The 15 Best Foundations for Mature Skin, Loved by Testers

Best Overall

Kosas Revealer Foundation SPF 25

$42 at Sephora $42 at Nordstrom $42 at Kohls.com

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 36 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Michele’s primary skin concerns are redness, under-eye dark circles, and wrinkles.

One-Month Review: Michele loved the look and feel of this foundation. One pump was enough to provide ample coverage without any heaviness or caking. The formula had a nice smooth texture and Michele didn’t need to layer in additional moisturizers; the formula was hydrating enough on its own. 

Three-Month Review:  After using this foundation three times a week over three months, Michele considered it her go-to foundation. She loved the lightweight feel and impressive coverage and awarded it bonus points for including SPF 25. 

Overall Thoughts: This foundation is our top pick for just about anyone with mature skin. Its smooth, blendable formula (containing 96% natural origin ingredients) provides medium coverage that minimizes pores and vanishes blemishes. Plus, it’s infused with a plethora of skincare ingredients, including hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane, and radiance-boosting caffeine and niacinamide. 

Best Long-Lasting

L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Serum Foundation

$11 at Amazon $18 at Ulta $15 at Walmart

Coverage: Light | Shades: 30 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Nellah’s skin concerns are fine lines, dark circles, and age spots.

One-Month Review: Nellah used this foundation five to six days a week and was pleased with its even coverage and staying power. It was lightweight and applied smoothly. Despite ordering the product online, she even managed to get a great color match for her skin. 

Three-Month Review: Nellah was impressed with this foundation after three months of consistent wear. It provided a smooth and even-toned finish that was never cakey, and it wore really well throughout the day.

Overall Thoughts: This budget-friendly option is a good all-rounder for mature skin. Formulated with niacinamide and glycerin to hydrate and soothe, its serum-y texture provides lightweight coverage for a natural finish. And for those dealing with sun damage, SPF 50 is a welcome addition.  

Best Lightweight

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

$69 at Sephora $69 at Ulta $69 at Nordstrom

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 36 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No 

Tester: Our tester Ivy’s main skin concerns are under-eye dark circles and large pores.

One-Month Review: Ivy initially thought the foundation was a little too lightweight compared to the full-coverage formulas she usually gravitates toward. That being said, she liked its blendability, pore-blurring effects, and how it effortlessly melted into her skin.   

Three-Month Review:  Ivy used this foundation twice a week when she wanted to look polished but not “done up.” Because it’s so light and serum-like, she would recommend it to “anyone who lives in a beachy location with a low-maintenance makeup routine but who likes luxury brands.”

Overall Thoughts: If your mature skin tends to be dry, this serum-y foundation is a good option. It’s weightless and won’t settle into lines and wrinkles while also providing buildable coverage with a natural skin look. We also love that it includes hyaluronic acid for hydration and ceramides to support skin barrier function.

Best Foundation Stick

Westman Atelier Vital Skin

$68 at Sephora $68 at Nordstrom $68 at Goop.com

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 21 | Finish: Natural/radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Carrie’s main skin concerns are wrinkles, under-eye dark circles, redness around the nose, and dry skin.

One-Month Review: Carrie quickly dubbed this her “new favorite makeup product.” She appreciated that it functions as a foundation or concealer, covering dark spots and freckles effortlessly without feeling too heavy on the skin. She also liked the stick design, which was easy to travel with.  

Three-Month Review: After using this foundation four days a week for three months, Carrie couldn’t say enough good things about it. She was impressed with the level of coverage and how easy it was to use.

Overall Thoughts: This luxurious formula is ideal for those who want medium-to-full coverage. The stick aids targeted application to conceal redness and hyperpigmentation, and it blends and spreads easily with help from a brush. The addition of squalane provides much-needed moisture for mature skin and camellia seed oil helps protect against environmental pollutants.

Best Mattiying

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation

$18 at Sephora $40 at Ulta View on Fentybeauty.com

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 60 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Chrissy’s main skin concerns are redness, dryness around nose, oily forehead, and under-eye puffiness.

One-Month Review: Chrissy noted that this foundation was so weightless that it “doesn't feel like I even have make-up on.” It blended seamlessly, covered effectively, was a perfect match for her skin, and stayed looking fresh all day long. “I absolutely love this foundation and love getting compliments on it,” she added. 

Three-Month Review:  After using this foundation every day for three months, Chrissy was sold on its ability to keep her skin looking smooth and matte from morning until evening. Her complexion never looked oily or slick during the testing period. 

Overall Thoughts: If you have oily or combination skin, this mattifying formula is for you. It will keep your complexion sheen-free without being overly drying, and it won’t budge with sweat or humidity either. 

Best Blurring-Effect

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

$48 at Sephora $58 at Walmart $48 at Nordstrom

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40 | Finish: Natural/luminous | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Martha’s main skin concerns are wrinkles and age spots.

One-Month Review: Martha said this product felt surprisingly lightweight, considering the thorough coverage it provided. It blended seamlessly into her skin, making wrinkles appear smoother. “I love the way my skin looks and feels,” she said. “There’s no cakeyness or creases that appear from the other age/wrinkle foundations I have tried.”

Three-Month Review: By month three, Martha liked this foundation so much that she planned on buying another bottle. Her only complaint was that the formula dries fast, making it tricky to blend. 

Overall Thoughts: This buildable, medium-coverage foundation covers dark spots and blemishes effortlessly without being so heavy that it accentuates lines and wrinkles. Glycerin provides a welcome dose of hydration, while Armani’s signature blurring formula improves the look of skin texture and tone for a flawless finish.

Best Radiance-Boosting

Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation

$79 at Nordstrom View on Bobbibrowncosmetics.com $79 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Coverage: Medium-to-full | Shades: 27 | Finish: Natural-looking radiance | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Emily’s main skin concerns are redness and fine lines.

One-Month Review: Emily liked that this foundation could be layered in areas where she needed more intensive coverage without it feeling heavy or greasy. It looked great on, allowing some of her skin's “natural luminosity to show through,” and she appreciated that it included SPF, which saved her an additional skincare step.  

Three-Month Review:  After using the foundation for three months, Emily noticed that one pump was the perfect amount, providing solid coverage that didn’t settle into forehead lines. 

Overall Thoughts: Who doesn’t love a makeup product with skincare benefits? This foundation contains cordyceps, a medicinal mushroom shown to protect skin from oxidative stress that leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, improving the look of your complexion over time. It’s also full of emollients (which trap moisture on the skin) and humectants (which pull moisture from the air to the skin’s surface) to keep skin looking radiant and dewy for up to 12 hours. 

Best for Dry Skin

Estée Lauder Futurist Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45

$54 at Sephora $54 at Ulta $54 at Ulta

Coverage: Medium-to-full | Shades: 28 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Jodi’s main skin concerns are hyperpigmentation and under-eye dark circles.

One-Month Review: On first impressions, this foundation felt very light for a full-coverage option. Jodi applied it using her fingertips, noting that it seemed to “melt” into her skin and didn’t feel heavy at all. “I also love that there is an SPF. I know I need to wear sunscreen daily but unless it’s in my make up or skin care products, I'm bad about including it,” she added. 

Three-Month Review:  After using this foundation every day for three months, Jodi was pleased with how lightweight it felt, how easy it was to apply, and how good it made her complexion look. “I don't even feel like I'm wearing any makeup and I think it looks great,” she said. 

Overall Thoughts: A full-coverage foundation can be too heavy for dry skin types. This formula combats the issue with a plethora of skincare ingredients, including chia seed extract to condition, jojoba oil to hydrate, and SPF 45 to protect against UV damage that can increase dryness.

Best Weightless

Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

$52 at Sephora $52 at Ulta $37 at Walmart

Coverage: Medium, sheer | Shade Range: 10 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Kseniya’s main skin concerns are occasional breakouts and under-eye dark circles. 

One-Month Review: Kseniya appreciated that the Nars online color matching tool, which recommends a shade based on your current foundation, worked perfectly. Her foundation was an exact match for her skin tone and provided lightweight, long-lasting, blendable, and buildable coverage. 

Three-Month Review: Kseniya was impressed with this Nars foundation, noting that “it provides nice coverage, gives the skin a nice glow, and is totally weightless.” She also recommended it as a good winter foundation because it did a good job of covering patches of dryness without contributing to the issue. 

Overall Thoughts: This fan-favorite foundation does it all: blurring fine lines, smoothing skin texture, and concealing dark spots and redness. What’s more, it promises to improve skin clarity and condition over time thanks to the inclusion of soothing biomimetic oats, blue light-blocking cacao peptides, and anti-inflammatory milk thistle. 

Best Dewy-Look

Make Up For Ever Reboot Active Care Foundation

$42 at Sephora $42 at Nordstrom View on Makeupforever.com

Coverage: Light | Shades: 22 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Holly’s main skin concerns are wrinkles, dark circles, redness, and large pores.

One-Month Review: Holly was impressed with this foundation’s thorough coverage that lasts all day and needs minimal touch ups. It went on smoothly no matter what tool was used to apply it, and the finish was noticeably dewy. 

Three-Month Review: After using the foundation regularly for three months, Holly was impressed with its ability to reduce the look of fine lines and creases around her eyes. The dewyness of the formula was another huge plus, especially in the dead of winter. “I've noticed that my normal dry skin patches are not showing up like they typically do around this time of year,” Holly said.  

Overall Thoughts: If you’re looking for a foundation that will feel moisturizing and leave your complexion dewy, this one from Makeup Forever is a great choice. It’s formulated with moisturizing glycerin and ginseng, which can help with collagen production, and the lightweight, water-rich texture is incredibly soft and hydrating.

Best Splurge

Gucci Full Coverage Luminous Matte Finish Foundation

$69 at Sephora $69 at Nordstrom $69 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Coverage: Full | Shades: 40 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester, Cecilia, was looking for light coverage that wasn’t too noticeable.

One-Month Review: Cecilia finds most foundations too drying for her skin, so she was pleasantly surprised to find that this formula from Gucci manages to be light and moisturizing. “It glides on like butter and doesn't have a sticky feel, yet doesn't dry out my typically dry skin,” she said.  

Three-Month Review: This foundation became Cecilia’s “going out” go-to. It made her skin radiant enough to render her usual highlighter obsolete. Although the formula is more expensive than she would have liked, she believes it’s worth the splurge.

Overall Thoughts: Formulated with hyaluronic acid and black rose oil to moisturize, as well as bamboo powder to absorb shine, this foundation is a great option for people with mature skin who prefer a matte finish. 

Best Buildable Coverage

Chanel Ultra Le Teint Flawless Finish Foundation

$65 at Ulta $65 at Nordstrom View on Chanel.com

Coverage: Full | Shades: 35 | Finish: Soft matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Tester: Our tester Kimberly’s primary skin concerns are discoloration, fine lines, dark under-eye circles, and dry skin.

One-Month Review: This foundation struck a great balance between lightweight enough that it doesn't crease but substantial enough to mask fine lines and pores. Kimberly praised the formula for its buildable coverage, saying: “I can wear a lighter skim coat on weekends and other days where I want minimal coverage, and build that layer up whenever I want a full finished-face look.”

Three-Month Review: At the three-month mark, Kimberly declared herself “obsessed” with this blendable, buildable foundation, noting: “It goes on so smoothly and gives me good coverage when I feel like I'm not having a great skin day.”

Overall Thoughts: If you’re looking for a foundation that will last all day long and that you can rely on during a special event, we highly recommend checking out this one from Chanel. Its buildable formula provides flawless, crease-resistant coverage with serious staying power.

Best for Dark Spots

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

$43 at Sephora View on Dior.com

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 43 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No 

Tester: Our tester Masego’s primary skin concerns are dryness, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.

One-Month Review: Masego found this foundation quick and easy to apply and praised its lightweight, natural finish. It was also a major asset in the fight against hyperpigmentation. “I sometimes need to apply a lot of product to cover up the dark patches on my cheeks, and I find that I do not need a lot of this foundation to get decent coverage,” Masego said. 

Three-Month Review:  Masego felt that this foundation made her skin look beautiful. It’s very lightweight, does not clog pores, and leaves her skin feeling moisturized.

Overall Thoughts: With its super-lightweight, liquid consistency and effortless blendability, buildable coverage, and gorgeous, natural-looking finish, this foundation is an all-around pleasure to use. It’s also easy to blend and build, which makes it great for concealing dark spots and redness.

Most Hydrating

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation

View on Sephora $46 at Sephora $33 at Ulta

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Tester: Our tester Michelle’s primary skin concerns are wrinkles and under-eye circles.

One-Month Review: Michelle called this a good day-to–day foundation. It has a nice natural finish and does a decent job of evening out the complexion, but for events that require more complete coverage this formula was too lightweight, in her opinion. 

Three-Month Review: This is the foundation Michelle says she reaches for on days when she wants more of a no-makeup makeup look. It has a nice matte finish and lasts well throughout the day. 

Overall Thoughts: Infused with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamins E and B5, this lightweight foundation soothes and moisturizes the skin throughout the day. Although it’s billed as medium coverage, we would describe this as more of a tinted moisturizer, suitable for those who prefer a more natural-looking finish.

Best Natural Finish

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation

$106 at Amazon $96 at Dermstore View on Kohgendocosmetics.com

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 10 | Finish: Luminous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tester: Our tester Jordan’s primary skin concerns were large pores and uneven skin tone.

One-Month Review: The lightweight consistency of this formula suited Jordan’s preferences perfectly. She found that it evened out her skin tone, felt light and clean going on, and smoothed out well with a sponge applicator. 

Three-Month Review: Jordan was happy with this foundation but did stress that she had to prep her skin before applying it. “As with any foundation, I really need to exfoliate first, or it highlights any dry skin. I also like to put on a primer to smooth over my pores so that the foundation does not sit in them,” she said.

Overall Thoughts: Formulated with a moisturizing blend of jojoba oil, olive squalane, and shea butter, this foundation hydrates the skin without crossing over into greasy or heavy territory.