7 Best Drugstore Foundations for Mature Skin for Smooth Coverage

Finding the best drugstore foundations for mature skin used to feel like looking for a needle in a haystack—shades ran too light, textures were too thick, and anything with real coverage seemed to magnify dryness or fine lines. But these more approachable foundations have since caught up, delivering high-end performance without the high-end price. “Drugstore foundations are now better than ever,” says Catrina Breitweiser, a makeup artist based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, who has noticed formulas becoming more hydrating, flexible, and skin-like across price points.

Our Top Drugstore Foundations for Mature Skin

• Best Overall: L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum, $21
• Best Full Coverage: e.l.f. Cosmetics Soft Glam Satin Foundation, $9
• Best Medium Coverage: Maybelline Super Stay Lumi-Matte Longwear Foundation, $16
• Best Light Coverage: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint, $12
• Best Long-Wearing: Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer, $12
• Best Waterproof: CoverGirl Outlast Extreme Wear Foundation, $11
• Best with SPF: Nyx Professional Makeup Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint SPF 30, $16

As skin naturally becomes drier with age, foundation for mature skin has to do more than just even out tone—it has to stay flexible and move with the skin, rather than sit on top and settle into fine lines. Experts recommend looking for barrier-supportive ingredients that make that possible: “Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, ceramides, and vitamin E help hydrate, plump, and keep the skin comfortable throughout the day,” says Breitweiser. That added hydration gives the formula a bit of “slip,” allowing it to glide over texture and shift with facial expressions rather than cracking or caking as the hours go on. Combine that with the fact that shade ranges and finishes have improved dramatically, and shopping at the drugstore has never been more worthwhile for aging skin.

Best Overall: L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum

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L’Oréal Paris

True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum

$21$16(24% off)

Amazon

$21

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum is a skin care and makeup hybrid that feels like an easy shortcut for dry, mature skin. Just like some of our favorite traditional face serums, it features hyaluronic acid to pull water into the skin and form a light, invisible film that helps prevent moisture loss, especially helpful as natural HA levels decline with age. “This gives the most natural, skin-like finish I’ve found at the drugstore,” says Breitweiser, who likes that it enhances your complexion without masking it. “It hydrates, evens tone, and never settles into fine lines.” The serum foundation even comes with a dropper, and the brand suggests applying it with your hands, just as you would a typical serum.

Best Full Coverage: e.l.f. Cosmetics Soft Glam Satin Foundation

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E.L.F. Cosmetics

Soft Glam Satin Foundation

$9

Amazon

$9

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: If full-coverage foundations have left you looking cakey in the past, e.l.f.’s Soft Glam Satin Foundation is a pleasant surprise, especially for mature complexions. The texture is creamy and densely pigmented, so it quickly covers redness, discoloration, and melasma without needing multiple applications. The formula enhances your complexion with glycerin, which adds hydration; dimethicone, which helps it glide smoothly over uneven texture; and the brand’s hibiscus complex, which provides antioxidant benefits that help support radiance and keep dry skin looking less dull. “You’ll get great buildable coverage with this foundation, and a little goes a long way,” says Pilar DeMann, a makeup artist based in Washington Depot, Connecticut. “If you find that the pigmentation is reading a little too heavy, you can thin it out with moisturizer.”

Best Medium Coverage: Maybelline New York Super Stay Lumi-Matte Foundation

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Maybelline New York

Super Stay Lumi-Matte Foundation

$15$12(20% off)

Amazon

$15

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: For anyone who’s been wronged by a flat matte in the past, allow Maybelline’s Super Stay Lumi-Matte Longwear Foundation, a 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, to restore your faith. Rather than drying down to a powdery, chalky finish, smoothing silicones create a soft effect that helps blur the look of fine lines, while glycerin and niacinamide support hydration so skin stays comfortable and balanced throughout the day. Perlite, silica, and kaolin also absorb excess oil, which helps prevent the foundation from slipping or separating—which especially important on mature skin, where texture can become more noticeable as makeup breaks down. Coverage lands nicely in the medium range, but it’s highly buildable. “When applied in thin layers, it delivers impressive coverage without feeling heavy or drying,” says Breitweiser. “It’s a great option for long days or special events.”

Best Light Coverage: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

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Neutrogena

Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

$12

Amazon

$14

Walmart

Why it’s worth it: If you prefer light coverage that’s so breathable you forget you’re wearing it, Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint is worth considering. Ideal for extra dry, mature complexions, the water-gel formula is a blend of glycerin and hyaluronic acid that pulls moisture into the skin and keeps it feeling supple throughout the day, helping makeup glide over texture rather than settling into fine lines. “It’s lightweight, hydrating, and very forgiving on texture,” says Breitweiser. “It’s perfect for mature skin that prefers a fresh, natural look over heavy coverage.” The tint evens tone just enough without masking the complexion, and while it comes in only 10 shades, the sheer, flexible finish makes it easier to blend across a broader range of skin tones.

Best Long-Wearing: Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

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Milani

Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

$12

Amazon

$13

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: For long-lasting coverage that doesn’t migrate into fine lines, Milani’s Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 hits the mark. It’s a matte foundation, but the silicone base gives it a smooth, spreadable texture—and glycerin helps retain moisture so it doesn’t dry down into a flat or chalky finish. “It holds up well throughout the day while still maintaining a smooth, natural finish,” says Breitweiser. “It’s a great balance of coverage and comfort.” It’s also waterproof and sweat-proof, so it won’t melt off halfway through the day, and the medium-to-full coverage can double as an undereye concealer or spot cover without creasing. The 45-shade lineup is especially impressive, offering a wide range of undertones so more people can get a closer match.

Best Waterproof: CoverGirl Outlast Extreme Wear Foundation

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CoverGirl

Outlast Extreme Wear Foundation

$11

Walmart

Why it’s worth it: There are plenty of reasons mature skin might want a waterproof foundation—long workdays, misty winter or humid summer weather, or the occasional menopausal hot flash can all break down makeup faster when skin runs dry, and product tends to settle. CoverGirl’s Outlast Extreme Wear Foundation tackles that with a three-in-one formula that functions as foundation, primer, and concealer in a single step. The silicone base makes it glide easily over skin, while humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid pull in hydration so it doesn’t dry down tight or cakey. “It stays put without breaking down or settling into fine lines, but it’s best applied sparingly and blended well for the most natural result,” says Breitweiser. It’s transfer-resistant, humidity-proof, and stays fresh for up to 24 hours (not that you should actually sleep in it).

Best with SPF: Nyx Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint SPF 30

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NYX Professional Makeup

Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint SPF 30

$16

Amazon

$16

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: Formulating SPF into foundation is notoriously tricky, as UV filters can make makeup look chalky, mess with undertones, and make shade matching harder, which is also why deeper skin tones are often underserved when it comes to SPF makeup. While Nyx’s Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint SPF 30 only comes in 10 shades, the lineup includes several options for deeper complexions without leaving a white or gray cast. The texture is lightweight with sheer, glowy coverage and 12-hour wear, and the skin-care angle shows up too: shea and mango butters keep skin soft, while niacinamide helps even tone over time. “If you’re looking for light coverage, it gives a glossy, glowy look along with tint,” says DeMann. Non-greasy and breathable, it’s easy to reapply throughout the day to keep getting your sunscreen fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Foundations that work best for mature skin tend to be hydrating and flexible, rather than drying or heavy. “Mature skin looks best in hydrating liquid, serum, or soft satin formulas that move with the skin,” says Breitweiser. “These finishes help minimize the look of fine lines and dryness instead of emphasizing them.” Powder foundations aren’t off-limits, but heavier powders can exaggerate texture; Breitweiser says she prefers “keeping the base creamy and using powder only where absolutely needed.”

“Drugstore makeup has come a very long way,” says DeMann, noting that the gap between them and luxury formulas is much smaller than it used to be. Today’s drugstore options offer more realistic textures, broader shade ranges, and finishes that look like skin instead of makeup. “Many drugstore formulas build beautifully without caking, which is ideal for mature skin,” adds Breitweiser. And just like with pricier options, application matters: “Use thin layers with a brush or damp sponge to keep everything looking fresh and natural,” she says.

For dry skin, especially mature skin, look for foundations that include hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients. “Many brands include moisturizing agents like niacinamide, oils, and hyaluronic acid,” which help keep the formula flexible and prevent it from clinging to dry patches, says DeMann. She says she prefers liquid formulas because “they move with the skin” instead of sitting on top of it. Ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and ceramides can also make a big difference in helping foundation glide on smoothly and stay comfortable throughout the day.

• Catrina Breitweiser, a makeup artist and founder of MB Cosmetics based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
• Pilar DeMann, a makeup artist and founder of Pilar Beauty, based in Washington Depot, Connecticut

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best drugstore foundations, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Read more about mature beauty:

• 8 Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin to Soften Fine Lines
• 10 Best Lipsticks for Older Women That Won’t Settle Into Fine Lines
• 7 Best Face Oils for Mature Skin to Boost Hydration and Bounce

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