10 best foundations for mature skin, tried and tested by a beauty editor in her 40s
GETTING older may be a privilege, but sometimes it feels like someone needs to tell that to our faces.
The texture of our complexions naturally changes as we age, and you should alter your approach to your make-up base accordingly.
Finding the best foundation for mature skin is as easy as considering your skin’s current needs.
When you were younger, your skin likely had few or very different requirements, but over time, the production of the proteins that keep skin youthfully smooth, plump, and firm (collagen and elastin) drops.
As a result, skin loses its firmness, and fine lines and wrinkles begin to form.
So it goes without saying the best type of foundation for your skin is an advanced formulation that works to plump the skin and blur the look of these visible signs of ageing.
Next-generation formulas can do just that. They work even harder for the skin because they’re supercharged with skincare ingredients, so they don’t noticeably draw attention to imperfections. Additionally, sticking to lighter to medium coverage will help.
Skin also produces less oil as we get older, so our complexions naturally become drier, dehydrated and dull. Choosing hydrating formulas with radiance or dewy finishes will help you restore your youthful glow. Satin finishes also work well, striking a good balance between a dewy and matte finish.
Confused? Don’t be. We’ve done the hard work for you, finding the best foundations that address these typical signs of ageing.
Add one of these to your make-up routine and you’ll be rewarded with the most flawless finish. Get ready to put your best face forward…
Best foundations for mature skin at a glance:
- Best overall: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
- Best value: Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Perfector 4-in-1 Glow Makeup
- Best mid-range: No7 Restore & Renew Serum Foundation SPF30
- Best premium: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £35.88 from Look Fantastic
Pros: Flawless finish, radiance-boosting
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
A modern beauty icon, this foundation is still a staple in the cosmetic bags of beauty editors and elite make-up artists, because 24 years after its launch, it’s like no other.
It achieves the impossible, combining a truly flawless, radiant and even coverage without any heaviness or caking on all types of complexions. Thus, I’ve gone through many bottles, coming back to it time and time again.
The formula is a true medium coverage you can build a little fuller to hide redness, dark spots and even blemishes without it looking noticeable.
And the finish is just like it says on the bottle, delivering a healthy (but not over the top) dose of luminosity to the skin.
What also sets this foundation apart for me is the feel of the coverage. Enriched with skin-loving glycerin for hydration, it’s weightless on the skin and beautifully silky soft to the touch.
Plus, I’m also giving it full marks for longevity. I don’t need powder on top to make it last all-day.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Medium, Finish: Radiant, Shades: 36, SPF: No
Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation
Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation, £34 from Sephora
Pros: Feels like second skin, natural finish
Cons: Not for those who want to conceal imperfections
Rating: 4.5/5
With a beauty philosophy that revolves around enhancing natural beauty and not covering it up, it’s no surprise Glossier’s foundation is an 89 per cent skincare-led formulation that imparts breathable, natural-looking coverage.
It’s an innovative formulation that works especially well on mature skin because each pigment is coated in amino acids.
In simple terms, this means it fuses with your skin and flexes with its texture so it never sits in lines or creases, always looking impeccable.
For daywear, I like to buff a little veil over my complexion for coverage that looks like a better version of my skin: one that oozes a healthy glow.
And when I feel like I need a little more to reduce redness and soften dark spots, I build it up to a medium coverage with the help of a buffing brush.
Going back to its whopping skincare infusion, it’s the nourishment it also gives the skin that makes it a top pick for dry, mature skin. Hydration comes courtesy of squalane and glycerin packed in the formula that feels like a drink for thirsty skin.
The formula is also teamed with plant extracts that control shine, so you’ll find there’s no chance of it going patchy or having to top up during the day. You can expect it to last the day like it always does for me.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Light to medium, Finish: Dewy, Shades: 32, SPF: No
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, £50 from John Lewis
Pros: Hydrating formula, glow finish
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 4.5/5
It’ll come as no surprise that Chanel has a collection of first-class foundations, but this lightweight, glow-inducing coverage is a standout for mature skin, which naturally loses radiance over time.
It’s a medium coverage that I’d say sits on the lighter side. I need very little of the silky formula to even my skin tone and deliver luminosity thanks to magical, light-reflecting powders infused in the foundation.
However, on days when I do need a little more to neutralise imperfections it seamlessly layers to a medium coverage — still staying flawlessly natural looking.
It doesn’t sit in my fine lines or pores, thanks to polymer tech that fills them in and creates a smooth canvas — a little like a built-in primer. And, it stays put until I take it off in the evening.
With glycerol packed into the formula, it defends against dryness too, keeping the skin comfortably hydrated.
It comes in a wide range of shades, so there’s a bottle suitable for all skin tones.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Light-Medium, Finish: Satin, Shades: 41, SPF: No
Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid Foundation
Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid Foundation, £40 from Boots
Pros: Radiant skin, silky texture, added SPF
Cons: Can’t vouch for firming claims, lack of darker shades
Rating: 4/5
Made especially with mature skin in mind, this is another radiance-boosting foundation that aims to restore the skin’s youthful glow — both instantly with pigmented coverage and over time with added skincare.
The first thing you notice about this formulation is its creamy, silky texture and how well it glides over the skin, blends and builds. I was left with such a natural, soft-focus finish — both blurring the look of lines and supplying luminosity to the skin.
It balances redness with little coverage and doesn’t completely conceal dark spots, but rather softens the look of them. It keeps skin looking ‘real’ without any heaviness or noticeable cover-up, too.
A combination of plant extracts and hydrating actives work together to plump, nourish and protect the skin, making it feel like skincare rather than a typical foundation to me; it’s super light, breathable and ultra-comfortable.
Plus, with added antioxidants and SPF15 to protect the skin from environmental factors like pollution and the sun’s rays, it ticks so many boxes.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Medium, Finish: Satin, Shades: 24, SPF: 15
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF20, from £38.50
Pros: Large shade selection, mattifying and radiance-boosting
Cons: Oily T-zones will still need powder
Rating: 4/5
This bestselling foundation for Clinique is ideal for combination or oily skin types, as its satin matte finish leaves behind an all-over radiance, as well as keeping shine at bay where needed.
Clinique calls it full coverage, but I’d say it’s more of a medium that you can build up easily for those days when you need a little extra, without it looking heavy or caking.
What makes this foundation stand out is the serum component of the formula. The skincare-coverage hybrid has been infused with a cocktail of skin-loving superstars, including hydration-boosting hyaluronic acid, brightening vitamin C and salicylic acid for gentle exfoliation.
This means the radiance it gives isn’t just cosmetic. With ongoing use, the antioxidants work to reduce the look of dark spots as well as protect your skin from further hyperpigmentation.
While I can’t vouch for it lasting the 24 hours it promises (as who really needs it to last that long?), I can say from morning to evening it stayed almost flawless. Its longevity is another big plus point.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Full, Finish: Satin matte, Shades: 42, SPF: 20
Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation
Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation, £27 from QVC
Pros: Powder fit for mature skin, neutralises redness
Cons: Not widely available
Rating: 4/5
A much-loved baked powder foundation from across the pond, this is by US make-up artist Laura Geller whose beauty brand is not as mainstream here in the UK as it is in the US. Yet, you’ll find a top selection at QVC, including this bestseller.
I should first state that I’m not a fan of powder foundations, as I find most of them too drying, making me feel like I’m wearing a mask. They usually cake, look uneven or migrate into lines by midday on me. Not this one though.
Instead, the marbleised powder has a creaminess that applies evenly when buffed outwards and upwards from the middle of the face. It neutralised my redness with just a light dusting and softened the look of my age spots.
You can layer it seamlessly too, but it does require a brush with denser bristles on areas where you need more coverage.
The finish isn’t flat looking either, thanks to the multi-colours that both colour-correct and brighten the skin, perking up dull, tired-looking tones, all while still staying natural-looking and not sitting in creases.
Best of all, it’s infused with hydrating ingredients, so it feels very light on my skin, without any dreaded tightness I often experience with other formulas.
This also works very well as a finishing powder on top of a liquid foundation for the ultimate ‘occasion’ make-up that’s locked in place.
Used alone, it now has a place among my staples for daywear when a speedy buff-and-go routine is called for.
Size: 9g, Coverage: Light to medium, Finish: Semi-matte, Shades: 9, SPF: No
No7 Restore & Renew Serum Foundation SPF30
No7 Restore & Renew Serum Foundation SPF30, £21.95 from Boots
Pros: Infused with skincare, high SPF
Cons: Range needs more shades
Rating: 4/5
Just like the day cream with the same name from the highstreet beauty brand, this is a foundation designed for mature skin and it shows.
It’s a serum foundation that’s pumped with some of the best skin-rejuvenating actives that target visible signs of ageing: vitamin C for skin brightening, peptides for plumping and ceramides for nourishment.
These are just some of the powerful skincare ingredients that provide an instant smoother canvas for pigments and work overtime to renew the skin.
Speaking of pigments, the foundation provides such a sheer glow to my skin with just one pump, but sometimes I like to add another for more of a light-medium finish that hides those telltale signs of ageing.
It has an impressive staying power too; on my skin, it stays fresh looking 9-5, without migrating into pores or lines.
This is simply one of the best serum foundations on the beauty shelves, and at such a purse-friendly price, it’s a win-win.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Light to medium, Finish: Radiant, Shades: 18, SPF: 30
Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick
Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick, £35 from John Lewis
Pros: Soft-focus, glowing finish, very natural
Cons: Not for concealing imperfections
Rating: 4/5
Dubbed ‘the queen of the glow’, it’s no surprise make-up genius Charlotte Tilbury’s newest coverage gave my skin a lit-from-within luminosity.
It comes in a handy stick that’s easy to use – simply swipe and buff out with your fingers.
I love how speedy and effortless the application is, but it’s practical too. I can carry it around in my handbag for on-the-go touch-ups or travel with it, as it’s not a liquid.
The coverage is sheer, so it’s not a typical foundation. I find it’s more like a real-life glow filter thanks to its pearlescent pigments that give skin radiance and it evens skin tone so is ideal for everyday wear.
It blurs the look of lines, wrinkles and open pores naturally, but if you’re looking to hide prominent imperfections, you’ll need to team it with a concealer to do so.
Like many of the brand’s foundations, it features hydrating actives ideal for mature skin, this time in the form of hyaluronic acid and vitamin E that pack a moisturising punch.
These ingredients allow the skin to feel smooth and plump, and give the coverage a weightless all-day feel, too.
Size: 9g, Coverage: Sheer to light, Finish: Dewy, Shades: 20, SPF: No
Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Perfector 4-in-1 Glow Makeup
Maybelline Instant Anti Age Perfector 4-in-1 Glow Makeup, £12.99 from Boots
Pros: Great value
Cons: Small shade selection, slightly sticky
Rating: 4/5
Maybelline may be the go-to for purse-friendly make-up finds, but the budget beauty brand has a string of offerings that compete in performance with luxury brands, including the now iconic Eraser Multi-Use Concealer.
If you love the eye-brightener as much as I do, you’ll also love this lookalike made for the complexion. It has the same built-in sponge applicator, only larger, that makes application as easy as gliding on and buffing out with fingertips.
Just like its name suggests, it’s a multi-use product that can be used as a glow-boosting primer, concealer, highlighter or a light all-over base for the ‘no make-up make-up’ effect. It’s the latter I like to use it for, as it imparts a sheer coverage that can be built up to a natural-looking light one.
What makes it ideal for mature skin is it doesn’t sit in pores or fine lines. It just lightly evens out the skin tone, including redness, while not masking it. So, this isn’t for you if you’re looking for a base that conceals your skin.
It also feels light and hydrating, thanks to the infusion of hyaluronic acid, although there is a slight tackiness to it. But this makes it a great primer for added glow if you want to use it under a heavier foundation.
Size: 20ml, Coverage: Sheer-light, Finish: Dewy, Shades: 7, SPF: No
Estee Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Makeup
Estee Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Makeup, £39.50 from Look Fantastic
Pros: Both radiant and matte finish, high SPF
Cons: Sheer finish is not for everyone
Rating: 4/5
The iconic Double Wear Foundation needs no introduction with its medium to full budge-proof coverage, but you may not be familiar with this newer version that offers a more natural, very light finish with the same longevity.
A word of warning; this is sheer just as the bottle states, so don’t expect the same coverage as the original. But, that’s what I’m drawn to. It’s skin-like for that au naturel effect that’s so authentic for day-to-day wear.
Evening the skin tone rather than covering it up, you will need concealer layered on more noticeable blemishes and discolouration if you wish to disguise them.
I especially like to use this in the summer, as its oil-free formula also mattifies in all the right places controlling excess oil in the warmer months. It doesn’t even move on my complexion in a sweaty gym session or workout class either.
Plus, it’s loaded with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to hydrate like a light moisturiser that skin soaks up leaving behind an undetectable, natural and velvety finish — perfect for mature skin that needs all the moisture it can get.
Size: 30ml, Coverage: Sheer, Finish: Matte, Shades: 27, SPF: 20
How we tested these products
With more options than ever before, we know it can be overwhelming trying to find the best foundation that’s going to work for your unique complexion.
Therefore, we consulted an experienced beauty editor, in her 40s, who tests new foundations as they launch. There isn’t a foundation formula she hasn’t tried.
With a complexion showing all the typical signs of visible ageing, like fine lines, wrinkles and an abundance of dark spots, each of these foundations had their work cut out for them.
A dull, dry skin tone and redness meant so too did the ingredients infused into each formulation.
In the interest of fairness, each of these products has been retested for best comparisons for a minimum of three days, all as part of the same skincare routine.
You can therefore trust that all these products have been tried and tested fairly to bring you a round-up of the very best foundations for mature skin on the market.
Where to buy these foundations in the UK
Find your perfect foundation match for mature skin both on the high street and at major department stores.
While purse-friendly foundations like Maybelline’s can be found at major supermarkets, Superdrug and Boots, you’ll need to head to stores like Sephora, Space NK, John Lewis and larger Boots stores for those with higher price points.
Of course, the virtual beauty shelves have the widest choice. Our favourites to visit for foundations are Sephora, Lookfantastic and Cult Beauty. If it’s Laura Geller you’re after, head to QVC who has the best selection of products.
Some of our favourite in-store and online retailers include:
How much do foundations for mature skin cost?
You’ll find foundations for mature skin to suit all budgets, but the majority are on the pricier side as they offer multiple skincare benefits too.
There are offerings from budget beauty brands for around £12.99, such as the cheapest foundation we tested from Maybelline. For mid-range foundations, expect to pay around £20. Premium foundations vary more and, in our round-up, range from £34-£50.
The most expensive we trialled is by Chanel at £50, but it’s worth every penny for the long-lasting, natural glow it gives the skin.