We Tested Dozens of Foundations on Mature Skin, and These 18 Didn’t Settle Into Fine Lines

The Dior Backstage Foundation left us completely creaseless, greaseless, and speechless. One single swoop across the face was all it took to look as though we’d been professionally touched up in Photoshop. Adult acne, uneven complexion, and patches on the cheeks were quickly covered in an even layer. We can’t express how delighted we were to discover the redness under the nose and chin to be completely hidden. Using a sponge or our fingertips (a brush took slightly longer to fully blend), the foundation glided smoothly across our skin, and even covered the dark circles under our eyes despite not using any concealer!

Once on, it felt incredibly smooth and invisible. It did not leave a greasy or heavy feeling on the skin, but rather a lightweight and airy one — a surprise to us, considering the full-coverage look it created. When we dabbed our skin with some blotting paper, it revealed how the foundation matted down our oily complexion to create a beautiful and healthy glow instead. The overall effect? Looking naturally younger rather than caked up. We love this foundation so much that we wish it came with more shade options for darker skin tones. Although there are 36 shades offered, the majority of them cater to lighter skin tones, with only a handful catering to darker skin tones.

Coverage: Full | Shades: 43 |  Size: 1 oz

Tried and true, we can always rely on L’Oréal to deliver quality products in an inclusive color range. When we tried this Radiant Serum Foundation (which, by the way, comes with an additional 50 SPF sunblock), we learned it held a medium coverage fit for blurring over our complexion in a single sweep. If we wanted a little extra coverage, as we did for our red cheeks, we were easily able to build over it with additional applications. We’re happy to report that the extra layering didn’t weigh down the formula or begin to feel cakey.

In order to create this “radiant” look that the foundation is named after, it does have a bit of a wet appearance to it. That doesn’t mean it’s runny, simply a little oily. We would want to set this up with a primer or finish it with a setting powder for a more matte finish. After about half an hour, it also began settling into the creases around our eyes, particularly if we had built on a few layers. A single layer kept the overall look pretty smooth. We think this would be a great summer foundation, considering the inclusive color range, medium coverage, and added SPF.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 30 |  Size: 1 oz

You don’t need much else once you’ve covered your face in this Chanel foundation. The luxuriously soft formula glided smoothly over the skin, requiring minimal effort to blend over the whole face. It had a matte, full-coverage finish without feeling caked on, patchy, or bumpy over our wrinkles and acne. Truly, we got great, natural-looking coverage with minimal product.

Despite this fabulous coverage, the formula felt light and creamy on our faces — not necessarily hydrating, but not drying and heavy either. It settled in quickly without creasing, and it maintained its soft and silky look throughout the day. We were happy to find something that gives a pore-refining finish, eliminating blemishes and dark spots without combining three different products. The Chanel Foundation did it all in one go.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 35 |  Size: 1 oz

If you want something to aid your skin in looking its best naturally, then you want a light coverage foundation. This best-selling option from Giorgio Armani created a beautiful silky finish, veiling any imperfections and reducing redness. It’s pretty sheer, but we could build on it without ever feeling cakey on areas that needed a little more coverage. That being said, you’re definitely going to want to go in with a concealer to cover any hyperpigmented areas (like old scars and dark under-eye circles).

The hydrating formula felt like a real treat on the skin. It’s almost cooling and soft, providing a watery and silky touch. It comes out in a delicately soft, almost serum-like consistency that simply glides over the face with little effort. It was neither patchy nor did it cling to any area. Even when we exaggerated our expressions, it did not crease into our fine lines. The dewy look was beautiful, particularly in the summer. When we wanted a little more coverage, we patted it down with a powder.

Coverage: Low | Shades: 40 |  Size: 1 oz

The Nars concealer is a famed favorite, so we were excited to test it and see whether their foundation lived up to the hype. To no one’s surprise, we instantly fell in love with this silky, full-coverage foundation. To start, it’s very liquidy, so it only required one pump of the perfectly opaque foundation to cover the full face. Despite it being so rich with color, it didn’t look cakey or obviously made-up on the skin. It simply looked like our skin, but much better, as if it merged with our complexion to look well blended and uniform.

On top of how great it looks, it also feels invisible. It’s featherlight, so it doesn’t weigh down or feel sticky. It creates a dreamy natural finish that doesn’t require a powder afterward (unless you like a really matte look). It’s formulated without mineral oil, silicone, or parabens, so we can feel good knowing we’re doing good as well. Thanks to its fresh feel and moisturizing capabilities, we believe it would make for a great summer foundation.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 36 |  Size: 1 oz

Foundations with built-in SPF are just *chef’s kiss* for extra protection. At an SPF of 20, it’s a nice amount of extra coverage to build on your sunscreen (The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher). We loved how smoothly and evenly this foundation glided on. There were a couple of dark spots that still required some touch-ups with a concealer, but overall, it did a great job of blurring away any inconsistencies. On mature skin, professional makeup artist J Guerra prefers the combination of medium coverage and concealer rather than full-coverage, as it “will give a more natural finish, allowing you to build up in areas where you need more coverage with a fuller coverage concealer.”

We recommend using a brush over a Beautyblender when applying this foundation. The brush did a much better job at evenly spreading the formula, requiring fewer pumps to cover the entire face (two, to be exact). Once on, the medium coverage foundation had a slightly drying effect, so we suggest layering some moisturizer underneath first. The formula feels lightweight with a satiny, almost powdery finish, so there’s no need to layer on a pressed powder afterward.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 30 | Size: 1 oz

For nearly 30 years, BLK/OPL has been offering affordable makeup to darker skin tones, and in these three decades, they have perfected the Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation. It only took one pump of this full-coverage foundation to cover the hyperpigmentation on our face, creating an evened-out appearance without looking heavily made up.

The foundation blended seamlessly into our skin, drying pretty quickly into a smooth finish. It felt like our own skin, but better, thanks to its lightweight nature. If we needed to, it would be easy to layer any other product over it. The foundation achieved a smooth finish with minimal manipulation, even covering creases on our foreheads and around the eyes effortlessly. No matter how much time had passed, our fine lines remained hidden under the foundation. We even noticed how our pores around the nose and cheeks were no longer as noticeable as before.

The more it dried, the more natural it looked, and we felt confident and radiant over our complexion. That being said, it’s not particularly hydrating, so we do recommend layering some moisturizer underneath first.

Coverage: Full | Shades: 12 |  Size: 1 oz

One thing Fenty Beauty is going to have is an extensive color range, so rest assured you’ll find the perfect hue-match here. For our best over 40 foundation, we picked this medium to full-coverage option that conceals without caking. The formula is lightweight but highly pigmented, so it felt and looked good on. We used less than two pumps to achieve our desired look: A soft matte complexion with all our dark spots perfectly covered. Anything that needed additional coverage was easy to build on, as the foundation dried quickly, and the second layer blended on naturally.

We had to appreciate how all of our forehead lines, creases around our eyes, and nasolabial folds were expertly blurred over without looking obviously caked up. Because it matted down so quickly (not to be mistaken with looking dry), there was practically zero transfer onto our fingers or clothes. Our skin looked normal and not tacky, hydrated yet not wet. It also stayed put throughout the whole day without getting runny or falling into the bumps on our skin.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 50 |  Size: 1.08 oz

This foundation fuses skincare and makeup into one formula, providing skin health benefits on top of a smoothed-out, beautiful complexion. Wearing this medium-coverage foundation made us look and feel healthy, natural, and glowy.

The formula features hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, vitamins E and B5, and hepes acid, which hydrates and heals sun-damaged skin and improves elasticity. It didn’t sink deep into the skin, nor did it sit afloat on the surface — it felt like the perfect balance of not being intrusive, yet covering our imbalanced skin.

We preferred using a sponge over a brush to blend this foundation out, as it helped cover up some of the acne-scarring a little better this way. It would occasionally clump around the scars without proper blending, so we spent a little more time stretching the foundation over those areas. Once applied, it created a dewy finish with a beautiful glow. Thanks to its fast-drying qualities, it didn’t transfer onto fingers or clothing either. Overall, we were very happy with all that this foundation provided.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40 |  Size: 1 oz

Pat McGrath’s Sublime Perfection foundation has an array of winning points. The first is that the lightweight formula is buildable, so we were able to customize our look from little coverage to full-coverage, and we did so without getting a heavy or stuffy feeling on the skin. The second is that the formula glided right over our forehead creases, nasolabial folds, and bumpy chin, concealing any unevenness. Even after several hours of wear, the foundation never settled into those fine lines. Lastly, it’s oil-free, so our pores felt clog-free, and it gave us a clean feeling throughout the day.

We would still require a concealer to go over some dark spots if we wanted to stick to a single or double layer. In other words, the foundation isn’t a one-stop shop for perfect coverage. But we didn’t mind since a concealer is already part of our everyday makeup routine. The final look is a satiny finish, which looked radiant and beautiful on its own. However, it could use powder for a more settled look. Considering the wide range of shades Pat McGrath offers, the lightweight feel, and the ability to cover fine lines the whole day, we think this would make a fantastic everyday foundation for women over 50.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 36 |  Size: 1.18 oz

Dark spots can be tedious to cover, and their shades can range from deep to light. We recommend this buildable and well-pigmented foundation to even out your look and hide any discrepancies. Although it applies quite light at first, it settles and dries very nicely. It’s not oily and almost absorbs moisture instead, so we recommend this for people with oily and combination skin types. Once on, it feels soft, gentle, and breathable, covering up any redness around the cheeks and darkness under the eyes. Despite feeling weightless, its opaque coloring leveled out inconsistencies and brightened our complexion. Did we mention it comes with a mineral sunscreen of SPF25 protection? A true win.

We also loved how it didn’t settle into any fine lines or wrinkles. The product almost moves along with our facial expressions, without sinking into our pores. And while we love the dewy finish of it on its own, a nice setting powder might be the cherry on the cake for a perfect look.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 36 |  Size: 1 oz

We love a good two-in-one foundation. Thanks to its hydrating ingredients, this option left our skin supple, smooth, and hydrated, even after removing the foundation. With the help of ginseng, camellia japonica, and mondo grass, this foundation created a visibly softened and moisturized look well after it was wiped off the skin.

Overall, the coverage was light yet buildable. We needed one layer to even out skin texture and remove redness and a second layer to cover up dark spots and darkness under the eyes. With two layers, we had the perfect coverage that created a radiant and smooth glow. Even with two layers, the formula never felt heavy or cloggy. Instead, it felt lightweight, almost watery, and held a pleasant scent, thanks to the skincare ingredients, making the application process feel luxurious. If only it included SPF, then this would be the perfect foundation.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 24 |  Size: 1.01 oz

Those with oily skin often seek out a matte finish for their foundation. The Tom Ford Foundation takes mattifying a step further by drying down our oily complexion and minimizing excess moisture. We preferred using a sponge to pat down this formula, as it created an airbrushed effect for us. It covered the whole face and settled in quickly, leaving zero residue or transfer onto clothes and fingers. As for the coverage, it did a great job at blurring over most of our sun spots and redness. For any darker blemishes, we touched them up with some concealer.

Almost instantly, the foundation dried down to a powdery and lightweight feel on our skin. It created a great neutral base to layer on any additional products, particularly if we wanted to add some of that targeted illumination on the cheekbones. As for additional powder, we’d advise against it as the two powdery consistencies might create creasing.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40 |  Size: 1 oz

Westman Atelier’s Vital Skin formula works both as a foundation and a concealer. It can achieve a minimalist look or be built upon for maximal coverage. Add on the fact that it travels well, and you’ve really got a one-stop shop for most of your base makeup needs.

We were impressed with just how creamy and easily we could sweep this magical stick across our skin. The consistency allowed us to cover blemishes, redness, and the hollows around the eyes to create an evened-out and enhanced look. We found using our fingers the best to spread the creamy formula. For more targeted areas (like under our eyes), we dabbed the sponge around and used the stick as a concealer. Overall, the formula blended well around the face, and we were able to achieve the look we desired, which was a natural, skin-like finish.

Don’t worry; It did not look patchy, nor did it cling onto the dry areas of the skin — we didn’t even notice any creasing on our foreheads. It almost melted into the skin to create a very natural yet bright look. We will say though, it may be beneficial to add on a contouring stick or a bronzer to fully round out the overall look, as this serves more as a light base.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 21 |  Size: 1 oz

We have to give it to Gucci here; they truly did not hold back on creating one of the most impressive and luxurious foundations on the market. Though, this is a full-coverage foundation, which may not be to everyone’s liking. Still, we only needed one pump to cover all our imperfections, concealing our darker shadows, uneven skin tone, and bumpy textures to create a smooth surface. While it’s noticeable that we are wearing makeup, it’s not cakey or overly dewy either. The opaque formula dries down almost instantly to reveal a matte, natural-looking layer over the surface. All it took was one pump and one sweep and we looked as though we were touched up by a professional makeup artist.

Despite its full-coverage and matte finish, it’s neither heavy nor drying. As a matter of fact, it’s impossible to detect any kind of feel on the skin other than a comfortable, breathable sensation. It was easy, therefore, to go about our day without the foundation beginning to run, melt, or dry up. It remained perfectly intact, hiding our pores and creases expertly without requiring touch-ups. We do recommend applying this with either your hands or a brush, however, as we found a sponge would absorb too much of the product.

Coverage: Full | Shades: 40 |  Size: 1 oz

We’ve been having some rosacea around our cheeks for some time now, and it’s been a little tedious trying to cover it up. Finding the best foundation for redness took a little more effort, but this Intensive Serum Foundation from Bobbi Brown made no hassle out of blending right over our hyperpigmentation. If one layer wasn’t enough, we could easily build on top of it without feeling heavy. It also never settled into fine lines, no matter how much we layered as time passed.

Bobbi Brown has an excellent color selection, so it was easy to find a shade match for our skin tones. The finished result had a dewy glow without looking too oily or wet. As a matter of fact, it felt more drying than anything, so we still recommend setting the skin up with some moisturizer firsthand. Thanks to its dry nature, however, it doesn’t transfer onto clothing that easily and stays on the whole day impressively.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shades: 23 |  Size: 1 oz

We tested this foundation on our post-menopausal skin, which features fine lines and wrinkles throughout, It passed with flying colors! Since heavy foundation tends to settle into creases, this lightweight formula was just perfect. It evened the redness around our nose and between our eyebrows, covering some of the hyperpigmentation on our cheeks. Not once did it create a patchy look or cling onto any bumps. Instead, it smoothed over the surface in a single luxurious pump, blurring imperfections and camouflaging shadows to create a look that resembled our real skin, but ten years younger.

A quick blotch test with our fingers and blotting paper revealed that there was no transfer either, which is quite impressive. That’s because the formula sunk into the skin in a moisturizing and nourishing way. The brand, which originated as a skincare line, blends skincare benefits into the formula to create a 360-degree beneficial product. We only wish more people could benefit from these results, as the foundation isn’t offered in a wide range of colors.

Coverage: Light to medium | Shades: 10 |  Size: 1.01 oz