Don't Settle—We Found the Best Foundations for Mature Skin That Won't Settle Into Fine Lines and Pores (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 36 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Michele’s primary skin concerns are redness, under-eye dark circles, and wrinkles.

One-Month Review: Michele loved the look and feel of this foundation. One pump was enough to provide ample coverage without any heaviness or caking. The formula had a nice smooth texture, and Michele didn’t need to layer in additional moisturizers; the formula was hydrating enough on its own.

Three-Month Review: After using this foundation three times a week over three months, Michele considered it her go-to foundation. She loved the lightweight feel and impressive coverage and awarded it bonus points for including SPF 25.

Overall Thoughts: This foundation is our top pick for just about anyone with mature skin. Its smooth, blendable formula (containing 96% natural origin ingredients) provides medium coverage that minimizes pores and vanishes blemishes. Plus, it’s infused with a plethora of skincare ingredients, including hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane, and radiance-boosting caffeine and niacinamide.

Michele, product tester: "This foundation feels very light on my skin while still providing great, smooth coverage. Given the SPF, I've been applying it without using a moisturizer first and my skin still feels smooth and hydrated."

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 36 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Ivy’s main skin concerns are under-eye dark circles and large pores.

One-Month Review: Ivy initially thought the foundation was a little too lightweight compared to the full-coverage formulas she usually gravitates toward. That being said, she liked its blendability, pore-blurring effects, and how it effortlessly melted into her skin.

Three-Month Review:Ivy used this foundation twice a week when she wanted to look polished but not “done up.” Because it’s so light and serum-like, she would recommend it to “anyone who lives in a beachy location with a low-maintenance makeup routine but who likes luxury brands.”

Overall Thoughts: If your mature skin tends to be dry, this serum-y foundation is a good option. It’s weightless and won’t settle into lines and wrinkles while also providing buildable coverage with a natural skin look. We also love that it includes hyaluronic acid for hydration and ceramides to support skin barrier function.

Nikki, product tester in lab: "The foundation was not patchy at all. It did not cling to any areas of my face. I did not notice any creasing on my forehead, nasolabial folds, or chin where product will typically crease. I was also pleased that the foundation did not crease in the fine lines I have around my eyes."

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 21 | Finish: Natural/radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Carrie’s main skin concerns are wrinkles, under-eye dark circles, redness around the nose, and dry skin.

One-Month Review: Carrie quickly dubbed this her “new favorite makeup product.” She appreciated that it functions as a foundation or concealer, covering dark spots and freckles effortlessly without feeling too heavy on the skin. She also liked the stick design, which was easy to travel with.

Three-Month Review: After using this foundation four days a week for three months, Carrie couldn’t say enough good things about it. She was impressed with the level of coverage and how easy it was to use.

Overall Thoughts: This luxurious formula is ideal for those who want medium-to-full coverage. The stick aids targeted application to conceal redness and hyperpigmentation, and it blends and spreads easily with help from a brush. The addition of squalane provides much-needed moisture for mature skin and camellia seed oil helps protect against environmental pollutants.

Sunita, product tester in lab: "The foundation blended well into my skin. It looked seamless and felt comfortable on my skin. It visibly evens your skin tone while building moisture giving you an enhanced look."

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 43 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Masego’s primary skin concerns are dryness, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.

One-Month Review: Masego found this foundation quick and easy to apply and praised its lightweight, natural finish. It was also a major asset in the fight against hyperpigmentation. “I sometimes need to apply a lot of product to cover up the dark patches on my cheeks, and I find that I do not need a lot of this foundation to get decent coverage,” Masego said.

Three-Month Review: Masego felt that this foundation made her skin look beautiful. It’s very lightweight, does not clog pores, and leaves her skin feeling moisturized.

Overall Thoughts: With its super-lightweight, liquid consistency and effortless blendability, buildable coverage, and gorgeous, natural-looking finish, this foundation is an all-around pleasure to use. It’s also easy to blend and build, which makes it great for concealing dark spots and redness.

Eli, product tester in lab: "This was the best foundation I have used in my life. All I had to do was an application of one layer, and my face looked as if I had it done professionally. Every person in the room also noticed the quick change. It covered my acne with such ease and smoothed out the skin texture. It was also glorious to discover the redness gone. I no longer had red patches under my nose and on my chin. It even covered the dark circles under my eyes with amazing results."

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 10 | Finish: Luminous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Jordan’s primary skin concerns were large pores and uneven skin tone.

One-Month Review: The lightweight consistency of this formula suited Jordan’s preferences perfectly. She found that it evened out her skin tone, felt light and clean going on, and smoothed out well with a sponge applicator.

Three-Month Review: Jordan was happy with this foundation but did stress that she had to prep her skin before applying it. “As with any foundation, I really need to exfoliate first, or it highlights any dry skin. I also like to put on a primer to smooth over my pores so that the foundation does not sit in them,” she said.

Overall Thoughts: Formulated with a moisturizing blend of jojoba oil, olive squalane, and shea butter, this foundation hydrates the skin without crossing over into greasy or heavy territory.

Sydney, product tester in lab: "I have dry postmenopausal skin with a lot of fine lines and some wrinkles, and there was no settling into the lines or wrinkles. The product made my fine lines and the pores on and around my nose less obvious. It improved the look of my skin but didn't look artificial or 'masky.'"

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 60 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Chrissy’s main skin concerns are redness, dryness around nose, oily forehead, and under-eye puffiness.

One-Month Review: Chrissy noted that this foundation was so weightless that it “doesn't feel like I even have makeup on.” It blended seamlessly, covered effectively, was a perfect match for her skin, and stayed looking fresh all day long.

Three-Month Review: After using this foundation every day for three months, Chrissy was sold on its ability to keep her skin looking smooth and matte from morning until evening. Her complexion never looked oily or slick during the testing period.

Overall Thoughts: If you have oily or combination skin, this mattifying formula is for you. It will keep your complexion sheen-free without being overly drying, and it won’t budge with sweat or humidity either.

Chrissy, product tester: “I absolutely love this foundation and love getting compliments on it."

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40 | Finish: Natural/luminous | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Martha’s main skin concerns are wrinkles and age spots.

One-Month Review: Martha said this product felt surprisingly lightweight, considering the thorough coverage it provided. It blended seamlessly into her skin, making wrinkles appear smoother.

Three-Month Review: By month three, Martha liked this foundation so much that she planned on buying another bottle. Her only complaint was that the formula dries fast, making it tricky to blend.

Overall Thoughts: This buildable, medium-coverage foundation covers dark spots and blemishes effortlessly without being so heavy that it accentuates lines and wrinkles. Glycerin provides a welcome dose of hydration, while Armani’s signature blurring formula improves the look of skin texture and tone for a flawless finish.

Martha, product tester: “I love the way my skin looks and feels. There’s no cakiness or creases that appear from the other age/wrinkle foundations I have tried.”

Coverage: Medium, sheer | Shade Range: 10 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Kseniya’s main skin concerns are occasional breakouts and under-eye dark circles.

One-Month Review: Kseniya appreciated that the Nars online color matching tool, which recommends a shade based on your current foundation, worked perfectly. Her foundation was an exact match for her skin tone and provided lightweight, long-lasting, blendable, and buildable coverage.

Three-Month Review: Kseniya was impressed with this Nars foundation, noting that “it provides nice coverage, gives the skin a nice glow, and is totally weightless.” She also recommended it as a good winter foundation because it did a good job of covering patches of dryness without contributing to the issue.

Overall Thoughts: This fan-favorite foundation does it all: blurring fine lines, smoothing skin texture, and concealing dark spots and redness. What’s more, it promises to improve skin clarity and condition over time thanks to the inclusion of soothing biomimetic oats, blue light-blocking cacao peptides, and anti-inflammatory milk thistle.

Kseniya, product tester: "You really see the value of it in the cooler weather as it does give my skin a healthy 'glow' for lack of a better word, and provides great coverage without drying it out. It has a nice dewy finish."

Coverage: Light | Shades: 22 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Holly’s main skin concerns are wrinkles, dark circles, redness, and large pores.

One-Month Review: Holly was impressed with this foundation’s thorough coverage that lasts all day and needs minimal touch ups. It went on smoothly no matter what tool was used to apply it, and the finish was noticeably dewy.

Three-Month Review: After using the foundation regularly for three months, Holly was impressed with its ability to reduce the look of fine lines and creases around her eyes. The dewy formula was another huge plus, especially in the dead of winter. “I've noticed that my normal dry skin patches are not showing up like they typically do around this time of year,” Holly said.

Overall Thoughts: If you’re looking for a foundation that will feel moisturizing and leave your complexion dewy, this one from Makeup Forever is a great choice. It’s formulated with moisturizing glycerin and ginseng, which can help with collagen production, and the lightweight, water-rich texture is incredibly soft and hydrating.

Holly, product tester: "This product does reduce the look of fine lines and creasing under and around the eyes and in the brow area. It's great for dry skin but is not overly oily either."

Coverage: Full | Shades: 40 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester, Cecilia, was looking for light coverage that wasn’t too noticeable.

One-Month Review: Cecilia finds most foundations too drying for her skin, so she was pleasantly surprised to find that this formula from Gucci manages to be light and moisturizing. “It glides on like butter and doesn't have a sticky feel, yet doesn't dry out my typically dry skin,” she said.

Three-Month Review: This foundation became Cecilia’s “going out” go-to. It made her skin radiant enough to render her usual highlighter obsolete. Although the formula is more expensive than she would have liked, she believes it’s worth the splurge.

Overall Thoughts: Formulated with hyaluronic acid and black rose oil to moisturize, as well as bamboo powder to absorb shine, this foundation is a great option for people with mature skin who prefer a matte finish.

Stephanie, product tester in lab: "The coverage was noticeable immediate and astounding. The foundation itself applied easily and covered darker areas like my under-eyes quickly—with just one layer of the product. It covered my uneven skin tone and texture beautifully."

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Michelle’s primary skin concerns are wrinkles and under-eye circles.

One-Month Review: Michelle called this a good day-to–day foundation. It has a nice natural finish and does a decent job of evening out the complexion, but for events that require more complete coverage this formula was too lightweight, in her opinion.

Three-Month Review: This is the foundation Michelle says she reaches for on days when she wants more of a no-makeup makeup look. It has a nice matte finish and lasts well throughout the day.

Overall Thoughts: Infused with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamins E and B5, this lightweight foundation soothes and moisturizes the skin throughout the day. Although it’s billed as medium coverage, we would describe this as more of a tinted moisturizer, suitable for those who prefer a more natural-looking finish.

Coverage: Full | Shades: 35 | Finish: Soft matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Kimberly’s primary skin concerns are discoloration, fine lines, dark under-eye circles, and dry skin.

One-Month Review: This foundation struck a great balance between lightweight enough that it doesn't crease but substantial enough to mask fine lines and pores. Kimberly praised the formula for its buildable coverage, saying: “I can wear a lighter skim coat on weekends and other days where I want minimal coverage, and build that layer up whenever I want a full finished-face look.”

Three-Month Review: At the three-month mark, Kimberly declared herself “obsessed” with this blendable, buildable foundation, noting: “It goes on so smoothly and gives me good coverage when I feel like I'm not having a great skin day.”

Overall Thoughts: If you’re looking for a foundation that will last all day long and that you can rely on during a special event, we highly recommend checking out this one from Chanel. Its buildable formula provides flawless, crease-resistant coverage with serious staying power.

Kimberly, product tester: "I would definitely recommend the foundation to friends and family. It's soft and silky and gives a pore-refining finish that works well to eliminate blemishes and dark spots."

Coverage: Light | Shades: 30 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Nellah’s skin concerns are fine lines, dark circles, and age spots.

One-Month Review: Nellah used this foundation five to six days a week and was pleased with its even coverage and staying power. It was lightweight and applied smoothly. Despite ordering the product online, she even managed to get a great color match for her skin.

Three-Month Review: Nellah was impressed with this foundation after three months of consistent wear. It provided a smooth and even-toned finish that was never cakey, and it wore really well throughout the day.

Overall Thoughts: This budget-friendly option is a good all-rounder for mature skin. Formulated with niacinamide and glycerin to hydrate and soothe, its serum-y texture provides lightweight coverage for a natural finish. And for those dealing with sun damage, SPF 50 is a welcome addition.

Nellah, product tester: "I've been very pleased with it. It doesn't cake, my skin looks and feels smooth, and it lasts all day."

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 27 | Finish: Natural-looking radiance | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Emily’s main skin concerns are redness and fine lines.

One-Month Review: Emily liked that this foundation could be layered in areas where she needed more opaque coverage without it feeling heavy or greasy. It looked great on, allowing some of her skin's “natural luminosity to show through,” and she appreciated that it included SPF, which saved her an additional skincare step.

Three-Month Review: After using the foundation for three months, Emily noticed that one pump was the perfect amount, providing solid coverage that didn’t settle into forehead lines.

Overall Thoughts: Who doesn’t love a makeup product with skincare benefits? This foundation contains cordyceps, a medicinal mushroom shown to protect skin from oxidative stress that leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, improving the look of your complexion over time. It’s also full of emollients (which trap moisture on the skin) and humectants (which pull moisture from the air to the skin’s surface) to keep skin looking radiant and dewy for up to 12 hours.

Mandy, product tester in lab: "The coverage was good. It was buildable without feeling heavy like I was putting on layers and layers of foundation. I am usually self-conscious with my red cheeks but this foundation did a good job covering it."

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 28 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Jodi’s main skin concerns are hyperpigmentation and under-eye dark circles.

One-Month Review: On first impressions, this foundation felt very light for a full-coverage option. Jodi applied it using her fingertips, noting that it seemed to “melt” into her skin and didn’t feel heavy at all. “I also love that there is an SPF. I know I need to wear sunscreen daily but unless it’s in my make up or skin care products, I'm bad about including it,” she added.

Three-Month Review: After using this foundation every day for three months, Jodi was pleased with how lightweight it felt, how easy it was to apply, and how good it made her complexion look. “I don't even feel like I'm wearing any makeup and I think it looks great,” she said.

Overall Thoughts: A full-coverage foundation can be too heavy for dry skin types. This formula combats the issue with a plethora of skincare ingredients, including chia seed extract to condition, jojoba oil to hydrate, and SPF 45 to protect against UV damage that can increase dryness.

Jodi, product tester: "I would absolutely recommend this. I don't even feel like I'm wearing any makeup, and I think it looks great and have even gotten a couple of compliments about my skin on days I have worn it."

FAQ

• How do you apply foundation for mature skin?

  When it comes to mature or aging skin, Patinkin says it's best to use a patting or tapping motion to achieve a flawless application. “The stretching and tugging that can happen when using fingers or a brush can not only accelerate the further breakdown of collagen and elastin, but when the skin stretches during application, it will naturally bounce back in place and carry the makeup with it," she says. "This is what causes creasing and settling."

• Is mineral foundation good for mature skin?

  Patinkin suggests avoiding foundations with mineral-based formulas if you have mature skin. “They tend to have a heavier level of coverage and a higher powder content, both of which can end up accentuating the age-related changes we want to camouflage, such as enlarged pores or fine lines.”