Foundation is an essential item in all makeup collections. As the name suggests, it’s the foundation upon which to build the rest of your makeup. We all know the expression, “You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation”– the same applies to makeup.
Choosing the right foundation for your skin type and tone can be a little daunting. Also, the foundation you have been using for the last decade may not suit you anymore, and that’s perfectly normal. As we age and change (beautifully), so do our needs for skincare and makeup.
Here is our list of the best foundation for older women:
- IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer with SPF 50+ – goes on like a moisturizer, leaving your skin soft and lightly glowing.
- IT CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50+ – formulated with collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to provide moisture and protection.
- Lancôme Rénergie Lift Makeup Foundation SPF 27 – medium-to-full coverage foundation with SPF 27 to help protect your skin and has up to 12-hours of lifting and hydration.
- Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Serum Makeup SPF 25 – medium-to-full coverage serum foundation that hydrates and brightens skin.
- Bare Minerals BarePro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation SPF20 – lightweight foundation formula perfect for mature skin.
- Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF 15 – boasts up to 16 hours of coverage with a SPF of 15 and available in 42 shades.
- Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging Foundation – a liquid foundation that creates a naturally luminous complexion for all-day wear.
- Babassu Foundcealer™ Skincare Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 – protects with non-chemical sunscreen and is cruelty-free and vegan.
- Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation – clean, long-wearing foundation, made with the nourishing and antioxidant-rich maqui berry.
- Pretty in Bloom™ SPF 20 Flower-Infused Long-Wear Foundation from Origins – skin-caring (and animal-caring) organic 24-hour-wear foundation that delivers silky, lightweight coverage that provides naturally radiant skin.
- Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation – organic foundation infused with serum to keep skin hydrated and natural looking.
- Simply Ageless +Olay Liquid Foundation – moisturizer and Vitamin C infused foundation evens out your skin tone.
- Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Treatment Makeup – good option if you have larger pores. The formula sits on your skin without causing creasing and putting emphasis on your pores.
- CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-In-1 Foundation – a primer, a concealer, and a foundation all in one that is easy to apply in one step.
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint with Hyaluronic Acid – excellent for extra dry skin. It’s made with hyaluronic acid that helps plump and moisturize the skin.
You have probably noticed that a lot of the makeup marketing and advertising that you see is mostly geared towards younger women.
Older women’s skin needs are different, and that’s why it’s important to find the best foundation for mature skin. Don’t despair, the right product is out there. In this article we’ll take a look at a few top foundations for women over 60.
Different Types of Foundation
Have you noticed that there is a variety of foundation types? BB cream, CC cream, liquid, powder, cream, mousse, mineral, and I’m probably missing a few. It’s normal to be confused and to wonder which is best for you.
Let’s go over the main types of foundation so that you can make a good choice for your skin type and lifestyle.
Liquid Foundation
Liquid foundation is the most popular type of foundation, and it comes in various textures. It’s good for dry skin or combination skin, and it’s easy to apply with a sponge or a brush.
Look for a texture that is more liquid than creamy because the creamier the foundation, the more it “sits” on your skin, and this can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles.
Powder Foundation
Powder foundation typically comes in a compact case and is easy to apply. It’s an easy on-the-go solution but may not suit very dry skin, and it may accentuate deep wrinkles.
Mineral Powder Foundation
Mineral powder foundation hit the market several years ago and is the most natural solution when it comes to foundation. It’s formulated with natural minerals and is free of fragrances, parabens, and oils.
It can come in a compact formula or a sifter. The latter can be quite messy and not as transportable as other types of foundation.
Mineral powder foundation is a good option for those with extra sensitive skin.
Mousse Foundation
Mousse (or whipped) foundation came out on the market a few years ago and has since gained popularity because of its weightless texture and easy application. It’s a liquid foundation infused with air which provides the mousse texture. It tends to leave a matte finish and is good for all skin types.
Mature women often favor mousse foundation because of the non-cakey look it leaves.
BB Cream
BB cream foundation, which means “beauty balm,” covers blemishes and imperfections and also evens out skin tones. It is sheerer than liquid foundation and is good for all skin types.
CC Cream
CC cream, on the other hand, stands for “color correcting” and is a good option for mature skin because it adds a touch of color while correcting skin tone irregularities. It often comes with “anti-aging” (personally prefer to use the term pro-aging) ingredients to help fight fine lines.
Stick Foundation
Stick foundations are great for covering blemishes and generally have a thicker consistency compared to liquid foundations. Finding your perfect shade can be a little more tedious than with BB creams or CC creams, for example.
Tinted Moisturizer
Tinted moisturizers can be added into the foundation category, but the primary purpose of this product is to moisturize the skin rather than cover it with color. They leave a sheer color on the skin while providing much needed moisture.
Hint: I sometimes like to mix a dab of my favorite moisturizer with my foundation before applying it to make the color sheerer and easier to apply. I essentially create my own in-home tinted moisturizer.
Why Wear Foundation?
No matter what type of foundation you like to wear it’s a good idea to select a product that has an SPF protection in it. I used and abused tanning beds in the 80s and spent hours laying out in the sun. My skin is now showing the damage this has caused, so I make sure to protect it every single day now.
Many foundations offer protection from SPF 10 to SPF 50. Choose according to the season changes and the location where you live. Foundation containing SPF 50 tends to be thicker to apply and blend, so you probably don’t want to use one of these year-round.
That being said, the tint of your foundation may also change depending on the seasons. It’s good to keep a few tints that will match your skin tone all year. I use sun protection year round, but still notice my skin change color as I spend more time outside during the warmer months. Also, you should still be using sun protection even if you have dark skin.
Foundation creates smooth-looking skin and can cover imperfections like redness, blemishes, and age (sun) spots. Use it sparingly for a more natural look and apply more if you are going to an event or taking photographs.
Helpful Tip: It’s a good idea to test out the different ways to apply foundation. Some prefer their fingers (though most makeup artists will pooh-pooh this method), some like to use sponges, while others feel like brushes work best for them.
Specialized foundation brushes tend to apply foundation more smoothly, leaving a more natural look without streaks. If you prefer a sponge, dampen it to assure a streak-free application.
Best Foundation for Women Over 60
Foundation that is very thick will require more time and effort to apply. Thick foundation can also leave creases, look cakey, and draw undesired attention to lines and wrinkles on mature skin.
Look for a foundation that has added moisturizers and that is designed for older skin. Additionally, the price of the foundation doesn’t necessarily equate to quality. Many drugstore brands offer outstanding products at very affordable prices.
Let’s take a look at some of the best foundations for mature skin.
Top Choice Full Coverage Foundation for Mature Skin
Choose a full coverage foundation that is preferably water-based or contains moisturizers or hyaluronic acid. Full-coverage matte foundation may start to look cakey over time and accentuate wrinkles.
These are some favorite full coverage foundations from makeup artists that have consistently received rave reviews from women with mature skin.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer with SPF 50+
The IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer with SPF 50+ is made with 10 botanical oils and moisturizing hyaluronic acid. This foundation goes on like a moisturizer, leaving your skin soft and lightly glowing. It also has a SPF 50 to protect your skin from the sun.
IT CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50+
CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50+ is another product by IT that is formulated with collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to provide moisture and protection.
Lancôme Rénergie Lift Makeup Foundation SPF 27
Lancôme Rénergie Lift Makeup Foundation is a medium-to-full coverage foundation with SPF 27 to help protect your skin and has up to 12-hours of lifting and hydration.
Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Serum Makeup SPF 25
The Estée Lauder Perfectionist Serum Makeup is a medium-to-full coverage serum foundation that hydrates and brightens skin. It has an SPF of 25
Best Lightweight Foundation for Older Skin
Lightweight formulas tend to be better suited for mature skin. There is less chance of creasing and caking when the blend is not thick.
According to professional makeup artist Ariane Poole, “With aging comes the lower production of collagen, which, along with elastin, makes up the thick, fibrous part of our skin, called the dermis (the layer above the top layer called the epidermis) lose volume in our later years. The thinning of our skin makes it more transparent, exposing red veins and other imperfections.”
Bare Minerals BarePro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation
To address these concerns, Ariane Poole recommends choosing lightweight foundation formulas, like Bare Minerals BarePro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation SPF20.
Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF 15
The Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation by Bobbi Brown boasts up to 16 hours of coverage with a SPF of 15. Available in 42 shades, the product will be helpful in concealing visible veins on your face due to its “skin-true pigments” that conform to the tone of your skin.
This product also contains marine sugarcane algae extract and natural mineral powders that control oil for a balanced and natural matte finish. Its glycerin component makes your skin feel hydrated and soft instead of tight.
Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging Foundation
Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging Foundation has a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30. It is a liquid foundation that creates a naturally luminous complexion for all-day wear.
Best Organic, Natural, and Cruelty-Free Foundation
Many of you have commented on previous articles that you were looking for cruelty-free or organic makeup. Personally, when I can, I prefer to purchase from brands that offer cruelty-free products that have not been tested on animals. Organic means that the product is free from chemicals and is formulated with natural ingredients.
Here are some of our favorite organic and cruelty-free foundations.
Babassu Foundcealer™ Skincare Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Babassu foundcealer™ skincare foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 is a moisturizer, concealer, foundation, and SPF all in 1. It clinically hydrates to help skin appear plumper and offers a naturally radiant finish for healthy-looking skin.
This foundation protects with non-chemical sunscreen and all Tarte products are cruelty-free and vegan.
Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation
Changemaker Foundation from Bite Beauty is a clean, long-wearing foundation, made with the nourishing and antioxidant-rich maqui berry. It provides a lightweight and natural finish that feels good on the skin. It’s cruelty-free, vegan, and is also gluten-free.
Origins Pretty in Bloom SPF 20 Flower-Infused Long-Wear Foundation
Pretty in Bloom™ SPF 20 Flower-Infused Long-Wear Foundation from Origins is a skin-caring (and animal-caring) organic 24-hour-wear foundation that delivers silky, lightweight coverage that provides naturally radiant skin.
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation is an organic foundation infused with serum to keep skin hydrated and natural looking.
Best Drugstore Foundation for Older Women
Simply Ageless +Olay Liquid Foundation
Simply Ageless +Olay Liquid Foundation is where Covergirl meets Olay. This moisturizer and Vitamin C infused foundation evens out your skin tone. Hyaluronic acid delivers firming hydration.
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Treatment Makeup
Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Treatment Makeup is a good option if you have larger pores. The formula sits on your skin without causing creasing and putting emphasis on your pores.
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-In-1 Foundation
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-In-1 Foundation is a primer, a concealer, and a foundation all in one that is easy to apply in one step. Remember to moisturize your skin before application if you have extra dry skin.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint with Hyaluronic Acid
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint with Hyaluronic Acid is excellent for extra dry skin. It’s made with hyaluronic acid that helps plump and moisturize the skin.
Which foundation on our list do you want to try? Have you ever tried any of these? What is your go-to foundation at the moment? Comment below and share your thoughts.
