As we age, the products we use and love begin to look different on our skin. Maybe you’re starting to notice that the powder makeup products you’ve used for years aren’t hiding any of the fine lines on your skin. Experts emphasize that powder foundations only highlight the wrinkles on your face. Instead, they recommend using cream foundations because the texture and moisture level of more mature skin is very different from younger skin therefore it requires specialized products that hydrate aging skin.
To learn more about why those with mature skin should use cream foundation instead of powder, we spoke with Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist and writer at MyPsorasisTeam, and Sarah Roberts, a skincare expert and founder of the blog The Skincare Enthusiast. Read more about what they had to say!
Powder foundation is aging
Since our skin naturally becomes increasingly dry and dehydrated as we get older, a powder foundation only makes things worse. It settles into all of your fine lines, and the matte texture finish instantly ages you.
"A powder foundation simply exacerbates the natural dryness and dehydration that our skin experiences as we age," Chacon warns. "It settles into all of your tiny wrinkles, and the matte texture finish makes you look older right away." Avoid, avoid, avoid!
Roberts points out that powder foundation can "settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more visible and accentuating them," which will make your skin look older. But what can we use instead? Cream-based foundations.
Use cream formulas to hide fine lines
For mature, and especially dry skin, it's best to opt for liquid or cream foundations, Chacon says, "they are less likely to settle in pores or fine lines than powders can." She continues, saying "Compared to their powder counterparts, liquids, and creams are easier to blend and offer more coverage."
Roberts recommends cream foundations because of their hydrating powers. She says, "Cream formulas are generally more hydrating than powder formulas which can help to soften and blur fine lines. Cream formulas also tend to have better coverage and blending capabilities than powder formulas, allowing for a more natural finish that helps hide fine lines."
Other anti-aging makeup tips
Overall, the first step towards having younger-looking skin is to keep your skin moisturized. "When your skin is moisturized, your foundation will apply more smoothly and evenly. If your skin is adequately hydrated, it won't absorb as much foundation, so you won't need to use as much," Chacon says.
"Use primer after moisturizing. It prolongs the wear of makeup and creates the appearance of skin that is younger." Chacon suggests, "It's ideal to pick a luminous foundation that you can build up to achieve the coverage you want."
As for bronzer, she recommends, "a small dusting of bronzer on your cheeks and forehead" to give you "a warm, healthy complexion" and a "more radiant appearance." Chacon also says to "Apply lip gloss or lipstick before eye makeup. Once you have applied lip color, you may find that you don't even need to do eye shadow."
Finally, Chacon says for eye makeup, you'll want to cut back on eye shadow and eyeliner. "Start with a clear base and prepare your eyelids with a primer or neutral-toned powder if you choose to use eye makeup. Next, dab a thin line of eyeliner on your top lid as closely as possible to the lash line," she says. "You might find that your eyelash curler is your new best ally if you curl your lashes and add mascara. Your eyes will look younger as they become more open."
"Use a highlighter to add a subtle glow to your skin to help disguise fine lines and wrinkles," Roberts suggests. "Skip the lip liner and opt for a creamy lip color to avoid emphasizing the fine lines around your mouth."
At the end of the day, when it comes to foundations, finding the best foundation for you may take some trial and error—you'll likely have to test out at least a few options before you can make the right choice for your skin. However, if you follow Chacon and Roberts' advice and opt for a cream foundation instead of a powder, you may be able to hide some wrinkles and make your skin look more youthful!
