You probably know that your skin changes as you age, and that means your makeup routine needs to change along with it. Aging skin comes with new skincare concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, drying, thinning, and discolorations. All of these can change which foundations will work best for you. In this article, we’ve compiled a dozen of the best foundations for mature skin over 60 — from high-end to drugstore, light coverage to full, liquid to powder. No matter what your budget or preferences, we’ve got a foundation for you.
Best Foundations for Mature Skin Over 60 Reviewed
1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
This is the top choice for many makeup artists specializing in mature skin, and for good reason. It’s lightweight, meaning it will never settle into fine lines, and its dewy finish has a “soft focus” effect on wrinkles and other imperfections.
AdvertisementsIt’s also moisturizing, which is important for mature skin. It comes in 40 shades, so you’ll have no problem finding the perfect shade match. And it’s buildable, making it very versatile — you can build it up for fuller coverage when needed, or leave it lighter for a more natural look.
The drawbacks? The formula contains fragrance, so if you’re sensitive to scents, this may not be the right choice for you. Plus, it’s expensive, but it’s worth the splurge if you want to look your best for a big event.
2. Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation
This is another high-end brand that works hard to earn its price tag. This light-to-medium coverage foundation contains jojoba seed oil to balance sebum production and shea butter to moisturize, so it’s actually improving the health of your skin while you wear it. That’s what we call a win-win! Its formula also covers redness and smooths the look of wrinkles for a flawless finish.
AdvertisementsBut it only comes in six shades, so many people will be left out of its shade range. And with a price tag of $70 for less than an ounce, it’s not suitable for those on a budget.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Smoothing Foundation
If a matte finish is more your thing, consider this foundation from Charlotte Tilbury. The mattifying effect is great for countering oilier skin, but the inclusion of hyaluronic acid in the formula assures that your skin won’t dry out too much. This is also a great choice of summer foundation, or if you live in a hotter climate. It has a cooling effect when applied, and stays on through sweat and humidity. And with its 44-shade range, there’s something for anyone with mature skin over 60.
According to some reviewers, a little goes a long way with this foundation, so be careful when applying. Start with less than you think you need. After all, you can always build up coverage from there.
The only problem with this product is that it’s not clean (contains PEGs and fragrances).
4. NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
NARS has become a staple of many makeup connoisseurs, from pro makeup artists to everyday beauty lovers. The reason this foundation is so popular, especially for mature skin, is because it pulls off something not many foundations can. When you see words like “luminous” or “radiant” in a product’s name, this often means it won’t last as long as other formulas. However, NARS has nailed it with this foundation that will stick around all day, while hydrating the skin and smoothing out imperfections.
The downside? It’s recommended to use this foundation in combination with a setting powder to make the most of its staying power. This may mean adding one more product to your shopping cart, and one more step to your beauty routine.
5. Neutrogena Hydro Boosting Hydrating Tint
If you’re feeling a little intimidated by the price tags so far on this list, don’t worry! We’ve got some wallet-friendly options that don’t sacrifice quality. This skin tint from Neutrogena has a light feel and sheer coverage with a dewy finish. As implied by the name, it’s very moisturizing and is great for sensitive skin since it’s fragrance-free. It’s also great at evening out skin tone, so if you struggle with dark spots, this is a great option.
However, Neutrogena does suffer from the same limitation as many makeup brands — a limited shade range. At only ten shades, women with very light or very dark skin may be left out.
6. L’Oreal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation
An affordable pick, L’Oreal’s True Match liquid foundation is true to its name with 45 shades in its range. It’s oil-free, which is great news for oily or combination skin and has a natural finish for a barely-there look. It also includes SPF, which is essential for mature skin over 60. Protecting the skin from the sun is important at any age, but especially as you age and your skin loses its ability to recover from damage.
Of course, even good quality drugstore makeup is still drugstore makeup. Many reviewers find that this foundation isn’t as long-wearing as other options, and can feel heavy on the skin. This may be a better option for an event where you’ll only be wearing makeup for a few hours, rather than for all-day wear.
7. Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
We tend to focus a lot on dewy or “luminous” foundation finishes on this list, because they’re so good at lessening the appearance of lines and wrinkles. But if you have oily skin, that may not be the best choice for you. Enter Maybelline’s fabulous matte finish foundation. It’s oil-free and non-comedogenic (meaning it’s been shown not to cause breakouts), so oilier skin types won’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also long-wearing and will blur the appearance of lines and pores without clogging up your skin.
Of course, because of its formulation, this isn’t an ideal choice for drier skin types. Some reviewers also find it has less coverage than other products.
8. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup
Just one more liquid foundation before we move on to other options, and we’re finishing up with what the New York Post calls “the mother of all mature skin foundations over 60”. It’s lightweight, long-wearing, and oil-free. It’s also full coverage, so fine lines, discoloration, and other imperfections can be covered with ease. And perhaps the best part is that the range includes 56 shades, and is still adding more! This truly is a foundation that anyone can wear.
Unfortunately, the brand recently reformulated this product, and it no longer contains SPF, so you will need to wear a sunscreen with it. We recommend a moisturizer or primer with SPF, as they tend to be lighter and less greasy than traditional sunscreens and work better under makeup.
9. Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick
We’ve spent a lot of time on liquid foundation, and it certainly is a popular option. But if you prefer a different formulation, a foundation stick is a great option. This Tom Ford foundation stick has a creamy formula, so it applies easily and evenly, a plus if you prefer spending minimal time on makeup application. You can also use it to spot-cover only the areas that need it the most. This is a great technique for mature skin because it prevents a cakey look and leaves your skin free to breathe.
That is, of course, if you don’t mind the price tag. This is another spendy option, so think carefully about how often you’ll be using it and whether it feels worth it to you to buy a high-end brand.
10. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
Many experts recommend a lighter coverage foundation for mature skin, and while IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream isn’t technically a foundation, it still fits the bill nicely. CC stands for color-correcting, but these creams also do contain pigment, so they can function as a color corrector and foundation in one. And for mature skin, which tends not to like having multiple products heaped onto it, multi-tasking products are a must. This CC+ cream also contains collagen, peptides, antioxidants, and an SPF of 50 to help protect your skin. Can you say skincare powerhouse?
However, because this isn’t technically a foundation, it may not provide as full coverage as you want. It’s also not an ideal choice for sensitive skin.
11. Sephora Collection Microsmooth Multitasking Baked Face Powder
If you’re looking for a powder foundation that won’t completely dry out your skin, look no further. Sephora’s store-brand makeup line offers a wide range of high-quality makeup options at budget-friendly prices, and this foundation is no exception. The formula is ultra-smooth so it won’t settle into fine lines throughout the day, and it’s buildable for customizable coverage. And its vegan and fragrance-free ingredient list make it extremely skin-friendly.
Like many powder foundations, its shade range is limited, at 15 shades total. It also doesn’t have the all-day staying power of other products. Especially if your skin tends to be oilier, you may need touchups throughout the day.
12. Bare Minerals BarePro 16-Hour Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
For a powder foundation with more staying power, try BareMinerals. The brand offers both a pressed and loose powder foundation, but we prefer this pressed version for its easy, no-mess application. There’s nothing worse than getting ready to go out only to find you’ve sprinkled foundation all over your favorite blouse! This product can be worn on its own, or on top of a liquid foundation to add coverage and help set it in place. It provides a light to medium coverage and a gently glowing finish.
This may not be a good choice for dry skin, as some reviewers found that it dried out their skin throughout the day. It also has a strong smell, so if you’re fragrance-sensitive, skip this one.
Best Practices For Wearing Foundation On Mature Skin Over 60
As you age, your skin goes through many changes. It thins out and loses collagen, which causes wrinkles. It produces less sebum, which can cause it to dry out and look duller. Uneven coloring like redness, dark spots, or hyperpigmentation can occur. All of these change what you need in a foundation, and can even change how you apply makeup. After all, high-quality ingredients can only go so far. How you wear the product on your skin also has an effect. So here are some of our tips and tricks for getting the most out of that mature skin foundation you just fell in love with.
- Always moisturize first: Yes, even if you have oily skin. And even if the foundation itself is moisturizing. A lightweight moisturizer will plump up the skin and give the foundation a smoother canvas to spread across, without increasing oil. And of course, because mature skin tends to dry out, it’s especially important to keep moisturized as you age.
- Apply a thinner layer or spot-cover: You may have noticed we focused a lot on thin, lightweight formulas in the above list of products. That’s because they work better to fill in and blur fine lines and wrinkles, rather than caking up or sinking into those lines. The same goes for application: less is definitely more. You may even prefer to only use foundation in the areas that need it the most, rather than slathering it all over your face.
- Minimize use of setting powder: If you spend any time on YouTube, you may have seen young makeup influencers piling setting powder onto their faces using sponges. That’s all fine and good when you’re younger, but it’s the bane of mature makeup application. That much powder can look cakey, dry out your skin, and emphasize the look of fine lines. Instead, use a light dusting of setting powder, or a sheer-coverage powder foundation, to set your liquid makeup in place.
- Apply using a patting motion: Swiping makeup on with fingers or a brush may be a quick and easy application method, but all that tugging on your face is bad news for aging skin. It contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin if done over a long period of time, and can also lead to uneven coverage. How? When the skin is stretched or pulled, it will naturally bounce back into place once the pressure is released, and will take the product with it. This can mean more makeup where you don’t want it, and less where you do.
Final Thoughts
Getting older doesn’t mean you have to give up on your favorite glam makeup looks – it just means rethinking the products and techniques you use to achieve it. Mature skin comes with its own unique needs and concerns, and thankfully, more and more makeup companies are coming out with products to address those needs.
This list of the best foundation for mature skin over 60 gives you a closer look at some of those products, and a good idea of what to look for in products in general. With all this knowledge, we’re confident you can find the perfect mature makeup routine for you, and keep on being fabulous for years to come!
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