Achieve a Smooth, Radiant Complexion with These Makeup Primers for Mature Skin (2024)

If you're looking for a foolproof way to achieve a smooth, radiant, and healthy-looking complexion while wearing makeup, primer is an essential step. "As we age and develop more fine lines, wrinkles, sagginess, and dryness, makeup application can become more challenging. It can settle into lines, move around, disappear, and appear dull and less radiant," says Gita Bass, a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with clients like Julianne Moore, Sarah Paulson, Laura Dern, and more. Adding a primer can help blur texture, keep makeup in place longer, and allow for a smoother application, she explains.

What to look for in a primer for mature skin

Moisturizing ingredients

While primers can help address many skin concerns (like excess oil, acne, and hyperpigmentation), a makeup primer for mature skin should focus on adding more hydration, says Bass. "Our skin produces less oil as we mature; looking for a hydrating primer will help your makeup glide," adds Neil Scibelli, a celebrity makeup artist.

Blurring properties

In addition to hydration, look for primers that help blur large pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, recommends Scibelli. These formulas typically contain silicone to immediately smooth and fill in uneven texture or ingredients that help improve the look and feel of your complexion over time. "A smooth surface reflects light more evenly, so it can create the look of a youthful, radiant glow," says Bass. Ahead, shop blurring and hydrating primers that are perfect for mature skin.

The experts:

• Gita Bass, a celebrity makeup artist in New York
• Neil Scibelli, a celebrity makeup artist in New York

"I love this primer because it's super hydrating yet lightweight, absorbs immediately, and plumps the skin," says Bass. "It lives up to its name and feels like I've spackled over any lines or enlarged pores, creating smooth skin for makeup. It also gives a gorgeous glow, which means I can use less foundation and concealer." The formula contains beneficial skincare, like antioxidant-rich licorice root extract, calendula to brighten, and squalane and echinacea to moisturize.

Another one of Bass's go-to picks is this serum-meets-primer. "It adds a soft focus to the skin and helps blur imperfections while creating a radiant glow," she says. Like a skincare serum, the formula contains brightening ingredients like vitamin C and niacinamide to help improve the look of uneven skin tone and texture over time.

Scibelli recommends this formula because it contains alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant that helps smooth pores and fine lines over time. It also helps reduce redness and even out skin tone. "The light-reflecting properties give a blurring effect to the skin," he adds. Plus it's a multitasker, acting as both your daily moisturizer and your makeup primer.

If your skin's texture is uneven with large pores, scars, or fine lines, then you'll love this hydrating and plumping primer. It contains hyaluronic acid to moisturize skin, and vitamins C and E to brighten and protect. More impressively, it has broad-spectrum SPF 50 to protect skin against sun damage. The texture is lightweight, silky, and easy to apply.

This primer is jam-packed with skincare to help smooth, brighten, and moisturize skin. Celery seed extract is rich in antioxidants and helps diminish the look of pores, flaxseed oil contains omega-3 proteins that improve skin texture and tone over time, and meadowfoam seed oil moisturizes and strengthens the skin barrier. It also features a technology that bonds to makeup to make it last longer and control oil production.

When you want to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles quickly, opt for this primer. "It contains silicones that fill in any creases on the skin," explains Scibelli. "The formula's blurring microspheres act as a great canvas for the skin and make it smooth underneath makeup." It's the perfect pick for a special night out or even to wear without makeup.

Made with mature skin types in mind, you can find this budget-friendly formula at your local drugstore. Scibelli explains that it uses silicones to immediately fill in uneven texture, and it gives the skin a blurred filter-like effect. The rosy tint also helps to add a healthy flush and glow to the skin.

This multitasking product is a must in your daily makeup routine. You can use it as a primer underneath makeup to make your skin appear smooth and plump. It's also rich and hydrating enough to use as a daily moisturizer. The formula contains vitamins B, C, and E to nourish and condition skin. It's a great choice for dry and mature skin.

Sweat can strike at any time, whether from a hot flash, workout, or long day outdoors. Luckily, this water and sweat-resistant formula has got you covered. It contains SPF 50, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and natural microalgae, an ingredient that helps smooth the look of imperfections. The results are a smooth, blurred, and moisturized complexion no matter what the day has in store.

Our beauty team is dedicated to finding you the best of the best formulas. We spoke with celebrity makeup artists to learn about what to look for in a primer for mature skin and got their go-to recommendations. We also researched and tested top-rated and brand-new formulas that hit the market to help you find the best products out there.