What is the best foundation for over 40?

As we grow older, our beliefs and habits evolve to reflect maturity and experience – and so does our skin. Hormonal changes such as menopause and a natural reduction of essential oils leave our skin more susceptible to the effects of prolonged sun exposure, age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. All of this together contributes to an epidermis in need of a little more TLC.

 

Fortunately, there is plenty of help at hand.

The beauty industry has spent millions into researching and developing foundations specifically formulated to nurture mature skin.

Here are five different foundations guaranteed to boost your skin’s vitality and address concerns that are specific to your situation.

These foundations will leave your skin looking more youthful and vibrant than ever!

Best Foundations for Mature Skin Over 40

• Full Coverage – Mii Absolute Face Base
• Oily Skin – Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation
• Dry Skin – Lancôme Rénergie Lift Makeup SPF 20
• Liquid Foundation – Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation
• For Large Pores – Cover FX Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation

For tips on applying foundation for mature skin, check this out!

Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Best Foundation for Full Coverage – Mii Absolute Face Base

Mii Cosmetics Absolute Face Base Foundation in Utterly Warm

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This lightweight foundation offers the best of both worlds.

Comprehensive coverage which doesn’t look heavy or over-the-top, in a powder that sits lightly on the skin.

Equally as effective in a single layer or in multiple, the foundation can be applied with a brush or fingertips.

It’s also specially designed to enhance your natural glow all day long.

 

Best Foundation for Oily Skin – Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation

Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in Classic Ivory

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This incredibly lightweight foundation has been blended with exclusive micro-powders, designed to blur the appearance of pores and reduce unsightly shine on the surface of your skin.

With an extensive range of over 40 shades to choose from, you’re sure to find a tone and texture to match your own.

Its non-comedogenic properties ensure it won’t react badly with even the most sensitive of individuals.

 

Best Foundation for Dry Skin – Lancôme Rénergie Lift Makeup SPF 20

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Foundation in Clair 30 (C)

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This anti-wrinkle foundation containing moisturizing properties is specifically designed to alleviate the effects of skin that is prone to drying out over time.

What’s more, the unique formula contains extracts of Vitamin E, meaning the longer you wear it, the more beneficial its impact will be on your skin’s health and appearance.

Effectively blurs lines and obscures wrinkles for up to 12 hours.

(Read more on Lancome foundations for dry skin)

 

Best Liquid Foundation – Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation

Laura Mercier Candle Glow Soft Luminous Foundation in No. 1N1 Creme

 

An all-in-one liquid foundation, you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing this ultra-lightweight product.

Containing microscopic radiant-pearl mica, the formula adds a subtly luminous glow to your face.  It also softens unwanted lines, wrinkles and pores in one fell swoop.

What’s more, its dual-hydration qualities provide an immediate burst of moisture and a longer-lasting hydrating effect.

 

Best Foundation for Large Pores – Cover FX Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation

Cover FX Natural finish Foundation in No. P40

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As a water-based, oil-free foundation, this silky product provides superb coverage. It works very well on the whole T-zone area. This foundation also minimizes the appearance of larger pores.

It also contains significant nutritional benefits, including elevated levels of Vitamin C and Vitamin E to protect against the damage caused by free radicals.

Notable favorite foundations from ladies over 40 years old

Physician’s Formula Silk Foundation

Natalie Rodrigues, who has combination skin that gets dry during the winter, recommends Physician’s Formula:

“I’m also loving Physician’s Formula Silk Foundation. I’m usually not a drug store makeup kind of person but I had to pick some up in a hurry and I ended up loving this one.

It was a great texture, not too heavy, it feels moisturizing and made my skin look great. I’m not a fan of heavy foundation or heavy coverage so these two made me a fan.

I like that Physician’s Formula is also natural and organic because it makes me feel like my skin would benefit more from something I’m using all the time.”

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Fashion Fair Foundation: Foundation for mature skin over 60

Carol Gee mentions Fashion Fair’s wide range of shades that led her to the perfect one for herself:

“I am a light complexioned African American female who just turned 70 years young. Back when i started wearing foundation, I found it difficult to find one that worked for skin tone. Some were too light chalky or two pink or too something.

Discovering Fashion Fair makeup was a game changer. It has shades for a number of nationalities and skin tones.

I love it because as a retired AF veteran I have been able to find it at base exchanges most of the places my husband and I were stationed.

It is easy to apply. Typically, I apply moisturizer, then dab on a bit of powder in the same shade to ‘set’ it and it lasts all day without streaking or reapplying.”

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Clinique: favorite pick for over 40 and preferred foundation for ladies over 80

With combination dry skin like 60-something year old Susan Farese (of SJF Communications), the Clinique Superbalanced line works well:

“I have been using Clinique’s superbalanced makeup for over 10 years.

It looks great and make me look younger and vibrant. I’ve had many people compliment me on my makeup for years, especially as an actor on film sets.”

Susan also states that her mom swears by this foundation:

“My Mom (age 85) also has worn Clinique makeup for several decades.”

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Lisa Bast is also a fan of Clinique, but the Even Better line this time:

“I like this foundation because it’s lightweight and gives a slight dewy finish.

I use a slightly damp sponge to apply evenly or sometimes just my fingers.”

Dr. Gayle Carson also swears by the Even Better line:

“I’m 82 but on stage a lot so do wear makeup a lot. I have combo skin but tend to be oily, although drying up at my age.

I use Even Better foundation and blend it with Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and loose translucent powder. “

 

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Tinted Cream

Dr. Nisha Bunke, MD, FACPh, RPhS recommends Recova Tinted Arnica Cream (for daily light coverage) and Trish Mcevoy (for heavy coverage during the evenings). She also uses Olay’s SPF 30 day lotion:

“I use a tinted, all natural, vegan cream that reduces redness and gives a light cover up.

I actually developed the cream, called Recova Tinted Arnica Cream, to use as a post-surgery cream to reduce bruising, swelling and redness. Most people have used it after plastic surgery on the face. It feels so light and reduces redness that I have used it every day for 2 years. Recova is light, has all-natural ingredients, super 9 anti-inflammatory ingredients. Gives a nice glow, reduces redness. I chose not to add SPF to the formulation as to not dilute the potency.

So my daily routine is Oil of Olay SPF 30 day lotion followed by Recova.”

Luxury and Drugstore Foundations combined

Musician and TV/Radio host Larissa Lam has sensitive skin on the normal to dry range. She rotates her foundation to avoid developing an allergy to them:

“I like to use lighter coverage for everyday wear for when I’m running errands or taking my daughter to school. When I need to dress up or be in more work settings, I will use a medium to full coverage foundation.

On the pricier end, I liked Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Longer Natural Matte. I could build to full coverage and it didn’t feel heavy. It had a nice matte finish that looks smooth and not dry.

As budgets have gotten tighter, especially in light of all the uncertainty now, I’ve discovered some great drugstore brand foundations.

For medium to full coverage, I really like Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation. At $10, it’s a great bargain and comes in a lot of shades. The thing I like most about it is that it doubles as a concealer.

For lighter coverage, my bargain pick is Wet n Wild Photofocus Foundation. At under $7, it’s a real steal. It’s great for selfies and blends easily.“

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Buy on Amazon

 

Recommendations From a Makeup Artist to the Stars

Andrea Claire, makeup artist and hair stylist to stars such as Miranda Richardson, Liv Lo, Henry Golding, Romee Strijd, Lisa Ray, and Margaret Atwood – to name a few – recommends tried and tested products:

“I am actually a makeup artist so I have tried and tested many brands.

Foundations that I love and use regularly on myself are FACE atelier Ultra Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder, YSL Le Teint Encre De Peau and Shiseido Synchro Skin.

FACE atelier I use when I want more coverage. It’s seamlessly buildable and breathable which means you can layer it without it looking cakey. Great for day or evening events. It has a second skin quality so you don’t look like you’re wearing foundation but has a flawless satin canvas finish.

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder is light weight also with breathable but sheer coverage so your own skin will shine through

YSL Le Teint Encre De Peau has a matte finish yet with a slight healthy glow. It’s a great foundation for women concerned with needing more natural looking coverage but also want to avoid any dewy finish.

Shiseido Synchro Skin– my running theme is breathable coverage without the cakey finish. Shiseido knows skin and that certainly comes through with their foundation formulas”

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Buy on Amazon

 

Buy on Amazon

 

Buy on Amazon

 

Products that shine under the spotlight: foundations for mature skin over 50

Amy Brownstein, at 52 years old, wears foundation almost daily. She also gives some insight on what foundations she picks for her line of work:

“I am in a public field and always around people. I love the more solid thicker foundations because when I am with clients we often take selfies together and rather than using any sort of photo enhancing app, these really do the trick all on their own,.

Plus they also have a very good substance for laying comfortably on the skin, staying there and not rubbing off on people.”

She shares the following products that she uses:

“For the regular every day medium to light coverage: DrJart+BB DIS-A-PORE. It has medium coverage, SPF 30, and is non-drying which is extremely important for aging skin). I have 4 different types of their Beauty Balm.

I love DrJart+ because it goes on creamy. You can pat it very carefully on your skin, it leaves a dewy glow. It also helps hide minimal imperfections.

For heavier coverage these are products that I can’t live without and often mix: Born this Way full coverage “undetectable” medium to full, Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, and Chanel Le Blanc De Chanel base (it ssooo good especially for around and under the eyes and before any foundation or bb cream)!”

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Buy on Amazon

 

Buy on Amazon

 

Calling All Fabulous Ladies Over 40! What’s your pick for best foundation for mature skin?

On the subject of big pores, here’s more of our recommendations for foundation that minimizes the appearance of large pores.

Certain powder foundations also work very well with mature skin, if you wanted to try mature skin-friendly drugstore foundations.

What do you think? Have you tried these products? Do you have recommendations for the best foundation for mature skin?

Let us all in on the secret in the comments section below!