Celebrity Makeup Artists Share Their Favorite Foundations for Ages 50 and Up

What the pros use on their celebrity clients with aging skin concerns.

By Tatiana Bido, Aesthetic Content Manager · Jun 17, 2022

Sisley Paris

They have access to every makeup brand and beautify clients of all ages, which is why celebrity makeup artists are our best resources for nailing down the products that really work. For older clients with mature skin, certain foundations work better than others. If we learned anything from the recent viral hoopla over Jones Road’s What the Foundation ($44)—it was blasted by younger influencers on social media for being too sheer and balmy, but used by makeup artists who say it’s better for drier, textured skin—it’s that some foundations work better for mature skin. Here, our celebrity experts share the products they reach for the most when enhancing skin that has a few lines and wrinkles.

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Celebrity makeup artist Tim Quinn shares that he is obsessed with how Sisley-Paris Sisleÿa Le Teint Anti-Aging Foundation ($159) works on aging skin. “For years I’ve added a few drops of my favorite serum to my favorite luminous foundation to give added skin-care benefits as well as a smoother look. This foundation eliminates that need. Skin looks smoother, fresher and younger—and it lasts for hours!”

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“I’m loving working with Tom Ford’s Traceless Matte Foundation ($89)” says iconic makeup artist Sandy Linter. “The matte part helps smooth over larger pores and the traceless part is that you can’t tell you’re wearing a matte foundation. It doesn’t get stuck in wrinkles and very importantly, it seems to smooth out dry, older skin. The colors are so amazing and there is not an ‘old lady shade’ among them.”

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“Glow, not shimmer or oily shine, is the main objective when choosing a base for mature skin,” shares celebrity makeup artist Matin Maulawizada. “You want to look at it on an area of your skin that is driest or most lined and see if it makes the skin look healthy and hydrated.” Matin’s go-to formula is Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Hydrating & Moisturizing Foundation ($82). “I love it for several reasons—the fact that it’s a cleaner formula is on the top of my list. It’s also beautifully glowy, yet oil-free which allows me to use rich products over it and not worry about the foundation sliding. It also looks like skin, has gorgeous coverage and is buildable in areas where more coverage is needed.”

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Celebrity makeup artist Omayma Ramzy prefers using matte and lightweight foundations for mature skin. “One of my favorites is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($65) as it sets seamlessly,” she says. “It gives a lovely matte finish but still leaves the skin looking luminous and youthful without getting too heavy or cakey.” Ramzy shares it’s really important to keep skin hydrated prior to makeup application. “I use a facial oil, like my Bedouin Elixir ($112) face oil, so that it won’t feel too tight, dry, or become patchy throughout the day.”

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“Look for something that is hydrating. Anything matte will settle into fine lines and wrinkles, which is what we want to avoid,” says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman. “Someone with aging skin should also look for a product that is smoothing to help with any texture issues, as well as brightening properties to give the skin a healthy glow.” Her pick? LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation ($22) which she says helps smooth skin texture over time.

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“I love foundations created with skin-care ingredients, like Lancôme Absolue Cream Hydrating & Replenishing SPF 20 Foundation ($69), because they replenish your skin for a look that is radiant and ageless,” says celebrity makeup artist Ermahn Ospina. “When choosing a foundation for aging skin, look for ones that have skin-care benefits and have SPF protection for a beautiful look that also protects your skin.”

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Celebrity makeup artist Joyce Bonelli says the trick really isn’t finding one specific foundation brand that works for everyone in one age group; it’s more finding a foundation that works best for your skin needs. “I’d use the least amount of powder and instead, use a tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation like Estée Lauder’s Double Wear ($46),” she advises. “To prep the skin for makeup on my clients that are 50-plus, I love using my Joyce Bonelli Cosmétiques For the Gods ($25) serum and The Facelift Temporary Face Tightener ($25) to help tighten and improve skin texture.”

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For clients with skin conditions like rosacea, celebrity makeup artist Hailey Hoff will reach for IT Cosmetic’s CC+ Cream Full-Coverage Foundation with SPF 50+ ($42). “If it’s for someone who struggles with rosacea or has broken capillaries, I’ll use it because it was designed to be a full coverage to conceal such things on the skin, but still doesn’t feel like a lot of makeup on your face and it has SPF 50 which is an added bonus.”