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Is Liquid Or Powder Foundation Better For Mature Skin?

Our skin changes throughout our lives, so what worked when we were younger isn't necessarily right for us now. When it comes to liquid or powder foundation, find out what's best for mature skin.
liquid or powder foundation

Whether you’ve been wearing liquid or powder foundation for years, it may be time to reconsider. As we age and wrinkles begin to appear, you may notice that your old favorite foundation may not be cutting it anymore. So, which foundation is better for mature skin? Well, it depends on your skin type and your expectations. Keep reading to learn more about which foundation you should be wearing, including some shoppable picks! 

Shop For Foundation By Your Skin Type

Dry Skin

Powder foundation will accentuate dry skin, so opt for liquid foundation instead. This will make your skin look moisturized and healthy. 

Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup, $56

foundations for dry skin
Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup, $56

This liquid foundation is formulated with Matrixyl Synthe 6, a powerful peptide that boasts six skin-boosting essentials to minimize signs of aging. It applies smoothly for a natural-looking, radiant complexion. 

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, $46

foundations for dry skin
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, $46

This multi-tasking foundation, with SPF 30, protects against sun damage, hydrates skin, and evens skin tone. It’s also buildable, so you can experiment with coverage and even apply it with your fingers. 

Oily Skin

Just like you wouldn’t put a dry product on dry skin, you shouldn’t wear a liquid foundation if you have oily skin. Powder foundation will actually absorb some of your own, so shop around for a matte powder foundation to keep shine at bay. 

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder, $52

foundations for oily skin
Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder, $52

This oil-free lightweight foundation can be applied dry for a matte finish or even wet for a natural look. Reviewers have been raving that it leaves a “flawless finish” and successfully “minimizes pores and wrinkles.”

Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $18.99

Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $18.99

This innovative liquid formula, fortified with an exclusive Multi-Mineral Complex, glides on velvety smooth and then sets to a soft powder finish. The built-in SPF will help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Rosacea or Hormonal Acne

If your skin has any “texture” (rosacea or any other dermatological issues), skip the powder foundation. This will make any texture look more pronounced. A liquid foundation will give you more coverage and usually will stay put longer, so you won’t need to reapply as often. If you have textured and oily skin, try a liquid foundation as your base and then a light dusting of loose powder to handle any shine. 

Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation, $24.99

foundations for rosacea
Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation, $24.99

One pump of this creamy foundation will give you full coverage of redness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. The formulation contains color-correcting pigments to mask redness and bumpiness, and it doesn’t cling to dry spots. Simply buff it on with a dense foundation brush and blend outward.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, $47

foundations for rosacea
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, $47

If you have rosacea, you should seriously consider CC creams. This color-correcting foundation offers total coverage (a major win against redness), but it’s still lightweight and breathable. It also contains SPF 50+ and is infused with collagen and peptides, making it an anti-aging superstar. 

What type of foundation is best for wrinkles?

Even the slightest signs of aging can be magnified with the wrong makeup, so if you’d like to see fewer crow’s-feet or laugh lines, opt for a liquid foundation. “Powder can actually settle into wrinkles and accentuate them, but liquid products act like a filler for a smoother finish,” Bruzzesi says. If you’ve got large, visible pores, liquid is also your best bet (the filler thing, again). Try Make Up For Ever’s Liquid Lift Foundation ($49, amazon.com), which is oil-free (no adult acne!) and specially formulated for mature skin.

How do you wear foundation with wrinkles and keep makeup from settling into wrinkles?

Keep in mind that excess makeup will just exaggerate wrinkles. The trick to applying foundation to wrinkled skin is all about how you apply it. Use a brush when applying your foundation and then take a damp makeup sponge and gently press your face. This will remove any foundation that has settled into fine lines and wrinkles. 

beautyblender
Beautyblender, $20

What To Look For In A Foundation

Related Article: We all age every day, and things happen, right? Pores start getting bigger, while moisture and luminosity can be harder to maintain. These are a few of the problems every woman deals with in her life. But that doesn’t mean we can’t fix these things and look insanely fabulous! I asked other makeup professionals for the best foundations for mature skin to lift, cover, improve, and help you obtain the skin you want.

Read Next:

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