As skin changes with age, your make-up routine might need a few tweaks, too. Fine lines, wrinkles and changes in skin texture can affect how products sit on the face.
This doesn’t mean you need to throw out all of your favourite formulas or completely overhaul your make-up bag. Often, it’s simply a case of finding the right products and changing how you apply them.
Skincare prep matters, too, as well as knowing where to apply products and how much to use. But what actually works? I spoke to Dr Joanne Jacob, a board-certified dermatologist, to get her advice on everything from preparing the skin to how to use your favourite products properly.
Whether you’re looking to achieve a dewy base, avoid foundation settling into fine lines or find a flattering way to define your eyes and lips, these expert tips should hopefully help you feel confident in your routine.
Read more: Best anti-ageing day creams
How should you prep mature skin before applying make-up?
Prep can go a long way in helping your makeup sit better on your skin. Dr Jacob recommends starting with a clean and moisturised base.
Using “a gentle, unfragranced cleanser followed by hydrating serums (hyaluronic acid or glycerin) and a final lock-in with rich, moisturising creams sets the stage for an even make-up application.”
She adds that you should only apply in thin layers and give each layer a minute or two to settle so your products don’t pill or slide. And don’t forget: mature skin tends to be drier because it produces less oil, so always moisturise.
Avoid these skincare or make-up prep mistakes
Over-exfoliating is a big mistake people make, according to Dr Jacob. “Over-exfoliating with chemical products before make-up application can create dry or rough patches that can create patchy make-up application. This can include alcohol based toners, retinoids, or acids.”
Also, if you want to avoid emphasising the appearance of fine lines, apply powders in light, thin layers.
Should you apply foundation with a brush, sponge or fingers when working with mature skin?
The best tool is simply a clean tool, Dr Jacob notes, but adds that her favourite is a flat foundation brush. This helps you thin out the foundation with a gentle application, whereas the likes of a sponge require multiple pats, which can pull up and emphasise dry patches.
“Fingers are great for warming up product and allowing easier blending, but also be careful with too much rubbing as this friction can again emphasise textural issues,” she adds.
How much foundation should you use on mature skin?
While you might feel tempted to use more foundation to cover up fine lines or dry patches, Dr Jacob assures that when applying this step, less is more.
“Build coverage in thin layers, and even consider mixing your foundation with a serum. Thick layers can crease easily. I love a tinted sunscreen or serum foundation for this very purpose.”
What to consider when applying make-up to mature skin
“I think the most important thing is to think of makeup as a part of your skincare routine,” Dr Jacob says. She stresses the importance of incorporating sun protection, moisturising ingredients, and avoiding fragranced products.
And of course, remember to remove make-up every night to “avoid irritation and clogged pores.”
Best foundations for mature skin
Dior backstage face and body foundation
When reviewed by Jo Fairley in her guide to the best foundations for mature skin, the Dior backstage face and body foundation took top spot. She described it as packing a “knockout punch” coverage-wise, with one single light application concealing her redness.
She wrote: “Created from 94 per cent natural ingredients, offering the skincare boost of hyaluronic acid and plant-derived squalane, it also really lasts on skin – still there beyond teatime, natural and radiant.”
Buy now £41, Boots.com
NYX Professional Makeup bare with me blur tint foundation
She also tested a budget-friendly option with the NYX Professional Makeup bare with me blur tint foundation. Fairley writes that it’s “packed with silicones,” and has a hydrating formula that’s kind to mature skin.
She added: “The 24 shades include a great selection for deeper skintones, and from the get-go, coverage is medium. It comes in very lightweight flip-top packaging, so if you do like to touch your foundation up while out and about, it’s ideal. “
Buy now £9.99, Boots.com
Best moisturisers for mature skin
Lancôme rénergie H.P.N UVMUNE SPF50
Dr. Jacob emphasised the importance of moisturiser, and the Lancôme rénergie H.P.N UVMUNE SPF50 was our top rated option when Jane Druker put the best moisturisers for mature skin to the test. In her review, she noted Lancôme’s distinctive scent, adding that the formula has a powerful blend of “hyaluronic acid, over 300 types of peptides, and niacinamide to firm, smooth and protect from the sun.”
Buy now £56, Lookfantastic.com
Q+A collagen face cream
For a budget option, Druker also loved the Q+A collagen face cream. “This best-seller from budget-friendly brand Q+A has a creamy formula that works to improve skin suppleness, plumpness and elasticity, making it really well suited to mature skin like mine,” she wrote.
The collagen is naturally derived from seaweed and magnesium, which she notes work to “brighten and tighten.”
Buy now £12.5, Amazon.co.uk
Meet the expert
- Dr Joanne Jacob: Board-certified dermatologist
Looking for more skincare tips? These are the best moisturisers for acne-prone skin
