Anti-Aging Foundations that Actually Make You Look Younger

Thanks to a potent combo of endless news alerts/a busy work schedule/a constant sense of existential dread, this past year has not been kind to my complexion. Case in point: let me point to all of the above as having accelerated the aging process of my skin. I'm starting to notice fine lines where there was previously smooth skin, and the little furrow between my brows doesn't quite go away when my face is in a natural resting state. So, I kicked my anti-aging skincare routine into high gear, and also picked up an assortment of anti-aging foundations.

They're seriously like magic wands, immediately making your skin look better, and they also work overtime to combat fine lines, sagging skin, and dullness. It's an all-around win. Infused with powerhouse ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and retinol, these foundation picks do more than cover, they help in the long run, too.

Below, are the best anti-aging foundations I've found, tried, and tested.

Best Overall: Lancôme Renergie Lift Makeup Foundation SPF 27

This foundation acts like Spanx for your face. It contains a skin-contouring blend of ingredients that instantly makes your face look more lifted, plus vitamin E and caffeine for anti-aging.

Best Budget: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector

The mainstays of this drugstore find are that it's super sheer (perfect for those looking for light coverage), and it contains wrinkle-fighting retinol. The only downside: the lack of a wide color range.

Best for Fine Lines: L'Oréal Paris Visible Lift Serum Absolute Advanced Age- Reversing Makeup

This is a non-cakey, drugstore buy that's infused with a powerful form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, which helps fine lines look less apparent over time.

Best for Dark Spots: Laura Geller Filter First Luminous Foundation

This foundation boasts a multitude of skin-saving ingredients, like grapeseed oil and vitamin E, along with instant skin-perfecting micro-pearls. (Read: It claims to work overtime to improve the look of skin while also making it look immediately radiant.)

Best Serum Foundation: Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum Broad-Spectrum SPF 20

These weightless drops feel like a serum when you apply them and dry down into a slightly matte finish that doesn't settle into lines. DMAE, a compound that helps aging, works within the foundation to make skin soft, supple, and firm.

Best Splurge: Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40/35

A silky foundation that manages to make skin look airbrushed despite being basically weightless. The mushroom and bamboo infused formula sinks into skin for supple, silky coverage.

Best Medium Coverage: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation

The ingredient list of this full-coverage foundation reads like a high-end serum. A potent blend of mushrooms (to improve texture and firmness), hyaluronic acid (for deep hydration), and vitamin C (to brighten) work in tandem to give skin a youthful glow.

Best CC Cream: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+

While aging is a natural part of life, if you're looking to brighten up your complexion, we highly recommend one of the anti-aging foundations mentioned above. Make sure you know what you want out of the product, and you'll be good to go.

What To Look For in an Anti-Aging Foundation

Texture

Thicker foundations may end up highlighting lines and pores even more, so it's best to opt for a thinner and lighter texture. It'll help smooth all of those itty-bitty lines and keep your skin looking it's best. You'll also want to stay away from anything powder-based for the same reason, since it'll highlight lines instead of conceal.

Finish

Sometimes luminous finishes can be too glowy and matte finishes can be too dry for more mature skin. Something in the middle-ground, like a natural finish, will help achieve the most flattering results. You want your foundation to look like your skin, but better, so remember to keep that in mind.

SPF

Opt to find a foundation with SPF. It helps protect against the sun's UV rays, which can cause skin to age prematurely. Not to mention that it also helps prevent against skin cancer.

A foundation with sheer to light coverage is best for older skin. Make sure it has a radiant finish, too, to avoid it looking too dewy or matte.

Opt for a lighter weight foundation to avoid it setting into wrinkles. A BB cream can also be a great option—just make sure it has moisturizing benefits.

It can, as some formulas are infused with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Even better are foundations that contain SPF, which can help combat the sun's rays (which can cause premature signs of aging like fine lines and hyperpigmentation).

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