The best primers for mature skin can help minimize the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and fine lines before the first dab of makeup onto your cheeks. But that’s not all. In addition to creating an even base for foundation or tinted moisturizer , a top-notch primer can lend a lit-from-within glow to the entire face.
However, not all formulas are created equal—or with aging skin in mind. Our Top Picks In this article Ready to elevate your makeup base? Below, everything you need to know about what to look for in in a primer for mature skin, plus Vogue ’s edit of the best tested and expert-approved formulas. Best Long-Wearing: Milk Hydro Grip Primer Best Radiant Finish: Saie Glowy Super Gel Best Protective: Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Best Blurring: StriVectin Line BlurFector Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer Best for Uneven Skin Tone: No.
1 De Chanel Skin Enhancer Best for Oily Skin: Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Primer Best for Irritated Skin: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Moisture Repair Balm Serum Best for Fine Lines: L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Face Blurring Primer Best for Dry Skin: Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer Best Pore Minimizing: Benefit Cosmetics Benefit the POREfessional Face Primer Best Softening: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer Best Anti-Aging: Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer Best Plumping: Estée Lauder Futurist Peptide-Power Serum Primer Best Smoothing: Best Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base As opposed to primers for mature skin, “I find that regular primers tend to be very sticky and don’t blend as nicely into the skin, because they are holding extreme amounts of makeup that younger people tend to wear,” says makeup artist and RMS Beauty founder Rose-Marie Swift. “A woman who has mature skin requires something made for her skin type.” In other words: A formula that’s both lightweight and packed with hydrating ingredients—but more on that below.
According to Dr. Jeannette Graf , board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, “Primers for mature skin will typically be more hydrating and have a thicker consistency to address concerns like wrinkles and fine lines as well as make the skin smoother for better makeup application.
” Ingredients-wise, Graf recommends seeking out moisture-boosting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and peptides. Swift’s go-to primer is the RMS ReEolve Radiance Locking Primer , which contains a blend of natural peptides that soften dry skin. The formulation also contains a slightly peachy hue, which “corrects sallowness that is often found in mature skin,” Swift says.
For Graf, the hyaluronic-acid-infused One Size Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer stands out. “It will minimize the appearance of your pores and any fine lines,” she says. To get the maximum results from a primer, apply it “after your skin care and before your makeup,” says Swift.
“Simple as that. One thing I find that works too is to use my primer to lock in my skin care as a final step—especially when I’m not planning to wear makeup.” To apply the product, Graf recommends using the fingers to apply a dime-sized amount to the face, focusing on areas with wrinkles or other signs of aging.
“I also recommend applying it after sunscreen ,” she notes. “Since the purpose of a primer is to create a smooth canvas for makeup to lay on, it should be applied right before any makeup goes on.”.
