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It’s not your imagination. Skin changes with age, in often extremely subtle ways, and it’s possible that the foundation you have been using for years suddenly no longer sits quite right. If you’re seeing fine lines and pores appear more prominently after you apply makeup rather than before, it's likely time to switch up your routine. And if it’s just blurring, glow-boosting, or skin-evening you’re after, there’s certainly a new foundation to try that’s going to deliver. Not only do formulas continue to get more sophisticated—think: creamier and airier, lighter and more light-reflecting—there are also ever-increasing choices in terms of coverage and shade selection.
Top makeup artist tips for mature skin? First of all, less is more. Concentrate foundation on areas that need it most—typically around the T-zone. Look for moisturizing tints that glide over lines, and reach for radiance-enhancing over matte formulas. Best of all, there’s a new category of skin-benefiting tinted serums and skin perfectors that work to prevent future signs of aging while keeping the complexion looking effortlessly fresh and smooth. We’re all after age-agnostic luminosity—and now that’s easier than ever to achieve.
From sheer tints to full-coverage creams with active skincare ingredients and serious sun protection, here are the 17 best foundations for mature skin.
Best Full Coverage
Giorgio Armani Beauty Power Fabric Longwear High Cover Foundation SPF 25
Pros
Non-drying matte formula- Longwearing
Cons
Not only does Armani's full coverage foundation have longwear capabilities, but it also has a second-skin finish that is perfect for oilier types—and smoothing out pores. "Makes skin look air-brushed!" and "stays on all day" say reviewers. For those looking for coverage (and SPF) this is a win-win.
Shades Available: 30
Skin Type: Dry, Oily, Mature
Westman Atelier Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Dewy Foundation Drops Atelier XV 1 oz / 30 ml
This clean formula from makeup artist superstar Gucci Westman can be used as a spot treatment or all-over tint. Contains antioxidant pomegranate, firming and hydrating tsubi oil, and revitalizing ginseng extract to deliver skin improvements with every wear. Reviewers call it "great for summer" and say "a little goes a long way."
Shades Available: 20
Skin Type: Dry, Combination, Normal
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Pros
- Lightweight texture
- Contains natural botanicals that prevents oxidization
Cons
If you want to feel like you're wearing nothing at all, this is the one for you. Formulated with 60 percent charged water, this oil-free gel foundation imparts a refreshingly light, cool sensation upon application. Reflective pigments blur imperfections while calming botanicals such as aloe, chamomile, and arnica soothe irritation. "Doesn't dry me out," "looks totally natural," and "completely worth the cost," say reviewers.
Shades Available: 15
Sky Type: Dry, Sensitive, Mature
Pros
- Breathable, buildable coverage
- Contains vitamin E to protect against blue light exposure
Cons
Packing serious SPF 45, Futurist is is also fortified with hydrating ion-charged water, soothing probiotics, and nourishing chia seed extract. Even with all of this protective goodness, the formula feels breathable on skin, and the luminous coverage is just right. Writes one reviewer: "I have the driest skin and I’ve tried everything—this is the only product that has saved me!"
Shades Available: 32
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily, Mature
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Pros
- Weightless texture
- Ideal for humid weather
Cons
La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation has a silky consistency that glides on smoothly to airbrush out fine lines and imperfections. Buildable, and suitable for all skin types, it's also chock full of healing, hydrating ingredients. "If you 40+ and are looking for skin care benefits in your make-up, like I am, then I think you will love this foundation," says one reviewer.
Shades Available: 28
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily, Mature
Pros
- Plumps lackluster skin
- Nourishing formula
Cons
Powered by skin-protective and regenerative red camellia oil, this is Chanel's first major move into clean, sustainable color, with a formula comprised of 97 percent natural ingredients. Reviewers hail it for its ability to erase redness and for its "perfect skin-like finish." The uncompromising quality one would expect from Chanel is tangible in this silky foundation, which leaves a luminous finish and feels lightweight and comfortable on the skin.
Shades Available: 20
Skin Type: Dry, Mature
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Pros
- Provides 24-hour wear
- Contains SPF
Cons
Dior's updated Forever Skin Glow provides the dewy, radiant coverage that devotees have always loved, but now in a longer-wear, transfer-resistant formula. Says one reviewer, "My skin looks surreal, it's so smooth and just stays all day and night with a very light application. The color payoff is great, it covers dark spots and blemishes and it stays fixed the whole time."
Shades Available: 42
Skin Type: Dry, Mature, Sensitive
Pros
- Long-lasting coverage
- Contains hyaluronic acid to nourish and plump skin
Cons
This skin beautifier from Charlotte Tilbury delivers a healthy glow along with a dose of hydration that blurs pores and smooths fine lines. "My skin looks better and better after every wear," says one devotee.
Shades Available: 30
Skin Type: Dry, Sensitive, Mature
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Best Lightweight
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation
Pros
- Hydrates and tightens skin
- Contains only clean ingredients
Cons
If you're looking for light coverage with a lovely skin-nourishing texture and good-for-you ingredients, Ilia's Super Serum Skin Tint is an excellent choice. And the mineral SPF 40 makes it even better.
Shades Available: 30
Skin Type: All
Best Skincare-Forward
MACRENE ACTIVES High Performance Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
- Firms aging skin
- Helps reduce the appearence of fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
This is as much a skincare product as it is a foundation. It's fortified with a bevy of plant-derived ingredients that support collagen synthesis, protect from environmental nasties, and brighten skin over time. "It wears nicely for 6-8 hours on my mature normal to dry skin, does not cling to dry patches and it does not settle into fine lines," says one reviewer. Another hails it as "one of the better investments in skincare I've made."
| Shades Available | 6 |
|---|---|
| Skin Type | Dry, Sensitive, Mature |
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Best Serum
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF 40/30
Pros
- Ultra-lightweight texture
- Broad shade range
Cons
It doesn't get more nourishing than Bobbi Brown's serum-powered foundation, which is loaded with a whopping 25 skincare ingredients including Cordyceps—a type of fungus that seriously glows up your skin—and Ginseng. Buildable and feather-light, the complexion booster does wonders at plumping, softening, and reducing the appearance of fine, dry lines for hours on end. Plus, its broad-spectrum UV filters help prevent skin-dulling sun damage, free radicals, pollution, and blue light. "It appears to float on my face, never sinking into fine lines, even around the eyes," says one reviewer, who calls it "perfect for aging skin."
Shades Available: 20+
Skin Type: Dry, Sensitive, Mature
Pros
- Buildable coverage
- Nourishing formula
Cons
Nars's sheer glow tells you what it is upfront. If you aren't looking for major coverage, but do want a bright and peppy complexion, this vitamin C and turmeric extract infused foundation will give you the boost you seek. "This is the only foundation that doesn't break me out or cause irritation on my super sensitive skin." attests one reviewer.
Shades Available: 40
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Mature
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Pros
- Non-drying matte formula
- Sweat- and humidity-proof
Cons
Tom Ford is a master of the flawless canvas, and this moisturizing, humidity-resisting complexion enhancer, which melts in like an imperfection-erasing second skin, does not disappoint. "I'm not in my 20's anymore, and I haven't found a foundation for my not so perfect skin, until now," writes one reviewer. "This has the consistency of a beauty balm, and just enough diffusion to look like my real skin only better!"
Shades Available: 40
Skin Type: All
Pros
- Hydrating formula
- Contains SPF
Cons
Yes, this foundation might be a splurge, but trust us, it's worth every penny. Infused with caviar extract, this luxuriously creamy foundation provides full coverage and a natural-looking finish that feels oh-so-nourishing and barely there. There's a matching concealer, too, that camouflages under-eye darkness and any imperfections along with the foundation. "Worth every penny!" one reviewer raves.
Shades Available: 7
Skin Type: Dry, Mature
| Shades Available | 7 |
|---|---|
| Skin Type | Dry, Mature |
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Pros
- Easy application
- Refillable
Cons
If your skin is on the drier side, reach for this foundation wand. Not only is the formulation self-setting and oil-free, but it's also ideal for a medium-to-full coverage with longwear capabilities. The foundation—hailed by several reviewers as "the best foundation I have ever used!—melts into the skin to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, which is especially crucial if you have want to make larger pores appear smaller. And the packaging? It's recyclable.
Shades Available: 20
Skin Type: All
Pros
- Blurs imperfections
- Nourishing formula
Cons
This foundation is so featherlight you might just forget you have any makeup on your face in the first place. It's loaded with a cocktail of skin-loving ingredients (hello, hyaluronic acid!) that leaves skin looking and feeling smooth, soft, and oh-so-radiant. "Glides on effortlessly like a second skin," raves one reviewer.
Shades Available: 22
Skin Type: All
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Pros
- Easy to blend
- Boosts complexion
Cons
Behold, a formula that truly rejuvenates skin and turns back the sands of time. This glow-inducing workhorse from Bobby Brown's buzzy brand is chock full of nourishing ingredients that makes mature skin ultra-healthy and youthful. "Lightweight for any skin type or age," writes one 70-7ear-old reviewer. "Lovely natural look and no caking."
Shades Available: 12
Skin Type: All
Roxanne Adamiyatt
Deputy Digital Lifestyle Director
Roxanne Adamiyatt is the Deputy Digital Lifestyle Director at Town & Country, spearheading style coverage for the web, with a focus on everything from fashion & accessories, jewelry, beauty & wellness, home & design, and even sometimes travel. In her role, Roxanne regularly contributes pieces for the print magazine, often on the intersection of social media and luxury. For example: the new class of watch influencers shifting the markets, and why some blondes are style mavens from beyond the grave. Previously, she held the role of senior digital editor from 2018-2022. Prior to her time at T&C, Roxanne was the beauty & fashion editor at Us Weekly, and before that, she was a beauty editor at InStyle.com/MIMI. A life-long New Yorker, Roxanne received her ungraduated degree from Barnard College and her MS from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When she’s not attending market appointments and writing about trends, you can find her scouring the internet (and thrift shops) for the very best vintage designer fashion to squeeze into her Manhattan closet and vintage furniture for her seemingly endless apartment decoration project, or researching the very best new age wellness treatments to try next. You can find Roxanne on Instagram and TikTok at the handle @roxanne_adamiyatt .
