What type of foundation is best for mature skin?

A foundation with sheer to light coverage is best for older skin. Make sure it has a radiant finish, too, to avoid it looking too dewy or matte.

How do you keep foundation from setting into wrinkles?

Opt for a lighter weight foundation to avoid it setting into wrinkles. A BB cream can also be a great option—just make sure it has moisturizing benefits.

Can foundation really help with anti-aging?

It can, as some formulas are infused with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Even better are foundations that contain SPF, which can help combat the sun's rays (which can cause premature signs of aging like fine lines and hyperpigmentation).

The 8 Best Anti-Aging Foundations in 2022

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Thanks to a potent combo of endless news alerts/a busy work schedule/a constant sense of existential dread, this past year has not been kind to my complexion. Case in point: let me point to all of the above as having accelerated the aging process of my skin. I'm starting to notice fine lines where there was previously smooth skin, and the little furrow between my brows doesn't quite go away when my face is in a natural resting state. So, I kicked my anti-aging skincare routine into high gear, and also picked up an assortment of anti-aging foundations.

They're seriously like magic wands, immediately making your skin look better, and they also work overtime to combat fine lines, sagging skin, and dullness. It's an all-around win. Infused with powerhouse ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and retinol, these foundation picks do more than cover, they help in the long run, too.

Below, are the best anti-aging foundations I've found, tried, and tested.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Lancôme Renergie Lift Foundation SPF 27 at Nordstrom

Best Budget:

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector at Amazon

Best for Fine Lines:

L'Oréal Paris Visible Lift Age-Reversing Makeup at Amazon

Best for Dark Spots:

Laura Geller Filter First Luminous Foundation at Nordstrom

Best Serum Foundation:

Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum at Sephora

Best Splurge:

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation at Bloomingdales

Best Medium Coverage:

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation at Sephora

Best CC Cream:

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ at Sephora

Lancôme Renergie Lift Anti-Wrinkle Lifting SPF 20 Foundation

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Nordstrom View On Ulta

What We Like

Made for all skin types
SPF 27
Feels light on skin

What We Don't Like

Contains parabens

What do buyers say? 1,200+ Ulta reviewers rated this product 4.2 stars or above.

This foundation acts like Spanx for your face. It contains a skin-contouring blend of ingredients that instantly makes your face look more lifted, plus vitamin E and caffeine for anti-aging.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon

Sheer, buildable coverage
Contains retinol
SPF 20

Shade range could be expanded

The mainstays of this drugstore find are that it's super sheer (perfect for those looking for light coverage), and it contains wrinkle-fighting retinol. The only downside: the lack of a wide color range.

L'OrÃ©al Paris Visible Lift Serum Absolute Advanced Age-Reversing Makeup

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Won't cake
Helps fill in fine lines
Provides smooth, even coverage

What We Don't Like

Not the best value

This is a non-cakey, drugstore buy that's infused with a powerful form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, which helps fine lines look less apparent over time.

Laura Geller Filter First Luminous Foundation

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Hydrating formula
Feels light on skin
Blends easily

What We Don't Like

Can be a little oily

This foundation boasts a multitude of skin-saving ingredients, like grapeseed oil and vitamin E, along with instant skin-perfecting micro-pearls. (Read: It claims to work overtime to improve the look of skin while also making it look immediately radiant.)

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Serum

Courtesy of Perricone MD

View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

A little goes a long way
Natural-looking finish
Feels light on skin
SPF 25

What We Don't Like

Expensive

These weightless drops feel like a serum when you apply them and dry down into a slightly matte finish that doesn't settle into lines. DMAE, a compound that helps aging, works within the foundation to make skin soft, supple, and firm.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40

Courtesy of Bloomingdale's

View On Bloomingdales

What We Like

Sinks into skin
Feels light on skin
Silky, natural-looking finish
SPF 40

What We Don't Like

Expensive

A silky foundation that manages to make skin look airbrushed despite being basically weightless. The mushroom and bamboo infused formula sinks into skin for supple, silky coverage.

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Sephora View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Contains multiple actives
Gives skin a glow
SPF 15

What We Don't Like

Can be a little watery

The ingredient list of this full-coverage foundation reads like a high-end serum. A potent blend of mushrooms (to improve texture and firmness), hyaluronic acid (for deep hydration), and vitamin C (to brighten) work in tandem to give skin a youthful glow.

3.8

Courtesy of Macy's

View On Sephora View On Nordstrom View On Ulta

What We Like

SPF 50
Provides smooth, even coverage
Hydrating formula

What We Don't Like

Can oxidize

This standout product is known for its distinctive full-coverage effect that manages to feel (and look!) like you're wearing nothing on your face. In addition to being like an Instagram filter IRL, it's also packed with a powerhouse blend of collagen, peptides, niacin, and antioxidants that claim to work together to fight wrinkles and brighten skin.

While aging is a natural part of life, if you're looking to brighten up your complexion, we highly recommend one of the anti-aging foundations mentioned above. Make sure you know what you want out of the product, and you'll be good to go.

What To Look For in an Anti-Aging Foundation

Texture

Thicker foundations may end up highlighting lines and pores even more, so it's best to opt for a thinner and lighter texture. It'll help smooth all of those itty-bitty lines and keep your skin looking it's best. You'll also want to stay away from anything powder-based for the same reason, since it'll highlight lines instead of conceal.

Finish

Sometimes luminous finishes can be too glowy and matte finishes can be too dry for more mature skin. Something in the middle-ground, like a natural finish, will help achieve the most flattering results. You want your foundation to look like your skin, but better, so remember to keep that in mind.

SPF

Opt to find a foundation with SPF. It helps protect against the sun's UV rays, which can cause skin to age prematurely. Not to mention that it also helps prevent against skin cancer.

FAQ

What type of foundation is best for mature skin?

A foundation with sheer to light coverage is best for older skin. Make sure it has a radiant finish, too, to avoid it looking too dewy or matte.
How do you keep foundation from setting into wrinkles?

Opt for a lighter weight foundation to avoid it setting into wrinkles. A BB cream can also be a great option—just make sure it has moisturizing benefits.
Can foundation really help with anti-aging?

It can, as some formulas are infused with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Even better are foundations that contain SPF, which can help combat the sun's rays (which can cause premature signs of aging like fine lines and hyperpigmentation).

For everywhere below your face: Here are the best wrinkle creams on the market

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.