These Foundations Reign Supreme for Women Over 50 (2025)

Skin can appear fresh and dewy at any age. It helps to hydrate—and a lifelong dedication to SPF will work wonders, too. But the best foundation for mature skin can also work beautifully to create a silky-smooth canvas for any makeup look as they artfully veil fine lines, dark spots, and other signs of aging.

Vogue’s Favorite Foundations for Wrinkles & Aging Skin

• The All-Around Pick: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, $69
• The Weightless Wear: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow, $65
• The Tinted Sunscreen: Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation, $48
• The Tinted Moisturizer: Saie Slip Tint, $35
• The Lightweight Oil: Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops, $68
• The Illuminator: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance, $150
• The Stick Formula: Merit The Minimalist, $38
• The Camera-Ready: Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting, $47
• The Skin-Care Hybrid: Sisley Sisleya Le Teint, $205

In This Article

• How to Apply Foundation for Mature Skin
• How to Set Foundation on Aging Skin
• How to Choose the Best Foundation for Aging Skin
• Picking the Right Shade of Foundation
• Does mature skin need a specific type of foundation?
• What foundation type is best for mature skin?
• How to Prevent Foundation from Settling Into Wrinkles
• Meet the Makeup Artists

To help you discover which face bases quietly double double as fountains of youth (or just about), we pulled the best foundations for mature skin straight from the kits of top makeup artists, Vogue editors, and perennially glowing celebrities.

The Makeup Artist Fave: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

• Why We Love It: When we tapped makeup pros Carolina Dalí-Trites, Tobi Henney, and Janice Kinjo, each of them recommended Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation. Inspired by charmeuse silk, this oil-free foundation is infused with finely milled color pigments to impart medium coverage and a radiant, airbrushed finish that resembles a lit-from-within glow. While Kinjo notes it’s her go-to “that won’t settle into fine lines,” Dalí-Trites believes it “looks and feels like a second skin.” Henney shares that she reaches for this formula while working with Diane von Furstenberg for an event or photoshoot: “I use this a lot in my work, as it creates the most flawless base for all skin types,” she says.
• Shades: 40
• Key Ingredients: Glycerin, Armani’s Micro-Fil Technology
• Finish: Skinlike, blurred, and glowing
• Coverage: Medium
• Best For: All skin types
• Size: 1 oz

The Lightweight Oil Foundation: Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops

• Why We Love It: Gucci Westman previously described the complexion solution from her eponymous beauty line as “a lightweight oil that—when you apply it to your face—becomes more like a cushiony serum.” The formula is powered by supercharged skin-care actives: ginseng extract, sunflower and almond oils, pomegranate extract, tsubaki oil, ginger root complex, and a skin-shielding complex. These come together to not only condition the skin but to even tone and smooth texture. What’s more, the weightless light-to-medium tint blends with ease to reveal a dewy, radiant finish perfect for year-round wear.
• Shades: 20
• Key Ingredients: Ginseng extract, sunflower and almond oils, pomegranate extract, tsubaki oil, ginger root complex, a skin-shielding complex
• Finish: Dewy
• Coverage: Light-to-medium
• Best For: Dry-to-combination skin or daily wear
• Size: 1 oz

The Weightless Formula: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation Hydration and Longwear

• Why We Love It: Celebrity makeup artist Meredith Baraf, who counts Brooke Shields, Erin Andrews, and Frankie Foye as clients, shares a laundry list of foundations that “melt into the skin and don’t tend to creep into fine lines and wrinkles or accentuate pores.” One of them is this weightless Chanel pick. Formulated with 40% water and light-reflecting pigments, the foundation has a silky, barely there feel and instantly hydrates skin for up to 12 hours.
• Shades: 35
• Key Ingredients: 40% water, light-reflecting pigments, glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, jasmine stem extract
• Finish: Glowy, hydrated
• Coverage: Light-to-medium
• Best For: Dry, dehydrated skin or daily wear
• Size: 1 oz

The Tinted Moisturizer: Saie Slip Tint

• Why We Love It: Not ready to give up the feel of a warm-weather tinted moisturizer? Baraf cites Saie’s formula as her pick. Sheer, dewy coverage truly never goes out of season. The Saie Slip Tint utilizes a blend of hyaluronic acid, pansy flower, and licorice root extract to brighten, hydrate, and protect skin with ease.
• Shades: 14
• Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide 15% grape-seed oil, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, licorice root extract, aloe, coconut fruit extract
• Finish: Dewy
• Coverage: Sheer-to-light
• Best For: Dry-to-combination skin, UV protection
• Size: 1.3 oz

The Model’s Pick: Prada Reveal Skin Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation

• Why We Love It: When we said matte makeup was back and better, we meant it—just take Prada’s foundation as proof. The elixir pairs ingredients like vitamin E, niacinamide, lactobacillus extract complex, and even SPF 17 to protect against UV rays and improve skin tone, texture, and moisture levels. Plus the soft matte finish delivers a soft-focus, filterlike blur that’s impossible not to love. A little product goes a long way here; I’d recommend starting with a little bit of product—blending from the nose bridge outward. When I tapped three models to test out some of our favorite foundations for mature skin, each of them told me the Prada foundation was their favorite. They were surprised the formula was unlike any matte finish they had tried before. Instead of feeling cakey and settling into fine lines, it felt nourishing, comfortable, and lightweight while on set.
• Shades: 33
• Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, niacinamide, lactobacillus extract complex, SPF 17, glycerin
• Finish: Matte
• Coverage: Matte
• Best For: All skin types
• Size: 1 oz

The Stick Foundation: Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

• Why We Love It: If a stick foundation is more your speed, Baraf is a fan of Merit’s lauded complexion stick. It’s especially useful for mess-free application, storing in your makeup bag, or combining the benefits of a foundation and concealer in one. Formulated in partnership with aesthetician Biba de Sousa, this features a blend of fatty acids and sea daffodil to lock in moisture and minimize the look of dark spots. Give this formula a swipe to test its light-to-medium-coverage wear.
• Shades: 20
• Key Ingredients: Sea daffodil extract, fatty acids
• Finish: Skinlike
• Coverage: Light-to-medium
• Best For: All skin types or daily wear
• Size: 0.23 oz

The Tinted Sunscreen: Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation

• Why We Love It: Ilia's Super Serum Skin Tint is one of the most acclaimed tinted moisturizers on the market and makes for an excellent foundation for mature skin. This clean beauty product is a true multitasker. Because of its lightweight serum texture, it applies similarly to skin care—meaning you can apply it quickly and go on your way. It provides apt UV protection through SPF 40 while treating skin with a hydrating blend of niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid for a dewy glow.
• Shades: 26
• Key Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide 12%, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter, allantoin, aloe
• Finish: Skinlike but dewy
• Coverage: Sheer-to-medium
• Best For: Dry skin, Normal-to-combination skin, sensitive skin
• Size: 1 oz

The Tinted Balm: Jones Road What The Foundation

• Why We Love It: Mixed into a cream-like consistency, this blends jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate (a small form of hyaluronic acid) to achieve a fresh, glowing complexion. The draw to Jones Road’s foundation is that it’s more like a tinted balm than the complexion products you’re likely used to. That being said, this can be applied like a moisturizer—scooped out of its jar and blended with fingers. (A brush or sponge certainly works too.) An excellent pick for summer, expect buildable, light-to-medium coverage. Remember: A little goes a long way!
• Shades: 12
• Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, jojoba seed oil, glycerin, castor seed oil, ginger root oil
• Finish: Skinlike
• Coverage: Light-to-medium
• Best For: All skin types or daily wear
• Size: 1.14 oz

The Gel-Cream: Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation

• Why We Love It: In British Vogue’s acting beauty and wellness director Lauren Murdoch-Smith’s test of Glossier’s new foundation, she said it was “ticking all of the boxes.” Why? It’s a hydrating elixir that doesn’t sink into fine lines or get overly dewy after a few hours of wear. With light-to-medium coverage, this feels like a lightweight moisturizer and delivers a natural finish. Formulated with 89% skin-care ingredients—including squalane, glycerin, wild rose berry and plankton extracts, and amino acid–coated pigments—Stretch Fluid Foundation is sure to be a hit.
• Shades: 32
• Key Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, wild rose berry, plankton extract, amino acid–coated pigments
• Finish: Skinlike
• Coverage: Light-to-medium
• Best For: All skin types or daily wear
• Size: 1 oz

The Illuminator: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50

• Why We Love It: Tom Ford’s Soft Radiance foundation features a blend of SPF 50, hyaluronic acid, natural oils, and noni fruit extract to condition and calm skin. On the complexion front, light diffusing powders ensure the perfect luminous, medium-to-full-coverage wear. “This foundation has great coverage and is perfect for those with drier skin types,” says Henney. “The shade range is beautiful, and the packaging is super chic!”
• Shades: 40
• Key Ingredients: SPF 50, hyaluronic acid, natural oils, and noni fruit extract
• Finish: Blurred but glowy
• Coverage: Medium-to-full
• Best For: All skin types, glam (think events or camera-ready), UV protection
• Size: 1 oz

The Fine Line Smoother: Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

• Why We Love It: Looking to achieve runway-ready glam that won’t settle into fine lines? Look no further than Pat McGrath Labs’s foundation. The formula is basically everything you’d want in a foundation for mature skin: lightweight, hydrating, and a natural satin finish while smoothing skin wherever you place it. It does this with a masterful blend of polymers (for long wear), pigments treated with amino acids (for its creamy texture and buildable coverage), plus diamond core powder (to boost radiance and blur lines or pores). According to the brand, blend with your hands for a sheer finish or a brush for medium coverage.
• Shades: 36
• Key Ingredients: Smoothing polymers, amino acid–treated pigments, diamond core powder,
• Finish: Skinlike, satiny
• Coverage: Medium
• Best For: All skin types
• Size: 1.18 oz

The Camera-Ready: Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation SPF 30

• Why We Love It: Get your skin camera-ready with Shiseido’s foundation, designed to adjust to your skin’s needs. Featuring a blend of SPF 30, mandarin-peel extract, light-adjusting technology, luminous pearls, and microcrystals, this foundation refines skin texture, reduces the look of hyperpigmentation, and smooths fine lines. The finish is medium-to-full coverage, along with water-, transfer-, and crease-resistant wear. “I love this foundation for when I’m getting my clients ready for a red carpet or important event,” says Henney. “I use this on my client Vera Wang, and we love how it looks on the skin and in photographs.”
• Shades: 30
• Key Ingredients: Light-adjusting technology (smooths skin), radiant microcrystals (also makes skin appear smoother), luminous pearls (corrects hyperpigmentation)
• Finish: Blurred, soft-focus
• Coverage: Medium-to-full coverage
• Best For: Glam (think red carpets or events!), all skin types, UV protection
• Size:

The Celeb-Approved: Clé de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation

• Why We Love It: In Maye Musk’s installment of Vogue’s Beauty Secrets, she began her makeup routine with Clé de Peau’s Radiant Fluid Foundation. At 73, the model is now partial to more natural-looking makeup, thanks in part to this foundation’s bare-skin-like finish. Infused with hyaluronic acid and skin-luminizing properties, this foundation is crafted to enhance your skin’s glow, suppleness, and moisture. Not to mention, there’s even SPF 25 to protect against UV rays. Apply it with a sponge, as Musk does, or your preferred brush, for light-to-medium coverage.
• Shades: 24
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, citrus junos seed extract, rosa roxburghii fruit extract, hydrolyzed silk
• Finish: Glowy
• Coverage: Sheer-to-medium
• Best For: All skin types
• Size: 1.2 oz

The Skin-Care Hybrid: Sisley Sisleya Le Teint Anti-Aging Foundation

• Why We Love It: Persian acacia, chlorella, soy peptide, and white willow extracts are only a few of the ingredients that power Sisley’s light-coverage foundation. While these work to reveal a radiant, supple complexion, mica, and powder pigments promote a smooth, even base. “The best foundations use great skin-care ingredients,” says Kinjo. “You want ingredients that help collagen production, like my favorite Sisley Paris Sisleÿa Le Teint Anti-Aging Foundation.”
• Shades: 20
• Key Ingredients: Persian acacia, chlorella, soy peptide, white willow extracts, adenosine, cherry blossom extract, vitamin E
• Finish: Skinlike
• Coverage: Light
• Best For: All skin types
• Size: 1 oz

The Matte Finish: Dior Forever Matte Foundation SPF 15

• Why We Love It: One may assume that a matte-finish foundation is out of the question, so as to avoid exaggerating the look of skin texture or fine lines. Baraf, however, recommends Dior’s foundation (in the matte or glow variant) as a suitable option. Powered by mineral pigments and floral extracts of wild pansy, nasturtium, and iris, Dior’s matte foundation is anything but drying and provides smooth, soft-focus coverage and a nourished complexion.
• Shades: 42
• Key Ingredients: Iris, rose, and wild pansy extracts
• Finish: Matte
• Coverage: Medium
• Best For: Normal-to-oily skin, UV protection
• Size: 1 oz

The Intensive Hydrator: Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation

• Why We Love It: Those partial to a cream foundation, especially throughout colder temperatures, should consider Koh Gen Do’s Maifanshi Moisture Foundation. Despite its creamy texture, it delivers sheer-to-medium wear that moisturizes and blurs skin texture thanks to a blend of mineral pigments, aloe extract, jojoba oil, squalane, and shea butter. Kinjo dubs it a “hydrating formula with great coverage.”
• ​​Shades: 12
• Key Ingredients: Mineral pigments, aloe extract, jojoba oil, squalane, shea butter
• Finish: Sheer-to-medium
• Coverage: Skinlike
• Best For: Normal-to-dry skin
• Size: 0.71 oz

How to Apply Foundation for Mature Skin

So you’ve discovered your favorite foundation, above, but you’re still a bit unsure how to apply it. If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that technique makes all the difference.

“A key to looking youthful as we age is avoiding heavy or cakey makeup; less is definitely more here,” says Baraf. “You can use thin layers of product to build in places if need be. Most important is layering your gorgeous skin care underneath your foundation to ensure your foundation melts into your skin and looks fresh.”