The best makeup products for mature skin aren’t about chasing youth. They hydrate, smooth, and enhance what’s already there. With the right formulas, makeup can soften fine lines, boost radiance, and help skin look rested and fresh at any age. Finding makeup that works well on mature skin can feel overwhelming—there are hundreds of products that promise to blur lines and deliver big antiaging benefits. Plus, skin changes as you age, and the formulas you might have relied on for years may not necessarily cut it anymore, especially if your complexion has become drier, more textured or thinner.
Whether your goal is to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines or enhance features like your eyes and lips to give you a more radiant, glowy complexion, we’re here to help you get to the bottom of what makeup products really work for older women. Charlotte Twine, a Glamour contributor in her 50s, tested 20 long-wear formulas and then narrowed them down to the top 10 essentials, including foundation, tinted moisturizer, mascara, blush, eye shadow, lipstick, and more. These products not only help soften signs of aging but also make you feel good, no matter your age.
Our top makeup for mature skin
- Best Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy with SPF 30, $50
- Best Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Foundation, $52
- Best Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, $36
- Best Mascara: Thrive Causematics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara, $32
- Best Setting Powder: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder, $39
- Best Blush: Jones Road Miracle Balm, $40
- Best Eye Shadow: Merit Solo Shadow Cream Eyeshadow, $26
- Best Lip Product: Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil, $27
Best Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy SPF 30
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- Pros: Imparts a glowy, natural finish; layers well with other products
- Cons: Formula is very thick; not fragrance-free
Makeup artists recommend hydrating skin tints and tinted moisturizers for mature skin, since they’re less likely to settle into fine lines. “Look for products with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, as both of these ingredients are humectants, which will help draw water into the skin and lay it down smoothly, preventing crepiness,” says Kasey Spickard, a NYC-based makeup artist. This tinted moisturizer has a buildable, sheer-to-medium finish that provides natural coverage and makes skin look softer and smoother thanks to raspberry leaf extract, black grape pomace (for exfoliation), and a prebiotic complex, to balance and strengthen the skin’s barrier.
“I prefer tinted moisturizers like this one over foundations for my skin, since the coverage is sheer and doesn’t get trapped in wrinkles. This product lets the natural rosiness of my skin shine through, while toning down redness. I like that it adds a healthy dewiness without looking like a mask, and I appreciate how quick it is to apply,” says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine.
Key ingredients: Raspberry leaf extract, black grape pomace, prebiotics | Size: 1.5 fl. oz.
Best Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Hydrating Foundation
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- Pros: A little goes a long way; deeply hydrates; gives a smoothing, blurred effect to fine lines and wrinkles
- Cons: Pricey for the size; no SPF
For those who prefer foundation, look for a hydrating foundation formula that won’t crease or crack throughout the day, like this pick from Charlotte Tilbury. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and coconut extract to gently hydrate and boost skin radiance. It performed particularly well on hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and melasma. It goes on smoothly without skipping or pilling, and it’s malleable enough to apply with your fingers—no brush or sponge needed. Best of all: It gives you a dewy, fresh glow without looking greasy or overly made-up.
“If you want a perfect canvas for your makeup without highlighting your fine lines, then Tilbury’s weightless formula is the way to go. Her products are simply the best for mature skin, and this foundation is no different. It provides wonderful coverage while giving luminosity, and showcases makeup like blush and bronzer flawlessly when you are going for a full beat,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, coconut extract | Size: 1 fl. oz.
Best Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
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- Pros: Brightens dark circles; blurs lines
- Cons: Applicator is stiff and non-ergonomic
Brielle Pollara, a New Jersey-based makeup artist, loves this creamy concealer that hides dark circles and smooths. “It does a great job at brightening the undereyes without settling into fine lines or crow’s-feet,” she says. While the applicator could use some help (it’s a bit stiff and hard to grasp), the formula makes up for it due to its smoothing botanical extracts that even out discoloration and address crepiness. The formula is also long-wearing, suitable for dark circles (seriously, they’ll conceal them in a snap), and helps conceal deep wrinkles and lines, all while hydrating the skin.
“This concealer is indeed super creamy and spreads like a dream. It smooths right over my fine lines and does not create crepiness. It spreads so well that I just use my fingers, with no applicator necessary. The formula also provides the perfect coverage for my age spots—it makes them completely disappear without being too cakey,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Botanical extracts, tone-balancing powders that color correct | Size: 0.22 fl. oz.
Best Blush: Jones Road Miracle Balm
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- Pros: Creamy finish; noncomedogenic; multitasking
- Cons: A little greasy; takes a minute to absorb
This cream-based balm provided a healthy flush without settling into lines. It’s a cult-fave that multitasks as a blush, highlighter, and bronzer. The formula’s hero ingredient is jojoba seed oil, which has fatty acids and vitamin E that plump, soften, and increase skin elasticity. It’s a great option for warming up the skin and adding radiance without having to reach for separate blush and bronzer products.
“I love the herbal scent of this plumping moisturizing balm, which I use when I want to give my face a healthy gleam on my less-makeup days. Plus, with continued use, it moisturizes my skin in the long-term. Bonus: The tub is huge, so it will last forever since you only need a little bit for just the right glowy boost,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, vitamin E | Size: 1.75 fl. oz.
Best Setting Powder: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder
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- Pros: Full coverage
- Cons: Can be messy to apply
A great setting powder is also a nonnegotiable in a mature makeup routine because it helps blur fine lines, wrinkles, and areas of texture. If the powder is too heavy, it might seep into those lines and further emphasize them, which is why a finely milled powder, like this one, will minimize shine and smooth texture without pronouncing signs of aging. It blurs lines beautifully. And it imparts a translucent matte finish that won’t crease. Over time, nourishing vitamin E helps smooth out skin and gives it a brighter, clearer look.
“Huda’s setting powder is the GOAT. It’s mentioned constantly on #BeautyTok because of its power to provide a velvety base for a full beat. If you must use a setting powder, this is the best one for mature skin that I’ve tried so far, because it doesn’t settle into my areas of texture like a lot of powders often do. When you use a light hand (and do not apply directly on areas with fine lines), this powder sets your foundation and makes it last forever, plus it provides a great base for any makeup look,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, rice starch powder | Size: 0.22 fl. oz
Best Eye Shadow: Merit Solo Shadow Cream Eyeshadow
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- Pros: Pigmented; lasts all day; crease-resistant
- Cons: Formula dries out over time
Cream eye shadows are far more forgiving on mature eyelids than powders, say makeup artists. This formula applied smoothly, dried down without stiffness, and stayed in place hours later, even well into the evening. The shade gives off a pretty, sheer wash of color that doesn’t crease into wrinkles, and it’s easy to apply with your fingers, making it great for someone mature who might have shaky hands.
“This eye shadow gives highly pigmented color while skimming over fine lines—very hard to find for those of us with mature skin. Older chicks like myself know the frustration of using a dry powder eye shadow that falls into every crack in your delicate eye skin and makes you look 85 instead of 55. You can completely avoid that problem with Merit’s shadow, which also lasts forever,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Jojoba oil | Size: 0.17 fl. oz.
Best Brow Product: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
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- Pros: Highly pigmented; easy to use
- Cons: Breaks easily, so you have to use a light hand
Thinning brows are common with age, and this pencil excelled at mimicking real hair. One end is a pigmented pencil that can help you fill in sparse spots, and the other is a spoolie to help comb hairs and keep them in place. This one stays put all day—even through hot flashes. Pro tip: We recommend pairing it with an eyebrow growth serum for even longer-lasting results.
“This is the product that I carry with me daily in my purse! One of the bummers that comes with aging is that my eyebrows are disappearing. But I honestly don’t worry about it because of this awesome pencil. It has the perfect texture to create hair-like strokes and fill the empty spaces, and also to draw in a perfect shape without looking artificial. It also lasts through my sweaty hot flashes. Love, love this product,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Carnauba wax, soybean oil | Size: 0.085 g
Best Mascara: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
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- Pros: Gentle; need only one to two swipes; doesn’t clump
- Cons: A little messy
This mascara for sensitive eyes comes highly recommended by Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. This is because as you age, the delicate skin around your eyes can become increasingly thinner and more fragile. Choosing an ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-approved mascara can help you avoid redness, inflammation or discomfort. “The tubing mascara formula makes it less likely to flake or smudge throughout the day, reducing the risk of eye irritation,” she says. It also removes easily with warm water, which helps to avoid the tugging and rubbing that can be especially irritating for sensitive (or mature) skin. It contains shea butter and castor seed oil to help condition lashes, making them softer and less prone to breakage (which can happen as you age and your follicles begin to thin).
“In addition to my eyebrows disappearing, my lashes have decided not to stay around as I get older. This mascara provides much-needed fullness, and since thick lashes hide my eye bags a little bit, it instantly makes me look more awake. In addition to my eyebrow pencil and eyeliner, it’s a must in my daily five-minute makeup routine. It also stays on and doesn’t flake throughout the day,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Shea butter, castor seed oil, orchid stem cells | Size: 0.38 fl. oz.
Best Lip Product: Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil
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- Pros: Sheer, buildable coverage; can be used on lips or cheeks
- Cons: The formula is thin which makes it hard to build up; bottle leaks
Pollara recommends liquid blush for mature skin, because it gives the skin a natural-looking flush and a bouncy finish. “Liquid blush doesn’t settle into fine lines the way powders sometimes can, and it can give you a fresh, hydrated look,” she says. This lip and cheek oil packs a blend of safflower oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil to hydrate and nourish. The gorgeous red shade is easy to blend with your finger—no brush or sponge required.
“It gave my mouth the lightest wash of a delicate red, like a watercolor. After adding a few more layers, it got ramped up into a Studio 54 level of glossiness. The oil isn’t greasy either, just slick and super moisturizing. What’s more, it’s the perfect blush for my cheeks, which have pink undertones, and is extremely bendable with no harsh lines,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Safflower oil; jojoba oil; sunflower seed oil; castor oil | Size: 0.23 fl. oz.
Best Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
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- Pros: Lightweight; hydrating; makes makeup budge-proof
- Cons: Scent isn’t for everyone
Any good mature makeup routine should close with a long-lasting setting spray. This cult-favorite formula is waterproof and sweat-resistant, and keeps makeup from creasing or smudging throughout the day. It has a skin-like finish and gives a soft blurring effect, making it a great makeup finisher to minimize lines and deep wrinkles. The best part? It elongates makeup wear for hours, so it doesn’t smudge or crease throughout the day, even in areas that have a lot of wrinkles (like crow’s-feet or around the mouth).
“My makeup does not move when I use this spray. Period. Hard to do, especially because my hot flashes usually melt my makeup right off. It also provides a nice glow without looking sweaty, and hydrates areas where I have dry skin,” says Twine.
Key ingredients: Glycerin, film formers | Size: 4.0 fl. oz.
Frequently asked questions
What should you look for in products for mature skin?
Hydration is key, says Spickard and Pollara. “Look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or squalane, lightweight and buildable formulas, and luminous finishes,” says Pollara. It’s also important to choose products that will help smooth texture and support skin without drying skin out, like skin care and makeup with peptides, antioxidants and SPF.
What are your tips for getting flawless makeup on older skin?
“Start by keeping your skin hydrated with a good moisturizer and serum. Always use a primer to smooth out texture, and choose a liquid or cream foundation instead of powder,” says Pollara. Then, apply thin layers and build up coverage slowly, using your fingers or a damp sponge for a natural finish. “Go for cream blush and subtle highlights to add a youthful glow, and avoid heavy matte finishes.”
Is it better to use powder or liquid foundation for mature skin?
Spickard only recommends using hydrating liquid foundations on mature skin, as powder foundation will settle into fine lines and make texture more apparent. Check out our step-by-step guide to applying foundation on mature skin.
What makeup should mature skin avoid?
In addition to powder foundations, the artists recommend avoiding anything too matte and too full-coverage. “Use products that are radiant and light to medium coverage for best results,” says Pollara.
How we tested
We tapped a mature Glamour contributor who’s in her 50s to test 20 makeup products of different types and categories. She narrowed these down based on a handful of criteria, including ingredients, application method, and longevity. These picks were the very best of the best—they helped minimize the appearance of wrinkles, enhanced plumpness in the face, and overall resulted in brighter, radiant skin and glow.
Meet the experts
- Brielle Pollara, a New Jersey-based makeup artist
- Kasey Spickard, a NYC-based makeup artist
- Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
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