Foundation for older skin

[Pleasedontdothat]

I’m 62, not particularly wrinkly but my skin is definitely ‘mature’. I’d like to be able to look a bit more polished when I go into the office/go out but I’m struggling to find makeup which frankly doesn’t make me look worse. I don’t like heavy foundation so I’ve tried a couple of tinted moisturisers (Clarins, Jones Road, No. 7) but they still tend to sink into lines or sit on top of my skin so to be honest I don’t think it looks any better than going completely makeup-free. Has anyone found anything worth trying or am I looking for the holy grail? I’m fair-skinned with historically combination skin but getting drier as I get older.

Always use primer, ideally one for mature skin. If you have a foundation with a colour you like, make your own tinted moisturiser by rubbing a little of it into your moisturiser and maybe add a little gel highlighter too. You can use a blemish stick for the odd areas that you think it would benefit, such as under your eyes.

I'm 51 and i've always used bareminerals. Recently i've found it a bit cakey, as my skin has gone haywire during peri. I need a heavier base moisturiser now, and the mineral powder just doesn't apply well over tacky skin.
I've been using this, and i'm really liking it (it doesn't clog in fine lines etc).
I use a damp sponge to apply a base coat of it then dab on some more with the sponge to build it (and i'm using elf setting spray too). I really recommend it 🙂

If you don't need a lot of coverage, have you tried BB or CC creams instead of foundation? I use Erborian CC Water when I want just a tiny bit of extra, and CC Cream for a little more coverage. Both are super light and don't sink into lines or pores.

I would suggest just using concealer if you don't want a heavy base. Otherwise, I'd recommend Chanel Les Beiges or Chanel Ultra le Teint- the latter is fuller coverage but lovely on the skin and not at all cakey or inclined to sit on top (I know what you mean by this).

Erborian CC creme is brilliant for this IMO. Just a slight veil without any feeling of sitting on the skin.

I have recently tried all the following which get a lot of recommendations. They are all decent but Erborian CC is the one I will be returning to.

Erborian BB - bit more coverage than the CC, not as light reflecting. Not much shade choice
NARS Sheer Glow - prefer Light Reflecting and shades wrong for me
NARS Light Reflecting - lovely, but light shades too yellow for me
Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser - ok, but not as good as Erborian, bit more matte than I’d like
Laura Mercier foundation - good but definitely a foundation, heavier than the others. For a night out/occasion
Trinny BFF - Similar to Erborian BB, more shades
MAC Face & Body foundation - very thin, almost watery texture. Need to build it to have any effect
Lisa Eldridge skin tint - nice and light, shades not right for me

Agree you may want a richer moisturiser than you’ve been used to.

I'm 52 and can no longer wear heavy foundation. I've tried all of the expensive brand light foundation, tinted moisturisers etc and by far my favourite is the cheap and cheerful L'Oréal Magic BB. I much prefer it to Erborian which I also like. It's about £8 so not much lost if it doesn't work for you!

Erborian will always be the answer to this question.

I’ve just switched to Erborian. I used to use Estée Lauder double wear light but it no longer suited my skin + they stopped making it.

I have skin like sandpaper and use a heavy duty moisturiser so I needed something that would work with it. Much of what I tried tended to pill because of the moisturiser, primer made the situation worse.
I now use the red correct (I have very bad rosacea) and the BB cream on top and my skin has never looked better.
Edited to add, I’m 70

All the make up artists I follow on instagram etc go on and on about the importance of prepping your skin and I really do think it makes a big difference. I haven't really got to grips with "proper" primers, but there's no doubt that when my skin is smooth and well moisterised, the make up looks better. I love the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched face base for when my skin feels a bit dry even after I've done my skincare. I've also found as I've got older I have to use some sort of exfoliator more often - no more full cleanse at night and a quick splash of water in the shower in the morning.

I also think that how we apply make up has to change as we get older. Check this video from make up artist Katie Hughes. I have been amazed what a difference this makes to the way foundation goes on.

As for foundations, I've also been impressed with the L'Oreal stuff. I use the True Match supper blendable foundation that comes with hyaloronic acid. This is my daily. I also love the Trinny BFF one but it's a lot more expensive!

Adding to the Eborian love on here, both BB and CC. They just work on older skin. Very subtle, blurs imperfections .. you but just better.

Agree, Eborian is great. However I have recently discovered Lisa Eldridge skin tint which I think is even better for me. I'm in my early 60s.

I'm early sixties with quite good skin with some lines and no longer often use foundation as it looks so much worse than bare skin as I've aged over the past few years, I used to wear it every day. I've also stopped using any under eye concealer as every single one, including those recommended on here, sank into fine lines and emphasised them.

I have found that Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint is an excellent very light foundation. It's very sheer, sheerer than a tinted moisturiser, but somehow improves the look of skin if you want something more than bare skin.

I’m in my 40s but have found that foundation ages me, it takes away any natural glow and I just look like I’ve got foundation on rather than naturally lovely skin. I’ve now virtually stopped wearing foundation in favour of strategically placed concealer (Nars is very good) with cream blusher / bronzer and whatever eye make up I feel like. Personally I feel like this gives me the ‘my skin but better’ look I like without the issues I was experiencing with foundation.

Purito BB Cream is very good and quite inexpensive, the Missha one also. I also like the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer which you could just use on problem areas. Make sure you moisturise well, Embryolisse is good.

I also use this and I really like it, was a bit trial and error to start but I use the right amount for me now, I can use some translucent powder over it without it caking.

Oh I am 54.

I've switched to a Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30 Hydrating Colour Corrector - I'm in my mid 50s and it seems to make skin look brighter without being too heavy, which is what I asked for when I popped into Boots.

Thank you - can you get erborian in shops or just online?

Space NK sells it, maybe John Lewis?

I’ve gone back to Bare Minerals complexion rescue recently and think it’s the best tinted moisturiser if you can find a shade that suits. It’s the perfect weight and feels like skincare and not at all greasy once it sinks in. It’s just luminous.

You may have to search for it online, but the Sensai Bronzing Gel in the soft bronze colour is incredibly light and easy to apply with fingers, and it just lifts and illuminates skin so you look magically better. I have never met anyone who has tried it and not liked it, but the coverage is very very sheer and you will need a separate SPF.

I do like the Erborian CC creams too, but they tend to oxidise on me.

I'm 64 and use the L'Oreal True Match Nude mentioned above. I buff it in with a brush and then go over it with a damp blending sponge. I really like it and it's good value.
I use Eborian CC cream in the summer as it's v light,but even the lightest colour is a bit dark for my skin in the winter.

I'm 68 and Iswear by Revolution Skin Silk. Light with good coverage, ethical and inexpensive.

I use no7 hydroluminous. Works for me. Leaves skin glowy.

I’m liking Origins GinZing tinted moisturiser with SPF40, atm. I got a free mini as a GWP, (which is lasting forever), and have repurchased for when that runs out. I use concealer under the eyes and any other areas that need a bit more coverage.

https://www.allbeauty.com/origins-ginzing-energy-boosting-tinted-moisturizer-spf40-50ml/11396733

I’m 52. I like NARS tinted moisturizer, bare minerals complexion rescue (this is fab but limited shades) and glossier foundation is lovely, buildable and long lasting. All are very light on the skin and are along the lines of ‘your skin but better’ rather than heavier makeup