18 Best Foundations For Women Over 40 [2023]

Looking for the best foundation for women over 40? Here are our top 18 picks for all skin types and skin concerns over 40.

There’s no one “right” foundation for women over 40, as the best choice will vary depending on your individual skin type and needs. However, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite foundations for mature skin, from full-coverage options to tinted moisturizers and everything in between.

What to take into consideration when picking a foundation for mature skin:

-Your skin type: If you have dry skin, you’ll want to look for a foundation that offers hydration and moisture. Oily skin types will need a foundation that mattifies and controls shine, while combination skin types can benefit from a foundation with light-to-medium coverage.

-Your desired finish: Do you want a dewy finish or a matte finish? This is entirely up to personal preference, but it’s something to take into consideration when choosing a foundation.

-Your desired level of coverage: Are you looking for a full-coverage foundation to cover up imperfections, or are you more interested in a light-to-medium coverage foundation that evens out your skin tone?

-Not settling in fine lines: One of the biggest concerns when it comes to mature skin is foundation settling into fine lines and wrinkles. To avoid this, look for foundations that contain hyaluronic acid or other skin-plumping ingredients.

-Liquid foundation vs powder foundation: This is again entirely up to personal preference, but we tend to find that liquid foundations work better for mature skin as they’re typically more hydrating. That being said, powder foundations can be a great option for oily skin types or those who are looking for a matte finish.

How To Get The Best Finish With Your Foundation

An expert tip I once learned from a professional makeup artist is to play around with the application of your foundation. Some foundations apply better with a sponge, others with a brush, and even more with just your fingers! Test different methods until you find the one for you.

Another tip that works well for me is to use a hydrating primer before applying foundation. This helps to create a smooth canvas for your foundation and also adds an extra layer of moisture to the skin.

If you’re looking for a dewy finish, mix your foundation with a few drops of face oil. This will give you a beautiful, glowy finish that looks healthy and natural.

For a matte finish, set your foundation with a translucent powder. This will help to control shine and keep your makeup in place all day long.

Now that you know what to look for in a foundation for mature skin for the best foundation for women over 40:

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation

If you’re looking for a foundation that will provide full coverage and help to disguise any imperfections, we recommend the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation. This long-wearing formula is available in 40 different shades, so you’re sure to find a perfect match for your skin tone. It’s a thick foundation as far as foundation formulas go, so a little goes a long way!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

For a more natural-looking foundation that still offers good coverage, we recommend the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. This foundation is buildable, so you can customize your level of coverage, and it’s infused with skin-care ingredients like glycerin and vitamin C to help keep your skin looking healthy. This is one of my top picks!

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream

If you have dry skin, you may want to consider a foundation with built-in skincare benefits, like the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. This foundation is packed with hydrating ingredients like collagen and hyaluronic acid, as well as SPF 50 to protect your skin from the sun.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

For a light coverage option that will help even out your skin tone, we recommend the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. This formula contains SPF 20 to protect your skin from the sun, and it’s available in 20 different shades so you can find the perfect match for your skin tone.

ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation

If you’re looking for a lightweight formula and glowy foundation, try the ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation. This foundation is made with 80% skincare ingredients like aloe and vitamin E, and it comes in 24 different shades.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

If you have sensitive skin, be sure to look for a foundation that is non-comedogenic and won’t clog your pores. We recommend the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, which is available in 14 different shades. This foundation is oil-free and contains SPF 30 to protect your skin from the sun.

Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation

If you want a natural, radiant finish foundation with clean ingredients, try the Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation. With medium coverage, it’s perfect for all skin types. With medium buildable coverage, it contains ingredients like oat milk to hydrate and soothe the skin. Plus, it comes in 8 different shades.

Saie Slip Tint SPF Tinted Moisturizer

For light to medium coverage on normal to dry skin, try the Saie Slip Tint SPF Tinted Moisturizer. This tinted moisturizer has a dewy finish, is available in 12 shades, and contains SPF 35. It has enough coverage to cover dark spots and large pores while still protecting from future sun damage.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation

If you’re looking for a full-coverage foundation that will give you a flawless finish, we recommend the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation. This long-wearing foundation is available in 55 different shades, so you’re sure to find a perfect match for your skin tone. It’s very full coverage and has been loved for many for years and years.

RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up Cream Foundation

The RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up Cream Foundation hydrating foundation is jam-packed with good for you ingredients. Working as skincare, it gives a beautiful glow with no greasy residue. The coverage is buildable full and it’s very hydrating!

TOM FORD Traceless Soft Matte Foundation

The formula is buildable, it has a light-to-medium opacity and a smooth finish, and the 40 shade range is outstanding. It’s suitable for dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles thanks to hyaluronic acid.

La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 is a great choice for women in their forties who want full coverage. This product is light and feels wonderful on the skin, plus the coverage lasts all day long without pilling or creasing! This one is ideal for people with oily skin.

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation

The Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation is ideal for women in their thirties with mature skin who want a full coverage foundation. It doesn’t make your skin feel heavy or cause breakouts, and it provides excellent coverage. Micro–filTM technology is used in the formulation, which allows buildable color pigments to lay flat for seamless blending and layering.

Dior Airflash Spray Foundation

The Dior Airflash Spray Foundation is a lightweight foundation that is water-resistant and gives complete coverage while feeling like nothing on the skin. You’ll appear airbrushed for up to 12 hours. This is a foundation that many individuals swear by! If you want a full-coverage product, try this one!

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30

The Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30 is another fantastic choice if you’re searching for a full-coverage foundation with SPF 30 protection. This item provides long-lasting wear that won’t fade or settle into pores, and it’s also supposed to hydrate your complexion.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow Foundation

The Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow Foundation is another fantastic choice for women in their 40s. This product has a natural, medium coverage and is meant to be hydrating as well! It also has skincare benefits, so you’ll get the best of both worlds with this foundation! It’s recommended by professional makeup artist

wet n wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator Tinted Skin Veil, Nourishing Foundation

Wet n’ Wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator Nourishing Foundation is a sheer-coverage foundation with a semi-matte finish. It’s made up of hyaluronic acid and squalane, two hydrating and nourishing skincare ingredients. This is one of the finest matte foundations available right now! It’s also one of the best drugstore foundations out there.

Purito BB Cream

The Purito BB Cream is another wonderful option for women in their forties. This product provides light to medium coverage with a natural finish and SPF 50 sun protection! It’s free of parabens, mineral oils, and artificial scent, so you’ll get all of the benefits without any of the negatives. It’s what I would call a perfect foundation with active ingredients that actually help your skin! A little goes a long way and you can adjust the coverage to your preference from a lighter coverage for a natural look to full coverage for a night out.

In Summary: Best Foundation For Women Over 40

When choosing the best foundation for women over 40, it’s important to keep in mind your skin type and desired coverage. I hope this list can help you find the right foundation for you! Let us know in the comments which one you pick!