, the formula feels like skincare thanks to its impressive ingredient list, which includes conditioning fatty acids and sea daffodil extract to combat dark spots.

Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45, $73

Available in 28 shades, this liquid foundation marries coverage with skincare for 12 hours of glowing skin. The medium-to-full coverage easily covers redness and dark spots with just a few drops, and it leaves skin soothed, plumped and hydrated. 

The SPF 45 provides a good protection against daily UV exposure, though we still recommend using sunscreen in your morning skincare routine.

Revlon Illuminance Serum Tint, $25

This skin tint comes in 12 shades and is packed with complexion-boosting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and E and ginger root extract to help even skin tone. The light, buildable coverage can be applied with fingers, a sponge or a brush. (We like to use a buffing brush for a natural, airbrush-like finish.)