Always start with hydrated skin. As skin gets older, it begins to produce less sebum (a.k.a. skin’s natural oils) and doesn’t retain moisture as well. Even if you once had normal or slightly oily skin, you may now be prone to dry skin. And as many of us know, the best base for makeup is skin that’s well-hydrated—so it’s essential to always start with a great moisturizer. The right moisturizer can help to plump up fine lines and wrinkles, making them less apparent even before makeup comes into play. Best Moisturizer for Mature Skin: SUNDAY RILEY ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream is the lightweight, deeply moisturizing face lotion of your dreams. It uses humectants like hyaluronic acid and coconut extract to plump and hydrate your skin, plus antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract to actively fight off signs of aging like pigmentation. Squalane and ceramides then lock all those benefits in by sealing and strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier, protecting that beautiful skin of yours.
Don’t skip out on primer. Like all good things, you want your makeup to look last. For mature skin, primers can go a long way to smooth the skin’s surface for the best makeup application. “The key to covering fine lines and wrinkles,” Formica says, “is all in the prep and prime. For smoothing out the skin, I like to lean on a serum, oil, or hydrating primer to prep and plump. Look for products that have sweet almond oil, hyaluronic acid, or grape seed extract. I am currently obsessed with LILAH B. Aglow Priming Oil. I use this for myself and my clients with mature skin. You could wear it alone for a fresh-from-the-spa glow or mix it in with your foundation.” Makeup artist Beth Foller addst, “I really take extra time prepping the skin for a mature skin application. That’s where primer comes in, as it can be particularly beneficial for mature skin types since it can keep makeup products from settling into fine lines and wrinkles. Priming formulas also often come with illuminating and hydrating benefits, both of which can be great for older skin.”
Best Primer for Mature Skin: CHARLOTTE TILBURY Wonderglow Face Primer is a best-selling primer designed to create smoother, younger-looking, ultra-hydrated skin. While peptides and hyaluronic acid are plump and smooth, fluorescent core light diffusers create a soft-focus effect that visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles, helping your makeup appear super smooth, dewy, and fresh.
Color correcting according to your concern.Color correcting not only allows you to use less makeup, it helps cancel out redness, darkness, and more for a more even skin tone and brighter results. For eyes, Formica says, “First, take a look at what colors you see. Are the dark circles red, a bluish tone, or purple? Sometimes we need to do a little color correction before applying a concealer because the concealer alone is not enough. This also applies to covering blemishes.” Here’s a little guide Formica uses to keep things simple:
For redness: Use yellow or green corrector
For purple or brown: Use orange corrector (darker skin tones)
For blues: Use peach (light/medium skin tones) or pink corrector (fair/light skin tones) When covering blemishes, age spots, and broken capillaries, Formica says, “It is best to apply [color corrector] using very thin layers, then set with a thin veil of micro-fine powder. Once this is set, then apply a concealer that matches your skin tone on top. Again, go a little at a time to keep the application looking natural. Set again. This layering technique will fully color-correct and lock in the product. When correcting under the eyes, you may use a concealer one to two shades brighter than your skin tone to lift any remaining shadows.” Best color corrector: NYX COSMETICS Color Corrector Palette features an array of six shades including lilac, green, orange, peach, and more to truly cover it all. Plus, each has a creamy, hydrating texture that’s great for blending onto mature skin types.
Choose a moisture-packed under-eye concealer. One of the first areas of the face to show signs of aging are the eyes—from puffiness and dark circles to crow’s feet. Formica says, “The skin around our eyes is delicate and thinner than other parts of our face. When we see dryness or feel tightness as we age, it is because this area has a harder time retaining moisture. Think about how much we move our eyes around throughout the day. They do lots of work seeing the world! So with that being said, we need to build back that moisture with layering skincare and hydrating cosmetics. Best Hydrating Concealer: TARTE Creaseless Concealer Formica says, “When choosing a concealer for mature skin, I recommend going with a creamy and hydrating formula. This one is very hydrating and pigmented for under eyes. Because of the key ingredient Maracuja oil, this concealer feels more like a rich eye cream. It’ll hydrate the skin for 16 hours, keeping under eyes looking bright and refreshed. This formula is also waterproof so it will stay intact.”
Blend it to perfection. Just like your eye makeup, blending your concealer using the right tools will help create a flawless finish. Formica says, “I personally prefer using either a synthetic small or medium fluffy brush the same shape as your eye crease brush or a Beautyblender. These types of tools provide excellent application and also absorb any excess products. When using a brush, apply the concealer on the back of your hand to control the amount of product used. Dip your brush into the product and tap from the inner corner of your eye out following the shadow. Then using small circles, gently blend the edges of the product away. If you love blending sponges, like Beauty Blenders, Formica says, “When using a Beautyblender for under eyes or blemishes, apply product on the hand first and then lightly tap it over the shadow or blemish. To blend, press, and roll away at the edges of the product gently. The key here is to build gradually.”
Opt for liquid foundations. “I recommend a creamy foundation formula for mature skin and to avoid powders,” says Follert. This is because powder foundations tend to settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more apparent. Liquid foundations and tinted moisturizers, on the other hand, often feature hydrating ingredients and a dewy finish, which are both flattering for this skin type. Follert suggests steering away from full-coverage foundations as these can create a mask-like effect on the skin as opposed to a natural look. Instead, she loves customizing coverage using buildable or medium-coverage formulas that feature hyaluronic acid and vitamin C for a “fresh, even-toned, well-hydrated look.” Best Foundation for Mature Skin: NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation has a lightweight texture, 16 hours of fade-proof coverage, and nourishing ingredients. While the pigments easily disguise discoloration, redness, and dark spots, this foundation also uses a special, antioxidant-rich blend of raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts to support skin’s elasticity and improve texture over time.
Go for a slightly warmer foundation tone.
We’ve always been told to choose a foundation shade closest to our natural skin tone, but when foundation matches mature skin too closely, it can actually make you look washed out. Instead, try opting for a shade that’s just a touch warmer than your natural skin tone to add overall warmth. Pro tip: When applying, don’t forget to blend along your jawline! Best Warm Foundation for Mature Skin: MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation has a whopping 50 shades to choose from, so it’s perfect for finding a shade that’s just a bit warmer than your natural skin tone. It also features buildable medium coverage, a natural dewy finish, and blurring particles to disguise pores and fine lines.
Set with a fine powder. Formica says, “To set, you can use a microfine powder to extend the longevity of your makeup. I recommend the gold standard MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder (I use a very thin veil) with a small to medium-sized fluffy dome-shaped brush. Sweep it across where you applied the concealer and dust off any excess. Now you’re ready to take on the day with beautifully bright eyes.”
Trade your powder blush for a radiance-boosting one. As you age, makeup products like highlighters and blush can be such skin-savers, since these go-tos quickly bring warmth and radiance back to your complexion. Just keep in mind that the wrong type of formula can sometimes do more harm than good—because similar to powder foundation’s tendency to accentuate signs of aging, powder blushes can do the same. “I avoid powders in general and gravitate toward cream blushes, really wanting the skin to look natural, fresh, and hydrated with a healthy glow,” says Follert. Best Cream Blush for Mature Skin: MILK MAKEUP Lip + Cheek in Perk is a creamy blush made from a base of mango butter and avocado oil, which seamlessly glides over fine lines and leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated. Plus, it features a subtle shimmery finish for a radiant, youthful glow.
Try using foundation as a bronzer. OK, it may sound risky but trust us, it works. If you’ve swapped your powder bronzer for a cream-based bronzer, but it’s still not looking quite right, it may be because you’re using a bronzer that’s too shimmery for your complexion. While a touch of shimmer can help make mature skin appear radiant, too much can actually end up accentuating fine lines and wrinkles.
