Foundation for Mature Skin: Why What Used to Work Might Not Anymore

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Foundation for Mature Skin
When it comes to foundation, we are often inclined to stick to the one we have always used. It’s quite a tough shop when you’re faced with so much choice and so many different types, colours, coverage levels.
So I’m going to try and break it all down for you. And if you still can’t quite figure out what you need, come and see me for a quick tutorial and try of products.

Why Foundation Changes as We Age

Learning how to apply foundation to mature skin is like starting all over again, what you thought you knew suddenly doesn’t work.
If your usual products aren’t delivering the results you used to love, then it’s definitely time for a change. As we age, our skin changes, so it makes sense that this also means we need to change our makeup routine and the products we use.
There are also now so many beautiful products that not only give you youthful coverage, they also give you skincare as well.
The frustration I find when doing makeup lessons is my clients feeling like their current foundation is making them feel older, as it often highlights what you want to hide. Products are often sitting in the lines on the face and making them feel worse.
Sometimes it might just need techniques to be adjusted, maybe a different prep, or a complete change of products.
 

How to Choose a New Foundation for Mature Skin

There are a few things to keep in mind. The first one is that as we age, our skin is going to crave hydration, nothing heavy or that’s going to be drying or too matte on your skin.

What to look for:

  • Liquid formulas over powder-based products
  • Light to medium coverage that is buildable
  • Words like satin, radiant, or water-based
  • Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides (stimulate collagen/elastin), and niacinamide
What to avoid:
  • Matte foundations, as they will settle into fine lines and look less youthful
If you really can’t live without a powder foundation, look for a baked one, which will likely have creamy pigments locked in.
 
Application Techniques
1. Moisturise
Always start with a clean, well-hydrated face, so make your skin prep a really important part of your makeup routine.
Use a serum, then a good hydrating moisturiser to plump the skin. This is always going to help you look better, feel better, and help your makeup sit well on the skin.
If you have a lot of dryness, add an emollient, but only to the areas where you are seeing dryness. You don’t want to overdo it. Let it absorb fully, otherwise it will create slip.
 
2. Prime
Some people skip this step, but I think adding a primer is a really important step.
It creates a barrier between skin and makeup, stopping the skin pulling moisture out of your foundation and leaving it looking dry and patchy.
(Makeup doesn’t go patchy, skin absorbs the moisture from the product, leaving the dry ingredients behind.)
It also stops foundation sinking into lines and gives you longer-wearing makeup.
  • Use a hydrating primer on dull, dehydrated areas
  • Use a smoothing or blurring primer on pores or deeper lines
 
3. Foundation
I don’t really recommend using your fingers, as when I watch people do this they tend to move the product around too much and not really get the coverage where it’s needed.
Start with a brush using light buffing movements. Then I would always encourage you to take a damp beauty sponge and bounce the product into the skin.
This will:
  • Push the product in properly
  • Stop it sitting in lines
  • Allow you to add coverage only where needed
Don’t apply in heavy layers, build your coverage gradually where it’s needed.
4. Powder
I would avoid this as much as possible.
If you do need to use powder, choose a very finely milled translucent loose powder and only apply it to areas where your face moves the most.
 
5. Setting Mist
Apply a setting mist to prevent products drying out or moving.
 
Final Reminder
Always remember when it comes to foundation on mature skin — less is definitely more.
 
Product List
  • Cleanser
  • Toner
  • Pixi hydrating mist
  • Weleda Skin Food
  • Embryolisse cream
  • Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Base (good primer)
  • e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer
  • NARS Tinted Moisturiser
  • NYX Buttermelt Glaze
  • Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint
  • Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
  • NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
  • Trinny London Just a Touch
  • Laura Mercier Tinted Blur Balm
  • Haus Lab Foundations
 
  • Morphe Continuous Setting Mist
  • Pixi Glow Mist
  • Sponge
  • Brush
  • Powder puff

You can pop over to my ShopMy and shop all of my recommended products here.