Your skin changes as you get older, and so should your foundation. While you may have battled acne or oily skin in your 20s, you’re more likely to be dealing with dark spots, wrinkles and fine lines in your 40s, 50s, 60s and over. Overall, “your goal should be radiant, glowing skin,” says Erica Whelan, a makeup artist in New York City and Los Angeles. Seek out foundation formulas that are “not drying and light, fresh and sheer, with youth-enhancing ingredients when possible,” suggests Birgitte Philippides, a makeup artist in New York City.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab is constantly testing the latest foundation formulas, including foundations for oily skin, foundations for dry skin, full coverage foundations and of course, bases for mature skin. They range in formula from liquid, powder, stick, mineral and cream and are evaluated by Lab experts and professional makeup artists on factors like formula quality, application, finish and look and feel on skin. GH Beauty Lab scientists then tally hundred of data points to find the best foundations for mature skin on the market.
At the end of this guide you’ll find more information on how we test as well as pro tips on how to apply foundation on mature skin and what to look for when shopping. Check out the best anti-aging wrinkle creams and best concealers for before and after foundation.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer SPF 50+
BEST OVERALL FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN
From our partners:
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer SPF 50+
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Contains anti-aging ingredients * Feels moisturizing * Smooth coverage | * Pricey |
Infused with 10 botanical oils and plumping hyaluronic acid, the GH Beauty Lab test-winning IT Cosmetics tinted cream goes on like a moisturizer, leaving skin soft and glowy. It’s also packed with SPF 50 to protect your face from the sun — the best anti-aging defense of all! It beat 29 other foundations the Beauty Lab’s test and earned the only perfect score for smooth-looking coverage. Makeup artist evaluators found it was one of the best formulas for mature skin.
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation SPF 50
BEST VALUE FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation SPF 50
Now 19% Off
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Lightweight radiant finish * Won’t settle into wrinkles * Effectively moisturizes |
Created especially for mature skin, this serum foundation from L’Oréal Paris effectively perfects, hydrates and protects skin with a high level SPF.
In studies, 83% of women said the lightweight, radiant finish formula doesn’t settle into lines or wrinkles and it improved skin hydration eight hours after application thanks to moisturizers like hyaluronic acid.
Lancôme Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation
BEST TINTED MOISTURIZER FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN
Lancôme Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Softens skin * Good coverage * Gives a glow | *Pricey |
This Lancôme tinted moisturizer with hyaluronic acid feels like a silky, rich cream on skin, not makeup and is one of GH’s beauty director’s go-to picks. “It provides the perfect amount of coverage, hiding spots and discoloration without settling into lines or caking, and gives skin a natural-looking youthful glow,” she explains.
CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless Foundation
BEST CREAM FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN
CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless Foundation
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Made with moisturizer * Lightweight and blendable * Affordably-priced |
With Olay moisturizer swirled right in, this CoverGirl cream compact foundation is the ultimate product for a one-step face. While some cream formulas can feel heavy and cakey, this GH Seal star and Beauty Award winner is lightweight while still offering great coverage. It’s even pigmented enough to double as a concealer. GH Beauty Lab pros like that it feels velvety and blends flawlessly, and the packaging makes it great for keeping in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups.
Mary Kay TimeWise Luminous 3D Foundation
BEST FOUNDATION FOR MATURE WRINKLED SKIN
Mary Kay TimeWise Luminous 3D Foundation
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Contains anti-aging ingredients * Smooths lines * Makes skin look luminous | |
A GH Beauty Award winner and Good Housekeeping Seal star, Mary Kay’s creamy medium- to full-coverage foundation delivers hydrating and anti-aging effects via ingredients like softening vitamin E, radiance-enhancing niacinamide and smoothing peptides. In a study, over 90% of testers found that it smoothed the look of lines after one week of use and gave skin a luminous finish instantly, per Lab analysis.
HD Skin Foundation
BEST NATURAL FINISH FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN
HD Skin Foundation
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Top stores for spreading easily, absorbing quickly and blending easily * Lasts throughout the day * Lightweight | * May not cover acne scars completely |
When we tested this best-seller in our Lab, it lived up to it’s name receiving top scores for leaving skin smooth, spreading easily, absorbing quickly and blending easily. “The name ‘HD skin undetectable’ is fitting because the foundation has a very light, fresh texture and undetectable feeling on skin,” says Chiara Butler, Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst. Testers love that it lasts all day and is buildable. Most were able to cover acne scars although some had to use concealer. “Fantastic product, feels luxurious, light but good coverag,” adds Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek.
Armani Beauty Power Fabric Compact Cream Foundation Balm
BEST FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN WITH LARGE PORES
Armani Beauty Power Fabric Compact Cream Foundation Balm
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
* Full coverage to hide pores * Includes sponge and mirror | * Pricey |
Giorgio Armani‘s luxurious foundation balm glides over skin to give full satiny coverage that blurs pores, redness, spots and uneven texture. “This formula really hides everything yet feels silky on skin,” GH’s beauty director says. Plus, the compact comes with an applicator sponge and a mirror for touch-ups on the go.
Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting CC Cream
BEST FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN AND DARK SPOTS
Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting CC Cream
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| * Reduces dark spots * Effectively hydrates skin |
The best hydrator of the GH Beauty Lab’s CC cream test, this GH Seal-holding sheer tinted Olay formula improved skin over time, too, including dark spots. According to Lab measurements, it moisturized better than any other CC cream tested, increasing hydration levels by 36% over six hours, and minimized the appearance of brown spots and pores over four weeks.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector SPF 20
BEST ANTI-AGING FOUNDATION FOR MATURE SKIN
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector SPF 20
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| * Contains smoothing retinol * Softening sheer tint * Good value |
A skincare and makeup hybrid, Neutrogena’s sheer tint is blended with the star anti-aging ingredient retinol, which smooths skin over time. The formula has over 9,000 five-star reviews on Amazon: True to its name, one reviewer said “my skin looked healthier than the day before.”
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