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Which Foundation is the Right Fit for You?

Best foundations for mature skin

How do you know which foundation is best for your skin type or lifestyle? Not everyone likes to wear a full face of makeup every day, and some products can help you multitask and save time when getting ready. Here are our favorite foundations for mature skin in every variety imaginable. From liquid foundation to more of a pressed powder, we’ve covered every version with various benefits to suit your skin type, tone, and lifestyle. 

The Best Foundations for Mature Skin

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Foundation of the Future

Let’s start with a fun and effective method of applying foundation that will give you the best coverage available. While many of us still apply our liquid foundation with a cosmetic sponge, our fingers, or other comparable methods, utilizing an airbrush system will give you the best, most even coverage available. Our top pick is from Luminess, and their Icon Airbrush System is effective, portable, and easy to use. 

Luminess Icon Airbrush System
Luminess Icon Airbrush System, $139.92

Liquid Foundation

The most common foundation formula is liquid. It comes in bottles and tubes and may have a doe-foot applicator for daubing onto your face. Liquid is very convenient if your skin is in-between shades because you can easily mix two to get the perfect shade match. Liquid coverage is also very buildable, and there are formulas for every skin type. Liquid foundations come with various finishes, natural (sometimes referred to as skin-like), dewy, satin, matte, and radiant. I think mature skin looks best in natural, satin, or radiant. If your skin tends to be dry, then dewy might work for you. Dewy finishes tend to rub off or slide off as the day progresses, especially if your skin is oily.

Colourpop Pretty Fresh Foundation
Colourpop Pretty Fresh Foundation, $16
L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation Makeup
L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation Makeup, $10.99
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation, $65
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint Foundation
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint Foundation, $9.72
 
Dior Forever Wear High Perfection Skin-Caring Matte Foundation SPF 35
Dior Forever Wear High Perfection Skin-Caring Matte Foundation SPF 35, $58

Cream Foundation

Cream foundations are fabulous for most mature skin. They come in pots, pans, compacts, or sticks and are very portable. Cream foundations offer a fuller coverage, especially those in a stick, but you can blend and sheer them out nicely with a brush or sponge. If using a sponge, I recommend a stippling type of application. First, blend all over using your fingers or a brush, then use the sponge and pounce to blend. If your skin is more oily, a cream formula might add to an already oily complexion, and cream foundations may rub or wear away more quickly on oily skin.

Lancome Absolue Makeup Cream Foundation
Lancome Absolue Makeup Cream Foundation, $51.75
Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation
Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation, $49
Cover Girl Olay Simply Ageless Foundation
Cover Girl Olay Simply Ageless Foundation, $15.99

Powder Foundation

Powder foundations can be used wet or dry. The formulation is more matte, but some new formulas offer a satin or radiant finish. Powered foundations are excellent for oily skin and are very portable if they come in a compact. The loose powders are good for at-home use but difficult for touch-ups throughout the day.

Lancome Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Lightweight Pressed Powder Foundation
Lancome Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Lightweight Pressed Powder Foundation, $45
L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder
L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder, $11.99

Mineral Foundation

Mineral foundations come in powder, both loose and compact, liquid, and even stick formulas. Mineral foundations are superb for sensitive skin and oily skin; they contain natural ingredients, are more oil-absorbing, and won’t clog pores because they sit on the surface of your skin. Mineral foundations can have a luminous finish or matte finish.

Bare Minerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
Bare Minerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $33
Colorescience Sunforgettable® Total Protection
Colorescience Sunforgettable® Total Protection, $69
Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals A Foundation
Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals A Foundation, $58

Tinted Moisturizer

If you prefer to have the sheerest coverage, then a tinted moisturizer might be best for you. It can save you time since you can find one that contains SPF, moisturizer, and a slight tint of color.

Urban Decay Hydromaniac Glowy Tinted Hydrator Foundation
Urban Decay Hydromaniac Glowy Tinted Hydrator Foundation, $29
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 20, $48
Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 20, $60

Multitaskers

Those are the foundation basics, but cosmetics companies have upped their game in the past few years. There are some really amazing powerhouse products that are what I refer to as super multitaskers, BB creams, CC creams, cushion foundations, and serum foundations.

BB creams have been around since 1967 and originated in Germany. The BB stands for beauty balm. They were originally formulated for patients who had completed facial treatments such as peels or dermabrasion and whose skin was left red and inflamed. The BB creams contained soothing moisturizers, a hint of color, and something that would help blur imperfections. Fast forward to 2011, when the US started seeing BB creams coming out of Korea. Asian women tended to do multi-step skincare routines, and they perfected the BB cream to save themselves time. Those BB creams contained SPF too, because Asian skin tends to have more problems with hyper-pigmentation. American women really fell for BB creams. We’re all about express.

A few years later, the Koreans introduced CC creams. The CC stands for color corrector. They generally had all the same things as the BB cream, but the coverage was a bit heavier. Then came the cushion foundations. The cushion contains a sponge soaked with the product in a compact, and you apply it with a silicone type puff that is stored in the compact’s base. Press the puff down firmly and twist off to get the product on the puff.

BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-In-1 Skin Perfector
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-In-1 Skin Perfector, $8.99
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream
L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream, $11.99

Color Correcting Cream

Olay Total Effects Skin CC Cream, Tone Correcting
Olay Total Effects Skin CC Cream, Tone Correcting, $29.53
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, $42

Cushion

wet n wild Megacushion Foundation
wet n wild Megacushion Foundation, $9.90
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion SPF 50+ Foundation
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion SPF 50+ Foundation, $65

Serum Foundation

The latest formulas are serum-based foundations, which are time-saving multitaskers. The serum-based foundations may contain antioxidants such as Vitamin C, SPF, and emollients to keep the skin hydrated and protected. The coverage with the serum foundation tends to be sheer, and I think these formulations are excellent for mature skin. If your skincare routine is just the basics, a serum foundation might be the entree you need to start improving your skin as it matures. Easy all-in-one application.

Bobbi Brown 1 oz. Intensive Skin Serum Foundation
Bobbi Brown 1 oz. Intensive Skin Serum Foundation, $74.99
Dior skin Nude Air Serum Foundation
Dior skin Nude Air Serum Foundation, $53
Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup
Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup, $48

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