Foundation that doesnt settle into wrinkles 2022

These ultra-hydrating liquid and cream formulas keep skin looking dewy, fresh, and plump.

Allure/Soleil Summer

Regardless of age, your perfect foundation is likely one that does a pretty great job camouflaging your unique skin concerns while giving you a flawless finish. However, there comes a time where you might want to enlist in one of the best foundations for mature skin the market has to offer. We're here to guide you on the best options that address things like fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture — you know, all naturally occurring things that happen when you live long enough to acquire infinite experience and wisdom.

As you grow older, your complexion gains texture, but that's nothing to fret about. You just need to know what you're dealing with when choosing what makeup products to buy. "Fine — or not so fine — lines and larger pores can make foundation look mask-like at best and incredibly unflattering at the worst," explains makeup artist Fiona Stiles. "Finding a [hydrating] foundation that melts into the skin is paramount for looking fresh. Anything too heavy will settle into lines and do the opposite of what you're looking for." 

Makeup artist Tony Tulve recommends choosing liquid foundations, as they "act more like a second skin" and leaning into the "less is more" philosophy when it comes to application. (You'll see what we mean when you read through this list.) 

Once you've landed on your dream formula, the key is to only dot foundation in the areas you need coverage the most, instead of slathering it on all over, which makeup artist Nick Barose says can read as "severe." Tulve suggests tapping the product in with your fingers, blending outwards as needed, and using minimal powder — as it can emphasize lines and texture, the very things you're probably trying to downplay.

Now that you've gotten the low-down, we present to you the best foundations for mature skin, hand-picked by experienced makeup artists and editors. Most of these options are spiked with moisture-boosting ingredients that never result in cakey finishes and are ideal for enhancing the innate beauty of older skin.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

• Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick

  Westman Atelier's Vital Skin Foundation Stick is ideally suited for mature skin. This 2022 Best of Beauty winner is loaded with skin-nourishing ingredients like squalane for moisture and phytosphingosine for soothing and calming the skin.

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  Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

  The latest foundation creation from Charlotte Tilbury, the aptly named Beautiful Skin Foundation, was an instant hit with Allure editors. The 30 shades blur imperfections in such a way that you get gorgeous medium coverage, and yet the foundation itself seems undetectable in its seamless, natural-looking finish. Packed with hyaluronic acid, it hydrates immediately and also works behind the scenes to improve skin's smoothness and brightness over time.

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  L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation

  There's no need to spend a lot to get a foundation that adeptly addresses the needs and concerns of mature skin. L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation is a perfect example of affordable awesomeness. It has been formulated specifically not to settle into lines, its lightweight blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and aloe hydrates as it helps skin look more even. And we're never mad at a little extra sun protection atop our usual sunscreen: SPF 50, to be exact.

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  Beautyblender Bounce Always On Radiant Skin Tint

  This foundation has become a family affair for Allure contributing editor Marci Robin, 42, and her mother, 70. Both are obsessed with Beautyblender Bounce Always On Radiant Skin Tint and what they say is the perfect combination of buildable coverage, comfortable moisture, and lightness. "I always thought that as I got older I'd reach for fuller-coverage foundation, but as it turns out, it's lighter formulas that make my skin look its most radiant," Robin said shortly after its 2021 launch. "I cannot get over the instantaneous, natural-looking glow it gives me — it's like what I'd hope my complexion would look like without makeup if I stuck to my skin-care regimen more diligently."

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  Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Perfector 4-In-1 Whipped Matte Makeup

  Less is way more with Maybelline New York's Instant Age Rewind Perfector 4-In-1 Whipped Matte Makeup. This foundation promises to be your primer, concealer, powder, and BB cream all in one delightfully soft texture. If you love a less dewy look but would prefer to skip powder that so often settles into lines, this is the way to keep shine at bay and still look fresh-faced. And don't be scared off by the fact that there are only six shades — the self-adjusting tints cover a huge range of skin tones, from Fair/Light to Deep.

• Wander Beauty Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation

  Makeup artist Delina Medhin tells Allure that the skin-like finish of Wander Beauty's Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation is perfect for any skin tone and "can be applied with hands very easily." Not only will people of every skill level find the doe-foot applicator easy to work with, but it's also packed with calming centella asiatica, tone-evening niacinamide, and alpha-hydroxy-acid-infused lotus extract to "reduce redness in the skin and cover hyperpigmentation," she explains. 

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  Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF 40

  More and more brands are hearing the cry for makeup that treats skin like skin care, and Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation is one of the most sophisticated answers to that demand. Despite its lightweight serum-esque feel, it offers medium to full coverage; and despite that ample coverage, it doesn't cake or settle into lines. You can thank its major dose of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and extracts of watermelon, apple, lychee seed. Enjoy its benefits for an amazing 12 hours — even in heavy humidity.

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  Tarte Shape Tape Cloud Coverage

  Cloud Coverage could not be a more accurate name for this foundation. The latest member of Tarte's Shape Tape family, it has a dreamy, airy texture and fantastically buildable matte coverage that not only refuses to settle into lines and pores but actually makes those little blips less noticeable. You can go literally all day without creasing or transferring, all the while feeling comfortable hydration and looking radiant.

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  Nars Light Reflecting Foundation

  If you're one to frequently find yourself being photographed (selfies count), the new Nars Light Reflecting Foundation is a must. Aside from making you look subtly, beautifully blurred in real life, it's formulated to make you look your most radiant and smooth on camera — truly a must in this social-media and video-meeting world. And the best part: Its skin-loving ingredients — like peptides and turmeric — actually improve your complexion with regular wear, so it looks glowing and gorgeous even when you're not wearing it.

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  BLK/OPL True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15

  BLK/OPL's True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 glides on like butter and provides a full-coverage, velvet-smooth finish without budging or fading for hours — and no, it doesn't seep into fine lines or pores. This foundation stick, which comes in 21 shades specifically made for deeper skin tones, is also formulated with vitamins C and E, which work together to hydrate while delivering skin-nourishing antioxidant properties. This under-$15 foundation is also a Best of Beauty Awards winner.

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  Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Skin Foundation

  Are we really surprised that Dame Pat McGrath gets the votes of two professional makeup artists, Lavonne and Tulve, with her Best of Beauty-winning Sublime Skin Foundation? "The foundation is seamless and looks like a second skin — and it can be worn by the youngest teen to Dame royalty," Lavonne tells Allure. 

  Tulve also points out that the fluid-like formula self-sets (meaning, no need for powder) and "boosts natural hydration," thanks to the addition of glycerin. The carefully curated shade range features 36 shades that cover light, light-medium, medium, medium-deep, and deep skin tones, as well as neutral, warm, and cool undertones — because you simply can't expect less than perfection from Mother.

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  Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

  Constantly name-dropped by makeup artists and makeup wearers alike, the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation has earned its icon status with ample accolades, including an Allure Best of Beauty Award. Makeup artist and photographer Beau Nelson counts Meghan Markle's favorite foundation as a go-to for mature clients due to its soft-focus finish and weightless texture.

  Medhin says that the hydrating formula is ideal for someone looking for minimal coverage, but her advice is to always moisturize regardless. "It's the first step to beautiful makeup," she shares.

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  Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Foundation

  If dropping over $50 on a bottle of foundation is out of the question, we suggest checking out Sephora Collection's Best Skin Ever Foundation. Not only is it reasonably priced and comes in an extensive 50-shade range, but the light-to-medium-coverage formula actually lives up to its lofty "Best Skin Ever" name by infusing skin-care benefits.

  Similar to your favorite moisturizers, it's spiked with three all-star hydrating ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, which attract water to the skin and maintain a healthy barrier. What you're left with is a naturally dewy complexion free of visible lines and texture. Allure staff writer Nicola Dall'Asen says the gel-like formula becomes "virtually undetectable" once it's blended into the skin, which means it's a winner in our books.

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  Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro

  Count Tulve amongst the fanbase for the silicone-based, oil-free Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro, which has a built-in primer and self-sets — thus cutting down your base routine to one easy step. But the real stars of this buildable, sheer-to-full formula are the "optical blurring pigments [that] diminish texture and fine lines" which, in the absence of powder, leaves a dewy finish that lasts all day. 

  While there are only 14 complexion shades in total, Face Atelier offers four "adjuster" shades (white, brown, black-brown, and mango red) to deepen, lighten, or customize the formula to match specific undertones.

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  Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

  Once you try Ilia's Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 for yourself, you'll instantly understand why it earned itself an Allure 2020 Best of Beauty Award. Infused with moisturizing ingredients such as squalane, shea butter, niacinamide, and sodium hyaluronate, it imparts a finish that can be best described as impossibly glowy and fresh-faced. 

  If that wasn't enough to convince you, the light-to-medium-coverage base doubles as a mineral sunscreen that provides more than the dermatologist-recommended broad-spectrum SPF 30, so you stay protected against UVA and UVB rays.

• BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20

  This classic foundation has been a favorite of ours for as long as we can remember for its full-coverage finish. Each of the 30 shades of BareMinerals' Original Liquid Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 comes infused with hydrating squalane, firming peptides, and texture-refining minerals. These ingredients — along with the foundation's naturally radiant, skin-like finish — work hand-in-hand so your complexion can look its best, with or without makeup.

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  Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation

  Dry skin types will instantly welcome the Best of Beauty-winning Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation, which plumps skin and resists settling into fine lines. Beneath its radiant, satin finish, this lightweight liquid foundation is packed with moisture-attracting glycerin and ginseng to support natural collagen production. We're willing to bet that the serum-like formula won't even feel like you have any makeup on at all.

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  IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skin Care

  IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skin Care functions more like a tinted serum than a foundation. The "Skin Care" in its name refers to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin E, which minimize the appearance of pores and unwanted texture while contributing to a radiant finish. Allure senior commerce writer Sarah Han says the buildable formula lends her skin "a layer of noticeable evenness and brightness, while not looking caked on or overly done." 

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  Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation

  Chantecaille's Future Skin Foundation features an innovative gel-cream texture and radiant finish, making it a favorite of both Nelson and fellow makeup artist Molly Stern. "It feels amazing on and has enough dewiness even for mature skin," Stern says. "The coverage is sheer but very buildable for the days when you need more."

  What's more: You'll discover a slew of soothing ingredients such as aloe, chamomile, and antioxidant-rich green tea, which work in harmony to calm distressed skin and minimize redness and irritation.

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  Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation

  Nelson reaches for Tom Ford's Traceless Soft Matte Foundation for a smooth, renewed-looking finish that looks like skin but fancier. This medium-to-full-coverage base is spiked with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E to avoid any sort of drama with fine lines and wrinkles. As a result, it's even suitable for oily skin types that are prone to blemishes.

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  La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation

  Another go-to for Nelson, La Mer's The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation pushes the boundaries of what we have come to expect from our makeup. Infused with the brand's hero ingredient, Miracle Broth (which includes soothing fermented sea kelp), the foundation hydrates skin while also offering antioxidant and SPF 20 protection. (As a reminder, dermatologists recommend wearing an SPF of at least 30, so keep your go-to sunscreen on hand regardless.)

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  Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

  The name itself is music to the ears of dry skin types. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint is an Allure Best of Beauty winner that doesn't sacrifice hydration for coverage — that's the whole idea with this drugstore foundation tint. The big doe-foot applicator makes application a breeze, which in turn, makes the job of blending even easier. Use a damp makeup sponge to really set it in for a seamless finish.

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  Surratt Beauty Surreal Skin Foundation Wand

  If you're a fan of those nifty click-pen concealers (don't ever change, YSL Touche Éclat), you'll likely fall head over heels for Surratt Beauty's jumbo-sized Surreal Skin Foundation Wand, which dispenses foundation evenly and never cakes on mature skin. "The built-in brush allows you to achieve perfect coverage as it buffs the product into your skin, and the formula is just dreamy," Stiles says. "It creates a perfectly even canvas and never settles into pores or fine lines."

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  Sisley Paris Sisleÿa Le Teint Foundation

  Sisley Paris's Sisleÿa Le Teint Foundation has the Barose mom stamp of approval, and it's easy to see why. The oil-free formula imparts a radiant glow while offering skin-firming benefits — via potent ingredients like soy peptide extract, which stimulates collagen production — over continued use.

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  La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-In-Foundation

  La Prairie's ultra-luxe Skin Caviar Essence-In-Foundation is a game-changer for its velvety emulsion texture and potent formula infused with hydrating and firming caviar water — the same stuff found in many of the brand's skin-care products. The only downside, though? It's only available in eight shades, but here's to hoping for a shade expansion in the future.

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  Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation

  Japanese brand Koh Gen Do's Maifanshi Moisture Foundation has won fans worldwide with its light-diffusing, ultra-hydrating formula — Barose being one of them. In regards to older skin, "[Look for a] liquid foundation that hydrates, tones down redness, blurs lines, but can also be worn sheer," he says. Jojoba seed oil (which helps reduce sebum production), squalane, and shea butter are just a few standout ingredients that'll contribute to a healthy-looking, wrinkle-free complexion.

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  Allure Beauty Box

  This February, discover your new favorite products with Allure's Beauty Box, filled to the brim with products (valued at $250, our highest ever) beloved by our editors, including a full-sized U Beauty Resurfacing Compound and Christophe Robin Daily Hair Cream with Sandalwood.

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