Easy Expert Tips for Wearing Powder Foundation if You Have Mature Skin (2024)

We love a powder foundation because it's easy to use and ultra-lightweight, but it can be tricky to use on dry or mature skin. Here's the thing: makeup artists agree that if you experience fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, or dullness, then you should generally opt for creams, not powders, be it foundation, blush, or eyeshadow. "Powder foundations can settle into fine lines and accentuate rough patches or dry texture," says Rea Ann Silva, celebrity makeup artist and founder of BeautyBlender. However, that's not to say that a fresh-faced and smooth finish with a powder foundation is impossible. If you want the ease and convenience of a powder foundation, here's how to get the most out of your formula.

How to apply powder foundation on mature skin

Focus on good skin prep with hydrating products, says makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. Begin with a damp, freshly washed face or spritz a facial mist before following up with a serum or moisturizer, she says. Silva agrees and suggests adding a hydrating primer to your routine. Once the skin is clean and moisturized, it's time to apply powder foundation. The key here is to "apply only where coverage is needed," says Gerstein, which helps avoid the chances of the product settling into texture or spotlighting dryness.

If you like a layer of foundation all over the face, Gerstein says to make sure you work and buff the product into your well-hydrated skin so it doesn't look cakey. "Bouncing a damp beauty sponge over the finished face helps give a second-skin look by reducing the surface layer of product," she adds. Another way to make skin appear more radiant and prevent settling or cracking is to apply a hydrating setting spray once you've finished applying your makeup, says Silva.

What to look for in a powder foundation for mature skin

Powder formulas today contain hydrating and blurring ingredients that can smooth the look of uneven tone and texture. Silva also recommends formulas that contain light-reflecting particles or ones that have a luminous finish. Matte finishes can work as long as you follow Silva's biggest piece of advice: "Ensure skin is well-moisturized and prepped before applying the foundation." Ahead, shop powder foundations for mature skin.

The experts:

• Rea Ann Silva, celebrity makeup artist and founder of BeautyBlender.
• Suzy Gerstein, New York City-based makeup

This dermatologist-approved foundation is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types, including those experiencing rosacea and psoriasis. It has a weightless texture with light to medium coverage. It's only available in nine shades, however, it has color-correcting swirls of pigment in each pan to help adjust to a range of skin tones. Apply it with a kabuki brush for more coverage and then (as our experts mentioned) feel free to go over it with a damp powder or setting spray to avoid potential creasing, cracking, or settling.

If you're looking for a powder foundation that won't break the bank and can easily be found at your local drugstore, consider this option. It's a full coverage formula so a little goes a long way, but it has a natural-looking finish. You may want to try Gerstein's tip of applying powder only where you need it if you don't want something super full coverage. "The center of the face tends to be where we have the most discoloration, so those are the areas where I focus the highest concentration of product and blend the what's left towards the edges of the face."

Loose powder is a great option because it's very versatile in application. Lightly dusting this formula on your face will give you sheer, natural coverage that looks like your skin, only better. Add a few more layers and you can get a full-coverage look for a special night out or event. The best part is it won't settle into pores, lines, or wrinkles, thanks to mica, a mineral that gives a luminous, silky finish.

The Tarte Amazonian Clay liquid foundation was such a huge hit that the brand decided to come out with a powder version. Enter: this long-wearing vegan iteration with buildable coverage. The formula contains multiple hydrators, like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and castor seed oil so it doesn't sit heavy on the skin and helps retain moisture. It also has optical blurring powders to smooth the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores for an airbrush finish. Amazonian clay helps keep potential oiliness at bay.

For skin that looks poreless and smooth, reach for this luxury compact that makes on-the-go touch-ups effortless. The formula contains a blend of botanical extracts, including iris to protect skin, wild pansy flower for its hydration properties, and rose to refine the complexion. It comes available in 16 shades and has a natural matte finish that doesn't make skin look dry. Note: this formula does contain fragrance so if you have very sensitive skin, it may not be for you.

The truth is that powder foundations don't offer as extensive shade ranges as their cream and liquid counterparts. However, Fenty Beauty always keeps inclusivity top of mind, which is why this medium coverage foundation comes in 50 shades, from very fair to rich and deep. The formula also has a soft blurring effect that makes large pores, fine lines, and wrinkles look smoother, without looking or feeling cakey. It’s also sweat, humidity, and crease-resistant.

Whether you experience acne scarring, active breakouts, or age spots, this loose powder foundation effortlessly conceals discoloration and offers a more even and radiant complexion. It's a non-comedogenic formula, meaning it doesn't clog pores, and it contains kaolin clay to control excess oil. The mica gives a subtle, soft glow. It only comes in 12 shades because it adapts to multiple skin tones. The coverage is medium to full so you can customize to your liking.

This medium-coverage foundation works overtime to perfect skin and provide protection against environmental aggressors. It's packed with antioxidants, like resveratrol, flavonoids, and ellagic acid, to combat free radical damage, which can exacerbate signs of aging. It also maintains skin's natural hyaluronic acid levels to help with hydration. Available in 36 shades, the formula doesn't crease, crack, or settle into lines. Instead, skin is left looking fresh and even.

Our beauty team is dedicated to finding you the best of the best formulas. We spoke with makeup artists to learn about what to look for in a powder foundation and got their go-to recommendations. We also researched and tested top-rated and brand-new formulas that hit the market to help you find the best products out there.