Whether we have sun spots or redness, our skin is part of what makes us unique and gives us character – though there are times when we may want to even out its tone.
The right foundation can add radiance and balance to your skin. But because the elasticity, water content, and texture of skin changes with age – at some point, we may need to rethink what type of foundation we use.
The good news is, there are many foundations that work wonderfully on mature skin and are specifically designed to target dark spots, leave skin smooth and hydrated, and act as a barrier against pollution and sun damage.
To help you out, we’ve selected eight of the best foundations for mature skin – all of which are cruelty-free.
1. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation
£34, Charlotte Tilbury
Known for being one of the best high-end cruelty-free makeup brands around, it’s no surprise that a Charlotte Tilbury foundation makes this list.
As the name suggests, this is a full-coverage foundation. But if you don’t like the thought of wearing anything heavy on your skin, you’ll be pleased to hear that this formula feels totally weightless.
This foundation is actually a cross between a serum and a foundation, and it contains ingredients that help moisturise and smooth skin. MossCellTec™ can boost hydration levels by 216%, and the peptides REPLEXIUM™ can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless is waterproof and sweatproof and will ensure your skin has an even, matte finish that will last all day without feeling dry. Available in 44 different shades, you’re sure to find your perfect match.
2. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
From £14, IT Cosmetics
If you prefer lighter coverage but want to ensure your skin tone is even and free from any redness or discolouration, you might want to think about a CC cream.
Though this CC cream is light, it’s also highly pigmented, so it will cover and conceal blemishes without looking cakey. The luxurious tinted cream goes on like a moisturiser, enhancing your natural complexion and leaving skin soft and glowy. It also contains SPF 50 to protect your skin from the sun – which is the best anti-ageing technique of all.
For a smooth look and a light, natural finish, this CC cream is ideal. It provides medium to full coverage, reduces pores, corrects redness, and brightens your complexion – and because it’s infused with 10 botanical oils and plumping hyaluronic acid, you know it’s good for your skin, too.
3. Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation
£72, Chantecaille
This next product might not be cheap, but if you’re looking for dewy skin that glows with health and vitality, it might be worth the rather hefty price tag.
Chantecaille future skin gel foundation is an award-winning ultra-lightweight foundation that seems to melt luxuriously into the skin, leaving it looking impossibly fresh and luminous.
Gel foundation that comes in a jar might seem strange, but the rave reviews of this product say otherwise – and because it’s made with water and seaweed, the gel texture is refreshingly cool on the skin. The formula is also buildable, so you can create your perfect level of coverage, and the light-reflecting pigments smooth away the appearance of lines and imperfections.
This gel foundation is also infused with aloe leaf, camomile, and arnica, which gently soothe your skin – and antioxidants including rosemary, green tea, and rice bran help give your complexion an invigorating boost. This is an innovative foundation that elevates and moisturises tired skin.
4. No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced All-In-One Foundation
£17.50, No7
For a great high street buy, head to Boots to try their Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced All-In-One Foundation.
This foundation contains collagen peptide-based technology to plump, pro-retinol to smooth, and antioxidants to ward off free radicals and help protect the skin. With SPF 50+, this foundation also protects against harmful UV rays, and vitamins C & E help to brighten your complexion.
Perhaps the best thing about this foundation is its optical blurring particles, which reflect light away from fine lines, whilst the flexible formula moves seamlessly with your own skin, ensuring a smooth, flawless finish.
As a medium coverage foundation, Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced All-In-One conceals imperfections and smooths out skin tone while still looking natural – though to get the best results you do need to blend properly.
According to surveys, 92% of women said their skin felt smoother after using this product, and 82% said they saw healthier looking skin.
5. Trinny London BFF Serum De-Stress
£39, Trinny London
Another excellent choice if you prefer low-medium coverage you can build up is Trinny London BFF Serum De-Stress.
It may be called a serum, but this is actually a make-up/skincare hybrid that conceals imperfections and balances skin tone while actively defending against the appearance of stress.
Created by TV presenter and makeover expert Trinny Woodall, this tinted serum is highly pigmented and gives skin a polished finish without looking overdone. Packed with neurophroline (a beauty ingredient that’s able to block the production of the stress hormone; cortisol), this serum protects against the fatigued look that stress can create. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps, and antioxidants boost radiance.
Perfect for normal/dry skin that needs a moisturising boost, this product has long-term benefits, and if you want to see how it looks on more mature skin, just head over to Trinny’s Instagram account.
6. Catrice True Skin Hydrating Foundation
£6.95, Catrice
If you’re looking for a foundation that won’t break the bank, Catrice True Skin Hydrating Foundation might be for you. Coming in at under £7, this product can hold its own next to foundations more than ten times the price – plus, it isn’t only cruelty-free, the formula is also entirely vegan.
Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and watermelon seed oil provide maximum hydration and intense moisturisation, and the medium to high coverage is long-lasting.
The finish is more matte than dewy and looks natural yet polished – and the light, feathery texture is excellent at concealing blotchiness, blemishes, and redness.
If you’re looking for a vegan product that has a smooth yet natural finish (and a price tag that won’t make you wince), True Skin is an excellent choice. The clean dispenser, which makes application a breeze, is another bonus.
7. FACE Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro
£26, TILT
Developed for professional makeup artists, FACE Atelier Ultra Foundation is a thick-yet-delicate silicone-based foundation that’s silky smooth enough to double as a primer. Excellent on mature skin, it has a natural breathing ability, and while the coverage is full, it feels incredibly light.
This is a highly pigmented foundation that has buildable coverage and a natural-looking, glowy finish – and because it doesn’t need to be set with powder, the lovely dewy finish is perfectly preserved and lasts all day.
The formula also has soft-focus properties that reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
With 18 shades, another perk of Ultra Foundation is that it comes with unique colour adjusters that allow you to adapt your shade as necessary. This means you can darken your foundation for the summer months when your skin is sunkissed, and lighten it for the colder winter months.
8. Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Wear Hydra Foundation
£31, Smashbox
If you prefer oil-free foundations and like to buy products that are fully vegan as well as cruelty-free, why not check out Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Wear Hydra Foundation?
Packed with hyaluronic acid, it plumps and smooths your skin while leaving a natural matte finish. Though the coverage is medium to high, the formula is so light that it feels like a breathable veil on your skin, so you never have to worry about that dreaded cakey finish.
Oil-controlling particles also reduce the appearance of excess shine and ensure your flawless complexion lasts all day.
Sweat and transfer-resistant, the buildable coverage allows you to touch up your look in the evening without it feeling at all sticky or heavy.
Final thoughts…
No matter how healthy your skin may be, it’s a fact of life that everyone’s skin changes with age. While this is a natural part of getting older (and ageing is absolutely something to be embraced). it does mean that your makeup will usually change along with it.
Generally speaking, lightweight, hydrating formulas are best for mature skin. Therefore, water-based formulas, or formulas with moisturising agents like hyaluronic acid, are usually a good idea.
Some foundations can settle into fine lines and look cakey, so it’s best to look for foundations that provide good coverage while still remaining light and dewy.
There are many different foundations that are aimed at mature skin, and the ones in the list above are some of the very best. With varying prices, textures, formulas, and finishes, hopefully you’ll be able to find the right foundation for you, and feel confident that your skin will look even, dewy and luminous all day long.
Do you use any of the foundations above? Or perhaps you have some additional recommendations you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.