What To Look For In a Foundation

Have you ever tried to buy a foundation and were so overwhelmed that you bought the first one you found and got the heck out of dodge? There’s good news: there is a method for finding the right foundation. Below are the questions you should ask when you are on your search, along with what to look for in a foundation.

Forget the current foundation trend

We see it in the media and in-person all the time — that caked-on, heavy façade of foundation. But if you look at any red-carpet makeup or at award show attendees like Meryl Streep or Helen Mirren, you will notice that they look like themselves. They might have amazing lips or fabulous shaded eyeshadow, but their foundation has a lighter coverage. When you see photos of them without makeup, they really don’t look that much different (unlike some of the younger stars – seeing them with and without makeup can be a huge difference!).

And since it is the trend, the market is saturated with these heavy-coverage products. They target a specific audience and, let’s be honest, mature women are not it. So let’s not even bother with that type of coverage. Let’s go for something light, airy, and protective!

Practice a proper skincare regimen

Have you ever put on your foundation and then thought, “Funny, my skin didn’t SEEM that dry?!” Or if you apply under-eye concealer, and just seems to naturally find those under eye wrinkles. Just like magic, they’re much more noticeable. These are prime examples of how makeup can work against us.

That’s why it’s important to practice a skincare regimen that includes moisturizing and routinely doing mask treatments. In doing so, we are taking the first step in plumping up our epidermises and diminishing the appearance of some of those wrinkles.

Just by washing our faces in the morning and evening, we are giving it a big drink of water. And then by moisturizing and hydrating with an oil, serum, or lotion, we are trapping that moisture within our skin’s layers. This ensures our skin is fresh and healthy when we go to apply our makeup. This practice also helps eliminate the harsh texture that grabs onto our concealers and foundations.

What to look for in a foundation

Mature skin tends to have a harder time holding onto moisture, elasticity, and an even skin tone. Therefore, let’s focus on products that will help with all these things while also assisting us in maintaining a youthful, glowing appearance. Having a foundation with a heavy matte finish is the opposite of what we are looking for. With the extra texture and little nooks and crannies that mature skin can have, this type of coverage can find all the areas of our face we don’t care for and magnify them exponentially. 

Look for Foundations That Hydrate

Hydration is the name of the game, and there’s finally a makeup designed for mature skin! L’Oréal Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation is formulated with SPF 50, Hydrating Serum and vitamin B3 – all key ingredients in giving you radiant, glowing skin.

Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation, $17.99

That’s not the only option available. Created with a focus on delivering skincare benefits in makeup, Rénergie Lift Makeup Foundation is a comfortable, medium-to-full coverage foundation with the anti-aging properties the Rénergie line of products is known for. With SPF 27, this foundation lifts, hydrates for up to 12 hours, and minimizes the appearance of dark spots for a luminous finish.

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Makeup Foundation, $63 

Hyaluronic Acid — Look for It

If you’re searching for an extra hydrating foundation, scan the ingredient list for hyaluronic acid. You’ll find this magical ingredient in quite a few foundations if you do the research. This naturally occurring element can hold up to 500 times its own weight in water, so it really plumps everything up. Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint ($56) is amazing, and we love that it has just a hint of color while keeping you looking nice, fresh, and glowing. 

Or check out this option from Maybelline. This drugstore option is budget-friendly and formulated with hyaluronic acid for added hydration. It gives a dewy finish and works well for mature skin that needs a moisture boost.

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy+ Smooth Foundation, $10.99

Foundations For Brightening Skin

If you’re aiming to brighten your skin a bit, look for ingredients that add glow. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($47) is a great choice. It has antioxidants to help brighten skin tone over time and even everything out while giving you a little bit of that dewy glow. I love this because after wearing it after a few weeks, I saw improvements in my skin’s appearance. NARS was originally a skincare line, so you know they have your skin’s health in mind while creating their products!

Up next: never discount the importance of sunscreen because it is so important, especially on your face. This is the one part of the body we cannot hide – we can shade it but not hide it. Those aiming to keep makeup short and sweet should reach for a moisturizer that contains UV protectants. The same applies to foundation — make sure it contains SPF!  One of the best is IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream ($47). This one contains 50 SPF, along with vitamins and peptides to keep the skin in tip-top shape. 

The Award-Winning Foundation For All Skin Types

Shopping for foundations can definitely be overwhelming, but when something has won multiple awards, it’s worth a second look. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($69) has won both InStyle’s “Best Liquid Foundation” award and Harper Bazaar’s “Best Anti-Aging Foundation” award. This buildable foundation is available in a wide variety of shades for all skin tones so you can find your true match.