These Hydrating Foundations Are Expert-Approved for Mature Skin (2024)

Makeup artist Bobbi Brown is known for giving the best makeup tips for women over 45, and she swears by the Jones Road What the Foundation for mature skin. “It’s like a tinted moisture balm, but it adds coverage to most places where you need it,” Brown explained. “It has beautiful oils infused in it and it gives a nice glowy finish that will absorb into the skin because it’s an oil.”

What a reviewer says: “I love how this foundation looks on my skin! I’m 52 ...Other foundations just get stuck in those line creases and make you look so old and dried out. This foundation is lightweight for someone who wants to continue to look low maintenance but still youthful and toned. I love the slight shimmer.”

This affordable drugstore find is a favorite of Marisa Garshick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in NYC. “In addition to offering SPF coverage, this product also includes pro-retinol Vitamin A as well as vitamin C, helping to improve the appearance of skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles,” she notes. The formula is also very hydrating which makes it comfortable to wear, better for your skin, and effective at concealing the visible signs of aging.

What a reviewer says: “I’ve been using this foundation for several years now. I have aging skin and I’ll tell you the stuff really covers well, but doesn’t settle into the nooks and crannies of your face to make you look older. It goes on smoothly and stays on all day. Highly recommend!”

“This foundation incorporates a blend of hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, vitamin E and B5 making it good for all skin types, but especially those with dry skin,” explains Dr. Garshick. “It helps to deliver long-lasting [hydration] while providing buildable coverage, improving the overall complexion.” The skin-loving ingredients in addition to the beautiful finish it leaves on the skin make this foundation a total game-changer for all skin types, including those with mature skin.

What a reviewer says: “Wow! I seldom write a review, but I received this foundation recently and I love it! I am mature and have fair/medium skin, pinkish undertones which is also dry. What I love is that it gives a natural skin finish that is lightweight but I was able to get medium coverage that looks natural... It smooths out imperfections without looking heavy or dry.”

Looking for a great budget option? Celebrity makeup artist Emily Gray recommends Catrice’s True Skin Hydrating Foundation. “[It’s] super hydrating and lightweight (won’t fall into those wrinkles!). It has hyaluronic acid to help maintain hydration throughout the day as well—great for those with dry, mature skin,” she says. “It gives a beautiful natural finish to the skin and it’s a great affordable foundation option at only $10.”

What a reviewer says: “Wow! It does feel like my skin! You can build the coverage which I like. A little goes a long way. Doesn’t settle into my 50-year-old lines and wrinkles and my pores are well hidden. For $10, this is my new go to, no more searching. Love it!”

If you’re looking for a foundation that also doubles as sunscreen, try this pick from Shiseido, which makeup artist Randall Intrabartola recommends for its “long-wearing medium coverage formula that looks fresh all day and won’t settle into lines.” In addition to offering broad-spectrum SPF 30, the weightless formula is also waterproof, humidity-resistant, and transfer-resistant to help maintain a flawless finish that lasts 24 hours.

What a reviewer says: “Holy grail [product]. Doesn’t crease or settle in fine lines. I’m 46 with my fair share of wrinkles and texture. This foundation is smoothing with just the right amount of glow. Absolutely recommend for mature skin.”

Makeup artist Laura Geller herself says this foundation is “perfect for mature skin,” thanks to its hydrating formula with skin-nourishing ingredients like like jojoba seed oil, antioxidants, and other botanical extracts. In fact, the product is the first-ever beauty product to receive a Seal of Recognition from the National Psoriasis Foundation—and it’s also been accepted by the National Rosacea Society—making it a great choice for sensitive skin. Plus, it comes in a weightless powder form that’s buildable and easy to apply.

What a reviewer says: “I’m 68 years old and way past fighting with liquid concealer and foundation. Blending it right, then it feeling heavy on my face, seeping into face wrinkles, and never looking natural. I was shocked by the results after just the first application. Now it takes me just a few short minutes to feel like I’ve spent a lot of time getting ready.”

This foundation is especially great for those with dry skin. According to the brand, its skin-nourishing formula mimics the hydrating effect of a sheet mask to moisturize, plump, and brighten skin. “[This is a] really thin foundation that gives a sheer to medium coverage to mature skin types,” Gray says. “It’s also water-based so you know it’s both going to be really thin and hydrating. As an added bonus, it visibly plumps and brightens the skin, another plus for mature skin types.”

What a reviewer says: “Best foundation ever for dry skin...This foundation works so well with my mature skin! It’s the perfect balance of coverage without caking. It is also so hydrating! Makes my skin look very healthy.”

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost line is the real deal. We already know that Kerry Washington is a fan of the brand's Multi-Use Balm, but the hydrating tint cannot be overlooked either. Dr. Garshick recommends this formula because it “contains hyaluronic acid to help boost moisture, leaving the skin looking smooth and refreshed,” she explains. “Additionally, it is oil-free, making it a good option for those who may be dealing with dry skin as well as breakouts.”

What a reviewer says: “I’m over 50, have combo skin and also cystic acne on my chin—so it's been almost impossible to find a foundation that doesn’t break me out, doesn’t dry my skin out, doesn’t settle in wrinkles and also covers my blemishes...This product finally achieves all of the above! It’s oil-free but still manages to hydrate my skin and goes on—and stays—smooth and natural looking...And at a drugstore price you just can’t beat it. Highly recommend!”

This hydrating, lightweight foundation from Dior can be applied on both your face and body, offering buildable medium coverage that evens the skin for a natural, luminous look. “Infused with plant-derived squalane and hyaluronic acid, this non-comedogenic, ultra-fine texture liquid foundation comes in 43 shades and blends seamlessly with the skin,” says Dr. Camp.

What a reviewer says: “I have mature skin and find this foundation to be moisturizing without looking oily or too dewy. It doesn’t settle into my fine lines or feel heavy. I’ve been a fan of this formula for quite a few years. I’ve tried many others, both more and less expensive, but always seem to return to this product.”

Specifically formulated for mature skin (and also suitable for sensitive skin), the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation helps even skin tone with a natural, radiant coverage—while also providing SPF 50 sun protection. “[This is] a beautiful lightweight serum foundation that feels more like skincare than foundation,” explains Intrabartola. “It provides a light to medium coverage and won't accentuate lines or wrinkles.” It's no wonder it boasts over 12,500 five-star ratings on Amazon.

What a reviewer says: “I've bought too many foundations that dry out my skin or settle into my wrinkles. This is one of the better foundations that does wonders for my 67 year old skin. The foundation doesn’t dry out the skin and doesn’t settle into fine lines. I can even use it without a primer! It's that good.”

If you have a skin type that’s more on the oily side, this long-wearing, full-coverage foundation from Fenty is a great pick. It provides a soft-matte, shine-free finish with climate-adaptive technology to fight off heat, sweat, and shine, leaving skin with a visibly smooth and diffused look. The lightweight formula is also non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores. And did we mention it comes in over a whopping 52 shades?

What a reviewer says: “This foundation is insane, I couldn’t believe how seamlessly it blended in with my skin. I am very oily but this foundation kept the shine at bay and also layered amazingly well with my other makeup. This will be my go-to foundation from now on whenever I feel up to doing a full face. Blends in seamlessly with a makeup sponge.”

This formula is a favorite of Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Blighlighter and Bloss. “It leaves a dewy finish and is also formulated with hydrating and brightening ingredients—perfect for mature skin!” she says. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide, and light-diffusing minerals to not only help with skin health but conceal wrinkles.

What a reviewer says: “Flawless coverage... The coverage is outstanding, but not thick and cakey. I can use it as foundation and concealer. And I’m covering sensitivity redness and eczema, big time. This is the best foundation I've ever tried, and at 41, I’ve tried many.”

This foundation “is formulated to instantly blur blemishes and imperfections, and is super hydrating which prevents it from settling into wrinkles,” says Greenberg. The hypoallergenic, full-coverage formula is available in loads of shades and can be used as a concealer, too. In fact, it comes with a handy dual applicator: You can use the doe foot applicator to conceal blemishes and dark spots, or use the traditional pump for buildable, all-over coverage.

What a reviewer says: “BEST foundation I’ve worn! I’m 51-years-old, so it’s asking a lot for makeup to enhance and not highlight flaws. Doesn’t sit in wrinkles, goes on smooth, coverage is amazing with just a light coat of it. I use two small drops and get great coverage on my entire face… A little goes a long way.”

If you’re up for splurging on a truly quality foundation, Intrabartola recommends this formula from La Mer. “Packed with skin-loving ingredients, this foundation looks incredible on the skin, provides a medium coverage, and is sweat-resistant,” she notes. It boasts a weightless, silky formula that provides SPF 20 protection, offers buildable coverage, and visibly diminishes pores and imperfections for a smooth, natural finish.

What a reviewer says: I am in LOVE! My over-48 year old skin has never looked so good! I have very sensitive, dry, freckled pale skin, and this foundation makes my skin soft and luminous... This is well worth the money!”

✔️Go for hydration. All of the experts agree that it’s best to opt for hydrating formulas. Why? Mature skin tends to be more dry as a result of reduced sebum production, explains Dr. Camp—meaning it can benefit from ingredients that hydrate and moisturize skin, such as hyaluronic acids, ceramides, squalane, and triglycerides.

✔️Choose a lightweight, dewy formula. “The best type of formulation for mature skin is lightweight, so it won’t sink into any creases, wrinkles, or fine lines,” says Gray. “Mature skin is thin as well, so the more lightweight the formulation, the more comfortable on the skin.” Additionally, opt for foundations with a dewy finish rather than matte, which can “help restore some moisture to the skin and help it appear plumper and more youthful,” explains Dr. Camp.

✔️Look for sun protection. “While using sunscreen is an essential part of any skincare routine, if a foundation has sunscreen in it, it can provide an added bonus,” Dr. Garshick notes. If you’re out and about, and the sun is shining, you need SPF—no matter your age or skin type.

✔️Consider your skin type. You’ll also want to look for formulas that suit your specific skin type. If you’re struggling with dull skin, for example, you may want to look for a brightening formula and/or a formula with vitamin C. For oily skin, oil-free formulas that blur imperfections work well. And those with dry skin and/or prominent fine lines should search for ultra-hydrating and dewy foundations.

“The type of foundation that is best for not settling into wrinkles is going to be more lightweight and thin,” says Gray. So, you should ideally look for formulas with a light, weightless texture that seamlessly absorbs into your skin.

Another way to help prevent foundation from creasing into your wrinkles and fine lines is to prep your skin with hydrating products before applying the foundation—like a good face primer for mature skin, which can help “create a barrier between any wrinkles and the foundation,” says Gray.

“Skin prep and setting your makeup is the best way to prevent the foundation from settling into lines and wrinkles,” adds Intrabartola. “Start with a good hydrating moisturizer... then finish your makeup by using a finely milled setting powder only on the areas where you are concerned with creasing.”

According to our experts, a foundation with a dewy finish is typically more ideal for mature skin. “Mature skin tends to be more dry as a result of reduced sebum production,” explains Dr. Camp. “Dewy foundation products may restore some moisture to the skin and help it appear plumper and more youthful.” Greenberg also recommends “something with a glowy or dewy finish” as “many people with mature skin struggle with dullness,” she says.

Matte finish formulations are typically not recommended for mature skin, as they can “look cakey on the skin and will accentuate texture, lines and wrinkles,” notes Intrabartola. However, if you do have oily skin or acne-prone skin, you may opt for a foundation with a matte finish which can help “reduce shine and help absorb excess oil,” says Dr. Camp.