The Best Makeup for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists over 50 (2024)

We often hear from friends and Insiders that they’re using less makeup as they get older. Some say they’re finding that it "stopped working," meaning that it doesn’t apply as evenly anymore and tends to settle, crease, and cake. Others say that the colors just don't look right or that they'd rather focus on skincare.

Let us share what you'll hear when you mention these observations to some of the most experienced makeup artists over 50 in the beauty industry: "Don't give up on makeup! It's such a useful tool to help us look and feel our best—even more so after 50. It makes my eyes look bigger and my jawline more defined. You are never too old, and it's never too late," says makeup artist Laura Geller, whose eponymous brand is made for women 40 and older. "When it comes to shying away from color, makeup artist Jeanine Lobell (who founded Stila Cosmetics and now owns Neen) says: "Beauty rules around aging make me annoyed—wear what you want! A royal blue eyeliner is going to look amazing. An older woman with a matte fuchsia lip is so cool." Makeup artist Sandy Linter shares that she finds many people give up on cosmetics because they don't know what to use. You have to refresh your cosmetics bag, she says, with makeup for mature skin. What used to be go-to formulas may not work for mature, often dry skin and features that have changed over time. What will work? Keep scrolling.

The experts:

• Laura Geller, makeup artist and founder of her eponymous brand
• Jeanine Lobell, celebrity makeup artist, founder of Stila Cosmetics, and owner of Neen
• Sandy Linter, celebrity makeup artist
• Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist
• Sam Fine, celebrity makeup artist
• Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, celebrity makeup artist

“The texture of our skin changes as we age, but don’t let that feel like a downside to aging! It just means that you need to switch up your routine,” Lobell says. One swap she’s made: “I prefer using a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. This is my go-to; it gives enough coverage without being shiny or cakey.”

“Creamy shadow sticks are a staple for me,” Roncal says. The ones from Roncal's eponymous brand are easy to use and have an eyeshadow primer built into the formula so they won’t smudge or crease.

The biggest mistake you can make, according to Geller? Skipping primer. “After 50, it’s an important everyday step. You need a protective layer between your skin and your foundation or concealer to prevent the makeup from creasing or settling into wrinkles. And it helps colors look richer.” The Hydrate version from Geller's iconic primer collection is like a moisturizer and primer in one.

“Translucent powder is the enemy! It sits in every single pore and wrinkle—and magnifies them,” says makeup artist Mally Roncal. This sheer balm is a smart alternative; tap it on with the included sponge to diffuse pores and fine lines.

"Most over-50 women look great with bronzer, and this lightweight cream formula is very easy to blend." Linter says. A little goes a long way and gives a fresh, sun-kissed glow.

You'll likely need a concealer, but it can be hard to find one that doesn't cake or settle into crinkles. "This diminishes darkness around the eyes without ever looking heavy," Linter says.

After Lobell blends in her tinted moisturizer, she covers any still-visible brown spots or broken capillaries with this creamy, super-pigmented concealer. Applying it to the under-eye area “can be tricky. The days of just sweeping it on are long gone,” she says. “I use a small makeup brush to feather it and then set it with pressed powder—always pressed, not loose.”

“When I’m working on Queen Latifah, Vanessa Williams, or Gabrielle Union, I’m reaching for dewy, but not shimmery, finishes. We don’t want to fake the glow with shimmery highlighter or glittery blush. We want a hydrating formula that gives a real glow—that’s what this blush does,” Fine says.

Sure, you can skip eyeliner, Geller says (although she herself applies it daily). Even mascara is optional. "But never skip your brows," she says. This powder-in-pencil formula defines their shape without looking too harsh.

“If you have mature skin, these are the keywords you have to look out for on a foundation label: hydrating, dewy, moisturizing, radiant, or glowy. Matte is no longer for you," says celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine. "This formula in particular is beautifully hydrating.”

Some of the most important products in your makeup bag are skincare, says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg: "You have to start with clean skin or your products can pill easily." Then, apply moisturizer. Greenberg also has an eye prep protocol ("It's such an overlooked step but tired eyes drag us down," she says). She uses Lumify eye drops to whiten the eyes, applies eye cream under the eyes to help plump fine lines, and then places her reusable silicone masks on top "to help the product marinate" for a few minutes.

"When skin is particularly dry, it will 'drink' up some of the foundation you apply," Lobell says. "I always prep the skin with La Mer. It has an almost tacky, dewy texture that I prefer over primer. It grabs the foundation perfectly and keeps it from absorbing."

“Sometimes you may need extra coverage in certain areas or to set your makeup under your eyes. That’s when you can use this cream-to-powder formula," Fine says. "But, to be clear, don’t powder the entire face.”

Overall, less is more, which is why it’s important to find tools that apply your makeup in sheer, blendable layers. “I swear by the Beauty Blender,” Greenberg says. Make sure you wet it, squeeze out the excess water, deposit makeup on it, and then “tap it onto the skin to work the product in seamlessly,” she says.

“On older women, it's nice to apply the same color on the cheeks and mouth. You’ll get a slightly different tone because your lips are naturally darker, and it's going to end up blending together nicely," says makeup artist and founder of RMS Beauty Rose-Marie Swift. We love her creamy color pots, especially in the "Illusive" shade, a warm berry nude.

When you're looking for makeup for mature skin, replace your powders with cream versions, but don’t feel as if you have to change the color. “As we age, we may tell ourselves that we are too old for a certain color or that it's ‘inappropriate,’” Lobell says. “Ladies, I am here to tell you that shimmer eyeshadows, highlighters, bold lips, and bright cheeks are amazing for older women. Have fun!” Example A: this berry blush from Lobell’s brand, Neen.

"A cream, no-shimmer highlighter gives a dewy, light-reflective glow that signals youthfulness. That said, I can’t handle this 'dolphin skin' trend where the highlighter is allover. It looks like a greasy wrestler," says Swift. "Place it strategically—the cheekbones, bow of the lips, eyelid, browbone, and a little down the center of the nose.”

For even more motivation to make time for our eyebrows, Fine notes that “when our brow hairs thin and lighten they no longer frame our face. So fill them in with a brow pencil. Choose one that’s at least one shade lighter than your hair.”

“As I’ve gotten older, my lipcolor bleeds a little more easily and seeps into lip lines. But that’s nothing a little lip liner can’t fix,” Geller says. “Outlining the lips frames them and makes them look plumper while also keeping my lipcolor in place.”