The 10 Best Foundations for Dry Skin Over 40 In 2021

With so many different foundations out there to choose from, it can be easy to get a little lost.

And so much to consider too. Do you go for sheer or full coverage? A matte or dewy finish? And then what about skin type? If you've got dry, mature skin, the wrong foundation can unfortunatley settle into fine lines, cling to dry patches, and leave skin looking dull and aged.

So we'd thought we'd pick out a few of our favourites to help you find the best foundation for you.

creating a flawless makeup base on dry skin for the over 40s.

Side note: Our lovely Megan gives us her thoughts on 4 of the bestselling foundations at Adore Beauty in the video below...

Now here's our list of the Best Foundation for Dry Skin Over 40

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation has gained cult status in the beauty industry. A favourite amongst makeup artists, the makeup is known and loved for its radiance-boosting and natural finish. Perfect for all skin types, including ageing skin, this nourishing foundation blends seamlessly into the skin, imparting a soft-focus glow, blurring imperfections, and smoothing uneven skin texture.

This foundation is perfect for dry and ageing skin. Why? It’s been created with exclusive Micro-Fil Technology, which ensures a smooth finish on application, never settling into or accentuating fine lines and wrinkles. Micro-Fil Technology means each pigment is micronised before blending and milling for an illuminating and airbrushed look. Skin is left with a soft-to-touch finish and a gorgeous, youthful glow.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation provides light to medium, long-lasting coverage to ensure skin is perfected from morning through to night.

Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals blurs the line between anti-ageing skincare and makeup. This nourishing formulation is designed to camouflage the appearance of imperfections but also to actually minimise fine lines, enlarged pores, and hyperpigmentation. Working as a foundation, skin serum, and anti-wrinkle cream, Liquid Minerals is boosted with nourishing ingredients to hydrate and revitalise ageing and dry skin.

This skincare and makeup hybrid contains high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid. which acts as a moisture magnet to instantly plump skin as well as locking in moisture for all day hydration. Algae Extracts offer antioxidant protection against age-accelerating environmentals aggressors. White Tea improves skin elasticity for a firmer and rejuvenated complexion. The foundation is also infused with Calendula, which calms and relieves sensitivity and discomfort.

Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals provides sheer to medium, buildable coverage and is best for dry to normal ageing skin.

M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Sculpt SPF15 Foundation is a gel-based liquid foundation that applies seamlessly to the skin for a satin-finish, full-coverage base. The hydrating formula is perfect for dry and dehydrated skin types. This makeup reverses dull and lacklustre skin tones while smoothing over uneven skin texture, making it a makeup must-have for mature and ageing skin.

This nourishing foundation is infused with micronised pigments coated in silicone, so it glides effortlessly onto the skin, covering imperfections while filling in enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. With a stay-true colour, this long-lasting foundation provides a natural and dewy base that lasts from morning to evening, never looking heavy or changing colour. To keep skin looking younger for longer, the makeup base also contains broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection to fight age-accelerating sun rays.

M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Sculpt SPF15 Foundation provides medium to full, buildable coverage and is best for normal to dry and mature skin types.

Want to know more about M.A.C foundation? Check out our guides Find Your Perfect M.A.C Foundation and Concealer Match and How to Apply M.A.C Foundation

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All In One Glow Foundation is the ultimate makeup base for radiant skin. With a natural, dewy finish and bursting with hydrating and protective ingredients, this nourishing foundation is perfect for boosting dull and lacklustre skin, especially normal to dry and ageing complexions. Full of anti-ageing ingredients, this is more than just your traditional-coverage foundation. Containing a blend of 70% Water and Hyaluronic Acid, this foundation provides an instant refresh to the skin and long-lasting hydration throughout the day. Touche Eclat foundation ensures even and seamless coverage over dry patches and rough skin texture. The foundation also contains antioxidant Vitamin E, which soothes inflammation while protecting skin against age-accelerating free-radical damage. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All In One Glow Foundation has a lightweight feel, providing a medium coverage and dewy finish without the heaviness of traditional foundations.

Bobbi Brown makeup is all about enhancing your natural skin without making it look heavy or cakey. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 has been designed to offer weightless coverage to normal to dry skin types while allowing your skin to still look like skin. The long-wearing formulation minimises the appearance of pores, imperfections, and discolouration. Even better, this hydrating foundation blends seamlessly into the skin for a natural and comfortable look and feel all day long.

As well as providing skin-like medium coverage, the foundation is infused with broad-spectrum UV protection. SPF 15 works to protect skin against age-accelerating environmental aggressors to keep it looking younger for longer. Enriched with hydrators, this makeup base will also leave your complexion feeling cushioned and plumper. Product won’t settle into dehydration-induced fine lines and wrinkles.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 is suitable for all skin types but best for combination, normal, and normal to dry skin.

Clinique Even Better Refresh & Hydrating Makeup is a nourishing foundation that’s been developed with dry and ageing skin in mind. As skin ages, it becomes drier, easily forming fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation. This deeply hydrating foundation from Clinique is infused with anti-ageing ingredients to combat the signs of ageing while delivering a flawless, full-coverage base.

Hyaluronic Acid is one of the most effective hydrating ingredients, holding moisture up to 1,000 times its own weight and keeping skin nourished throughout the day. This 24-hour foundation not only contains high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid but blends skin-smoothing Peptides and resurfacing Salicylic Acid for a completely revitalised complexion. Skin will look plumper and softer, with imperfections carefully concealed.

Clinique Even Better Refresh & Hydrating Makeup provides full coverage with a natural, skin-like finish. It’s best for normal to dry and dry, ageing skin.

Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream is as much skincare as it is makeup, creating a flawless finish while caring for your complexion. Perfect for all skin types, Glow Time is particularly beneficial to dry, dull, and mature skin. This nourishing BB cream smooths fine lines, brightens dark spots, tones the skin, and improves uneven skin texture for a completely rejuvenated complexion.

Containing antioxidant-rich Grapefruit Extract, this anti-ageing BB cream protects the skin against harmful environmental aggressors while brightening pigmentation for a radiant finish. The makeup base is also infused with Apple Fruit Extract to soothe and hydrate the skin. The Alpha-Hydroxy Acids in Tamarind Extract remove dead skin cells for a smoother and softer feel to the skin.

Due to its mineral extracts, which attract and maintain moisture, Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream is ideal for dry and dehydrated skin. And the dewy finish is perfect for correcting dull skin tones.

Designer Brands Hydrating Luminous Foundation has a gel-like formula, smoothing over even the driest patches of skin to deliver a flawless, medium to full coverage finish. Infused with gentle and nourishing skin-loving ingredients, this hydrating foundation is the perfect makeup base for dry and sensitive skin types.

Containing high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid, the foundation instantly hydrates the skin for a natural radiance. Hyaluronic Acid then goes a step further, providing long-lasting hydration to keep skin feeling comfortable and looking healthy throughout the day. Luminous Foundation also contains antioxidant Aloe Vera and Green Tea, which soothe, nourish, and protect the skin from free radical damage. Vitamins A, C, and E improve skin tone and texture.

Designer Brands Hydrating Luminous Foundation is perfect for sensitive and dry skin. The product’s even application will create a radiant makeup base without causing discomfort and irritation.

Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation is more than just a makeup base. This colour plus treatment is bursting with rare botanicals and ocean minerals to offer a complete skin detox. Providing optimal hydration for dry and dehydrated skin types, this foundation replenishes fatigued and ageing skin for a flawless, long-lasting finish.

This nourishing foundations contains Reduced Deep Sea Water to provide intense hydration to parched skin. This superstar ingredient is rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, and copper, which work to restore tired and lacklustre complexions. Liquid Mineral Foundation is also infused with botanical extracts such as Calendula, Cucumber, Cactus, and Green Tea, which protect the skin from age-accelerating environmental aggressors while calming inflammation.

Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation creates the perfect canvas for makeup application, improving both skin tone and texture. With its sheer and dewy finish, this lightweight tint can be worn alone or under Youngblood Loose Mineral Foundation for fuller coverage.

Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation is a mineral-rich foundation that provides a highly pigmented, full coverage finish. Yet it won’t settle into dry patches or dehydrated-induced fine lines and wrinkles. Instead, this high-performance foundation is infused with skin-loving ingredients, perfect for boosting radiance and suppleness in normal to dry and dehydrated ageing complexions.

Harnessing the benefits of refined plant-based moisturisers, this hydrating foundation ensures long-lasting and comfortable wear on even the most sensitive and damaged skin. A combination of Collagen and Aloe Vera Extracts helps plump, firm, and hydrate the skin. Jojoba Seed Oil, Olive Squalane, and Shea Butter leave the skin feeling soft and smooth.

Due to its nourishing formulation, Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation is a favourite amongst makeup artists and has become a cult classic in the beauty industry. Providing medium to full coverage, this high-definition foundation is best for normal to dry and ageing skin.

• If you have warm skin tones and are looking for a foundation with a yellow base, be sure to have a read through our guide The 9 Best Yellow Undertone Foundations 2021

• If you're using makeup brushes don't forget to clean them properly! Here are The Best Makeup Brush Cleaners to keep your brushes sparkling.

• Read all our tips and tricks on how to set your under eye concealer

• Find out the best way to cover pesky grey hairs in your eyebrows.

Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.

This article has been updated on 15/02 to replace discontinued products with our recent product recommendations. Amelia from our Customer Service team has helped to bring you our most recommended products and up-to-date information.

Our First Impressions of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation:

So, let's recap the 10 Best Foundations for Dry Skin Over 40 In 2019

1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

2. Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals

3. M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Sculpt SPF15 Foundation

4. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All In One Glow Foundation

5. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

6. Clinique Even Better Refresh & Hydrating Makeup

7. Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream

8. Designer Brands Hydrating Luminous Foundation

9. Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation

10. Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation