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Byrdie / Tembe Denton-Hurst
Chronological age alone doesn’t define mature skin, a condition that develops from a combination of intrinsic factors like genetics, as well as extrinsic factors like exposure to sun and pollution. A 2021 study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that loss of laxity, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation characterize mature skin, which can be accelerated by environmental factors. When choosing a foundation for mature skin, consider a formula that’s both pigmented for effective coverage and hydrating enough to melt into skin.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Estée Lauder’s Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation, a makeup-serum hybrid that simultaneously hydrates, plumps, reduces redness, and prevents photoaging. For a more affordable option, consider Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, a lightweight and blurring liquid formula that minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines.
Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD notes people with mature skin should look for foundation with active ingredients to counter some of the environmental causes of skin aging. As a bonus, active ingredients give a silky skin feel, making the formula less prone to caking or creasing. “Look for an antioxidant formula to stimulate collagen formulation, help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and lighten discoloration and hyperpigmentation,” she says. While coverage level is a matter of personal preference, those with mature skin will want to blur texture and blend discoloration with a formula that doesn't settle into fine lines or dry patches—meaning it's best to avoid matte makeup, as it's more prone to creasing.
We considered dozens of foundations for mature skin for this roundup, evaluating each formula on its coverage level, active ingredients, and skin feel. We also took into account the range of shades offered and type of finish.
Ahead, find the best foundations for mature skin that that feel plush and offer effective coverage.
Best Overall
Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45
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Ulta
Moisturizing formula contains hyaluronic acid
Contains SPF
Buildable coverage
Expensive
Who else recommends it? Good Housekeeping and Allure both picked Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation.
What do buyers say? 89% of 5,100+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Some foundations can feel uncomfortably dry on mature skin—especially when you apply them without a serum underneath. But with this double-duty formula from Estée Lauder, this is a non-issue, which is why it earned itself top honors for this list. Part medium-to-full coverage makeup, part anti-aging serum, Futurist Hydra Rescue works overtime for your complexion.
The formula hydrates with hyaluronic acid and the brand's proprietary IonCharged Water Complex while delivering SPF 45 protection from photoaging and sun damage. Available in 28 shades ranging from java to porcelain, this moisturizing pick instantly plumps, addresses redness, and leaves a radiant, natural-looking glow in its wake.
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 28 shades | Finish: Radiant/natural | Size: 1.2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $50
Best Budget
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation with Clay
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Evens skin tone with blurring formula
Wide shade range
Not ideal for dry skin
On a budget? Your best bet is Maybelline Fit Me, an exceedingly lightweight liquid foundation formulated to blur texture without clogging pores. We also like that it comes in 40 shades, ranging from espresso to porcelain.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 40 shades | Finish: Matte | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $7
Best Drugstore
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint
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Budget-friendly
Moisturizing formula contains hyaluronic acid
Evens skin tone
Potentially too sheer
From the drugstore aisle, we recommend Neutrogena Hydro Boost, a tinted liquid makeup that hydrates mature skin while evening out your complexion. There's a lot to love about the instantly plumped, dewy finish, but bear in mind that this foundation might be too sheer for some people's taste.
Coverage: Light | Shade Range: 10 shades | Finish: Sheer/dewy | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $14
Best Splurge
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
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Nordstrom
Award-winning Micro-Fil Technology glides on smooth
Buildable coverage
Wide shade range
Expensive
Contains fragrance
Luminous Silk is undoubtedly expensive, but if you wear a full face of makeup daily or have a special event coming up, it might be worth the splurge. Available in 40 shades, this award-winning foundation is lightweight yet buildable and leaves you with a radiant, youthful, lit-from-within glow.
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 40 shades | Finish: Radiant/natural | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $65
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Byrdie / Ashley Rebecca
Best Full-Coverage
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Foundation Balm
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Sephora
Moisturizing formula contains hyaluronic acid and blend of botanical oils
Creamy texture doesn't crease
Expensive
Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Balm is a nourishing foundation with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, high-powered antioxidants, and a blend of avocado oil, olive fruit oil, and phytosterols. Its creamy texture makes it easy to manipulate without creasing.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 20 shades | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $42
Best Medium-Coverage
Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15
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Sephora
Contains SPF
Botanical extracts and glycerin even skin tone
Wide shade range
May be drying without serum
Clinique Even Better Makeup comes in 50 shades and has a dermatologist-developed formula to provide medium coverage with visibly diminished age spots, a more even complexion, and SPF 15 protection.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 50 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $45
Best Sheer
Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint
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Amazon
Moisturizing formula contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and botanical extracts
Antioxidants help to even out skin tone
Lightweight formula
Contains fragrance
This is a lightweight sheer foundation with skin-caring ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and botanical extracts to moisture to the skin and protect it from free radicals and blue light.
Coverage: Sheer | Shade Range: 10 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $42
Best Lightweight
Juvia's Place I Am Magic Foundation
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Ulta
Lightweight formula contains glycerin
Long-wear antioxidant formula doesn't cake
Wide shade range
Not ideal for dry skin
We're loving Juvia's Place I Am Magic for mature skin. Available in 42 shades, this virtually weightless antioxidant-infused foundation delivers a velvety finish with full coverage and all-day wear.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 42 shades | Finish: Matte | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $22
Best CC+ Cream
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
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Macy's
Peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid deliver powerful moisture
Contains SPF 50
Antioxidant and collagen-infused formula promote healthy skin
Not ideal for sensitive skin
The best CC Cream for mature skin is, hands down, IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better. As the name suggests, this highly pigmented cream foundation enhances your complexion with a natural-looking finish—extra points for the SPF 50 protection.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 12 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 1.08 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $42
Byrdie / Tembe Denton-Hurst
Best Stick
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick
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Sephora
Award-winning formula contains moisturizing vitamin E
Antioxidant and squalene formula softens fine lines
Expensive
This award-winning foundation stick by Bobbi Brown is hygienic, easy to apply, and amazing for on-the-go makeup applications. The antioxidant-rich creamy formula softens fine lines, moisturizes the skin, and improves texture.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 29 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.31 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $52
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Byrdie / Khera Alexander
What Our Testers Say
"This product is one everyone should try at least once for its longevity, color, and ease of use." — Khera Alexander, Product Tester
Best Long-Wear
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation
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Courtesy of Target
Budget-friendly
Long-wear formula contains vitamin E to prevent creasing
Contains SPF
May be drying without serum
This wallet-friendly foundation smooths the skin with vitamin E, evens out your complexion, offers SPF 15 protection, and provides a glowy, radiant finish for up to 24 hours.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 12 shades | Finish: Radiant | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $6
Best for Dark Skin Tones
Maréna Beauté Le Teint Tarou
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Maréna Beauté
Buildable coverage
Vitamin E delivers creamy, long-wear formula
Expensive
This line is made specifically for melanin-rich complexions, and comes in six shades. The buildable formula has a skin-blurring finish and is infused with vitamin E to improve texture and stay creamy.
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 6 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.32 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $35
Best Smoothing
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear Foundation
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Sephora
Buildable coverage doesn't crease or cake
Moisturizing formula contains antioxidant blend
Wide shade range
Contains fragrance
This hydrating foundation is a more moisturizing version of the brand's Pro Filt'r Soft Matte, which is ideal for those with mature skin. It's notably lightweight, blendable, and buildable, leaving you with a natural-looking finish and noticeably smoother complexion.
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 50 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 1.08 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $38
Best Tone-Matching
BLK/OPL True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15
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Walmart
Tone-matching technology
Vitamin E , aloe, and antioxidant blend deliver hydration
Contains SPF
Not ideal for oily skin
The brand's Shade ID technology, this budget-friendly foundation calls on chromatic pigments that adjust to your unique skin tone, so you can count on a great match and a velvety-smooth finish.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 24 shades | Finish: Velvety/natural | Size: Not listed | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $12
Best Blurring
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation
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Make Up For Ever
Long-wear formula
Hyaluronic acid delivers moisture
Silica powder blurs imperfections
Expensive
Contains fragrance
Formulated with silica powder and mica, this formula offers superior blurring without irritating skin. The natural-looking finish lasts for up to 24 hours, but hyaluronic acid keeps the foundation breathable.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 50 shades | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $43
Best Oil-Free
Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Oil-Free Hydra Foundation
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Sephora
Long-wear, water resistant formula
Fragrance-free
Hyaluronic acid delivers moisture
Not ideal for very dry skin
If you're partial to oil-free formulas, this one contains hyaluronic acid and offers buildable coverage. Its velvety finish lasts all day without settling into fine lines.
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 40 shades | Finish: Natural/matte | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $43
Best Powder
BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15
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Courtesy
Buildable blurring coverage
Lightweight
Contains mineral SPF
Messy application
The iconic, ultra-lightweight loose powder conceals uneven complexions and blurs pore size when you apply it with a swirling technique.
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 30 shades | Finish: Luminous | Size: 0.28 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $35
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Estée Lauder’s Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation, a makeup-serum hybrid that simultaneously hydrates, plumps, reduces redness, and prevents photoaging. For a more affordable option, consider Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, a lightweight and blurring liquid formula that minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines.
Byrdie / Tembe Denton-Hurst
Meet the Expert
- Michele Green, MD is a board-certified dermatologist with a practice in New York City. She's a frequent media contributor and skincare expert.
- Jenny Patinkin is a celebrity makeup artist, beauty expert, and entrepreneur known for her eco-friendly and age-aware approach to beauty.
What to Look For in Foundation for Mature Skin
A Thinner Texture
According to makeup artist Jenny Patinkin, a foundation that’s thinner and lighter will help to best camouflage any blemishes without sinking into lines or large pores that you’re trying to detract attention from.
A Radiant or Satin Finish
Luminous or radiant finishes can sometimes be a bit too glowy for more mature skin, whereas matte ones can tend to look flat and dry, says Patinkin. The middle-ground, a radiant finish, is most flattering on aging skin, she says.
A Fragrance-Free Formula
Patinkin also suggests looking for foundations with fragrance-free formulas. “We tend to become more sensitive and reactive as we get older, and fragrance can contain any number of ingredients that might be irritating,” she says.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is a freelance writer specializing in beauty, self-care, and lifestyle. She considered dozens of dermatologist-recommended formulas for this roundup, evaluating each on active ingredients, coverage levels, and finishes.
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Byrdie / Khera Alexander
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