Editor Tip: If you do want sheer coverage, just apply it with a powder brush as a substitute of the included sponge.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, apricot extract, rosemary extract | Available Shades: 17
Best Talc-Free Formula: IT Cosmetics Celebration Full Coverage Powder Foundation
Why It’s Worth It: Most powder foundations are built with minimizing excess oil in mind; they tamp down shine and help blur pores. What sets this IT Cosmetics formula apart is a lineup of powerful skin-care ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, and antioxidants like niacinamide and vitamin C, which help brighten skin — putting it amongst the most effective foundations for mature skin, full-stop. Another bonus: Celebration Full Coverage Powder Foundation is talc-free (which provides formulas a silky feel but can look chalky) and leaves skin with a radiant finish.
Editor Tip: It is available in only seven shades, which could also be a troublesome sell for some skin tones.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide | Available Shades: 7
Best Non-Comedogenic: L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder
Why It’s Worth It: This TikTok-viral foundation makes skin look professionally airbrushed and feels just as lightweight, too. Available in 20 shades, L’Oréal Paris’s oil-free Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder won’t crease, settle in wrinkles, or clog pores, making it a winner for those with combination skin. Plus, it’s heat-proof, so it may possibly see you thru the hotter months without caking up or feeling heavy, and comes with a flat sponge applicator designed to lend more versatility.
Editor Tip: When used dry, this drugstore powder lends a natural finish, but — as Black mentioned — dampening the sponge first will turn it as much as full coverage.
Key Ingredients: Silica, dimethicone | Available Shades: 20
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the most effective powder foundation for mature skin?
While powders aren’t Black’s first selection for mature skin, which tends to be dry, “there are some recent formulas that contain hydrating ingredients and really high quality texture,” Black says. “The more silky the powder, the higher it would work on mature skin.” Black can be a fan of hybrid formulas that transform right into a powder finish, as these also are likely to work higher on mature skin than traditional powders.
Ideally, it is best to swatch the formula in your skin to get an idea of the finish. “Look for a formula that’s not completely matte,” makeup artist Nick Barose says. “It should reflect light a bit so that you get that healthy, luminous glow together with the coverage.”
What’s the most effective solution to apply powder foundation on mature skin?
Applying foundation to mature skin, regardless of the style of formula, should revolve around one thing: moisture. To that end, “Start by prepping your skin with a heavy moisturizer and permit it to take a seat for no less than 10 minutes,” says Black; this method allows the moisture to sink in before applying primer and prevents pilling. Black recommends searching for a primer for mature skin with a semi-matte finish.
