The Best Makeup Primers for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists

Makeup artist Natalie Dresher swears by this primer for anyone over the age of 45. “It’s infused with skincare to hydrate the skin and allows for the foundation to glide on smoothly,” she shares. “It really gives the finished product a skin-like feel even if that foundation on top is full coverage.” It’s multi-use, too, so you can use it as a primer or add a few drops to the cheekbones for an instant highlight.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, illuminating, plumping

Who It’s For: Lightweight yet hydrating, this primer plays nicely with most skin types. Anyone looking for a luminous, multi-tasking primer will appreciate how it can be layered under makeup or used on its own to highlight high points of the face.

Key Ingredients: Roma-Light Complex, hyaluronic acid

What We Love: The makeup-artist-approved, multi-purpose formula can be used as a highlighter; infused with hydrating and plumping ingredients

What We Don’t: The scented formula may irritate those with sensitive skin

Customer Review: “Worth every penny! This is the best primer I have ever used! It’s so versatile! You can use it for just about anything and get amazing results! I use it under makeup as a primer because it gives that perfect dewy look, but I also wear it when I don’t put any makeup on at all because it gives my skin the most beautiful glow. You could even use it as a highlighter. It's something I definitely recommend if you have drier skin. If you're someone who isn't too crazy about the shine/glowy look, then this might not be for you! However, I'd still give it a shot; you may end up liking it!” — Sephora

NARS has a handful of high-performing products in its arsenal, but its latest launch is a particularly great pick for mature skin types. Formulated with the trifecta of hydrating ingredients—hyaluronic acid, squalane, and peptides—this silky-textured product delivers instant moisture the second it touches the skin. Every time I layer this under my foundation, I notice that my foundation stays on longer and doesn’t sink into fine lines. It also provides a slight cooling effect, which is a welcome sensation in the summer heat.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, brightening, improves the look of fine lines

Who It’s For: If your mature skin craves moisture, this silky formula infuses lightweight ingredients that deeply hydrate and plump without feeling heavy.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, peptides

What We Love: Deeply hydrating; silky texture; cooling sensation

What We Don’t: Has a somewhat funky scent

Customer Review: “Really love this new primer. I normally like a hydrating or glowy primer to use everywhere on my face except my T-zone, and this is perfect for that! It goes on so silky smooth and really makes your face look so fresh! My pores looked smaller, too, so I think it helped with this. It made my makeup go on smoothly and last so long during the day. After a long day at work, my makeup still looked glowy—but not excessively, just a natural glow. It’s really nice with the matching setting spray!” — Nordstrom

You don’t want to slather a mattifying primer all over your face, as it can “really bring out fine lines, wrinkles, and even expression lines," says Dresher. But a controlled application might be necessary in certain areas, especially if you have an oily T-Zone. Ordinary is the brand best equipped to handle the job. Not only is the product insanely affordable (it’s under $7!!!), but it also has a grippy texture that blurs over pores and holds onto makeup all day long.

Finish: Matte

Benefits: Blurring, smoothing

Who It’s For: This mattifying and blurring formula works wonders on oily areas of the face, making it a great spot primer for those with combination or oily skin.

Key Ingredients: Silicone

What We Love: Has excellent grip on makeup; very affordable

What We Don’t: May look cakey if applied too heavily

Customer Review: “I have been using The Ordinary products for five years now. My skin looks and feels sooo good! Excellent products. This primer is on point. It's moisturizing and soft on the skin. It makes my makeup stay put until I wash it off.” — Amazon

J-Beauty products are renowned for their elegant and effective formulas, which is precisely why this Tatcha primer is such a beauty staple. I can’t get over how soft and smooth this glides onto my skin—it truly floats over fine lines. The best part about this formula, though, is how effectively it brightens and illuminates the skin. Formulated with pink and gold pearls, it gives the skin a subtle radiance and shimmer.

Finish: Natural

Benefits: Brightening, smoothing, redness-fighting

Who It’s For: The weightlessness of this formula makes it great for normal, combination, and oily skin types, and its luminous finish is great for improving the look of large pores, fine lines, and redness.

Key Ingredients: Silk (fibroin, sericin, and silk powder)

What We Love: Brightens skin with pearls; improves the look of pores and fine lines; protects skin against environmental stressors

What We Don’t: May pill if previous products aren’t fully absorbed

Customer Review: “Works so well! It keeps my makeup on for a good amount of time, in my opinion, and it’s also very hydrating. It leaves such a glowy finish, and it doesn’t make my skin look too greasy!” — Sephora

Chances are you’ve seen this roller bar primer across your TikTok page—it went viral as soon as it launched, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does it help depuff your face and around your under-eyes, but it leaves behind a hydrating and slightly grippy texture that allows for flawless makeup application. I like to start in the center of my face and roll outward, but you can use the product however feels best to you. It contains ingredients like niacinamide to help brighten skin and alleviate redness.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, radiance-boosting, redness-fighting

Who It’s For: If you wake up with puffiness and eye bags, this sculpting roller primer makes the perfect A.M. pre-makeup step. It provides lightweight moisture, making it great for most dry and oily skin, and its redness-fighting abilities are key for those with sensitive skin or concerns like rosacea.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin

What We Love: Cooling roller bar helps depuff; formula is very hydrating

What We Don’t: The texture may be a little too tacky for some

Customer Review: “Really moisturizing. I noticed this helps my makeup last all day. It keeps the skin looking like skin. I definitely recommend.” — Sephora

Makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran considers this her preferred primer for mature skin, thanks to its luxe formula and shade range. “It’s incredibly lightweight and contains hydrating ingredients that help to smooth and plump the skin,” she explains. “What sets it apart is that it’s silicone-free and comes in two shades, which most primers don't offer. The texture is a lightweight gel that does not feel heavy, which is a major factor for me as I prefer a weightless finish.”

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, texture-refining, radiance-boosting

Who It’s For: The lightweight yet hydrating formula makes it a great choice for all. Plus, its two tint options (yellow and pink) accommodate a wide range of skin tones and undertones.

Key Ingredients: Vitamins E and C, caffeine

What We Love: Makeup artist-recommended; comes in two shades to cater to different skin tones; contains skin-protecting antioxidants

What We Don’t: The scented formula may not be for everyone

Customer Review: “I stopped wearing primers for so long because they always dried out my skin or made it appear even oilier than it already is. This, however, is a game-changer! It helps my makeup last all day with little to no shine. I even use it on days I don't wear makeup because it makes my skin smooth and even overall. The best part is that it works well with my other products and doesn't cause irritation or breakouts.” — Ulta

Alicia Keys' popular beauty brand, Keys Soulcare, crafted this serum-primer hybrid to suit normal, oily, dry, and combination skin types. It contains niacinamide, which helps brighten the complexion and improve the look of pores without causing irritation, as well as hydration superstars squalane and rose water to leave skin plump and radiant. The fast-absorbing formula leaves a natural-looking glowy finish that makes makeup application seamless.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Brightening, plumping, hydrating

Who It’s For: Whether your skin is dry, oily, or somewhere in between, this supercharged formula will leave your skin smooth, glowy, and ready for makeup.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, rose water, squalane

What We Love: Infused with a variety of hydrating and brightening ingredients; clean formula; suitable for all skin types

What We Don’t: The scented formula may not be for everyone

Customer Review: “Amazing glow that enhances skin but isn’t overly shiny! Lovely on bare skin or under makeup, and it lasts all day.” — Amazon

If you feel like your under-eye area looks a little dull or sunken, allow me to introduce you to this Bobbi Brown creation. Launched as an extension of the brand’s cult-favorite Face Base, this vitamin C-enriched cream will perk up your skin’s color and firmness almost instantaneously. Hyaluronic acid helps to plump out the look of lines or wrinkles. Of course, it boasts a grippy finish that keeps concealer in place and crease-free all day long.

Finish: Natural

Benefits: Hydrating, plumping, brightening

Who It’s For: Formulated specifically for the eye area, this genius moisturizer-primer hybrid is a solid choice for anyone looking to improve the look of under-eye bags, wrinkles, and dark circles and keep their concealer perfectly in place.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C

What We Love: Brimming with vitamins and antioxidants; incredibly nourishing; doubles as a moisturizer

What We Don’t: Only meant for the under-eye area

Customer Review: “I love the Face Base, so I gave this a try. I love it. I am 59 with some under-eye wrinkles, and this smooths them out like nothing else I have tried—and I have tried them all. It has a light, fresh scent. It’s not heavy or greasy; it’s just right. Don't hesitate to give this a try.” — Nordstrom

Sensitive skin can occur at any age. The number-one dermatologist suggestion to avoid irritation? Steer clear of fragrance. That’s where Ilia’s gentle face primer comes into play. With non-irritating ingredients (no silicones, fragrance, or oils), this maintains a high-quality texture that glides onto the skin. Plus, its star ingredient, beta-glucan, actively helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while hibiscus protects skin from free-radical damage.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Improves fine lines and wrinkles, tightens, protects

Who It’s For: This skincare-makeup hybrid is formulated to be extra gentle, making it a great choice for all skin types, even sensitive.

Key Ingredients: Beta-glucan, hibiscus, mastic

What We Love: Helps mattify oily zones despite its radiant finish; ultra-breathable formula; clean and fragrance-free

What We Don’t: Doesn’t work well with oil-based foundations

Customer Review: “I have extremely sensitive skin, and this works beautifully. Zero irritation and holds the Ilia Dewy Foundation very well. Highly recommend.” — Sephora

Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation is perhaps one of the most well-known products in the beauty world, but the foundation’s little sister (and right hand!) is key to getting the best Luminous Silk result. Shea butter, rice bran, and glycerin are the product’s star ingredients, working to hydrate the skin and, more importantly, create a soft-to-the-touch texture. I swear my redness disappears when I use this, so much so that I occasionally skip foundation altogether.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, blurring, plumping

Who It’s For: This silky formula leaves skin soft and smooth, whether you have normal, dry, combination, or oily skin.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, rice bran, glycerin

What We Love: Long-wearing formula lasts all day; softens skin

What We Don’t: Scented formula may not be for everyone

Customer Review: “Easily the best primer on the market. It doesn’t matter what kind of foundation I use (water-based or silicone), it will always work and make my makeup look ten times better. It’s hydrating and leaves an amazing glow!” — Sephora

Blurring formulas are typically accompanied by matte finishes—the antithesis of what you want for mature skin. That’s what makes this Iconic London makeup-skincare hybrid so special. It has a glowy finish thanks to powerhouse ingredients like vitamin C, but it also includes blurring powders to provide a soft focus finish to mask fine lines and large pores. In my book, that’s a win-win. What’s more, it protects skin against blue light, making it a great choice for long days spent in front of your laptop.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Blurring, pore-refining, glow-boosting

Who It’s For: This blurring yet radiant formula is great for all skin types, especially those looking to improve the look of large pores or uneven skin tone.

Key Ingredients: Artemisia capillaris, vitamin C

What We Love: Blurs fine lines; contains protective antioxidants; shields skin from blue light; can be worn under foundation or alone

What We Don’t: Not very hydrating

Customer Review: “I've tried a lot of primers, and none have been exactly right for my skin. Some are too heavy, some are greasy, etc. This primer is exactly what I have been looking for. It's illuminating without making my skin look shiny throughout the day. It creates a smooth base for any makeup. I can even wear it without makeup, as it does a nice job of evening out my skin on its own. This is definitely a product I will continue to use and rebuy.” — Sephora

As we age, our skin naturally becomes drier and rougher. That makes it all the more important to flood your face with hydration, exactly what this Estee Lauder primer set out to do. In fact, clinical studies have shown that this watery face primer boosts skin’s hydration three times over. Every time I apply this primer, I’m pleasantly surprised by the cooling gel texture, which feels like a refreshing pick-me-up for my skin.

Finish: Dewy

Benefits: Deeply hydrating, skin barrier-strengthening

Who It’s For: If your mature skin leans dry, you can count on this primer to quench skin, allowing for smooth makeup application.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin

What We Love: Keeps skin hydrated all day long; doesn’t pill under makeup; non-acnegenic

What We Don’t: Has a slightly greasy feel

Customer Review: “This primer makes your skin glow under foundation, with no irritation or breakouts. I have very sensitive skin, and this is my holy grail! A little goes a long way!” — Ulta

Despise the tacky texture associated with the majority of primers? Trust us, you’ll love this Hourglass pick. It has more of an oil-like texture that sinks into the skin and delivers 28 different skincare ingredients, including essential oils, plant oils, and vitamins. Because of its skin-first, deeply nourishing formula, you can use this product as a makeup primer, overnight serum, and even as a hair oil.

Finish: Natural

Benefits: Smoothing, nourishing, softens fine lines and wrinkles

Who It’s For: This nutrient-rich formula is suitable for most skin types, making it ideal for anyone looking for a versatile, multi-use primer that doesn’t skimp on skincare benefits.

Key Ingredients: Essential oils, plant oils, vitamins A, B5, C, and E

What We Love: Packed with good-for-your-skin botanical ingredients; extremely versatile formula; silky, non-tacky texture; repels water to keep makeup fresh

What We Don’t: Essential oils may irritate sensitive skin

Customer Review: “This beautiful primer is nothing short of pure total luxury! I use it under my makeup when my skin is feeling dry, but I also use it for many other purposes. It’s great to apply to the back of your hands and cuticles or to tame flyaway hairs. Its many uses are endless. It smells absolutely amazing and leaves your skin feeling soft, plump, and hydrated. A little goes a long way, so the bottle will last you very long. I couldn’t recommend this beautiful oil highly enough. Everyone needs this in their lives.” — Bluemercury

With a thin layer of this superstar Chanel primer, rough patches, blemishes, skin crepiness, or little lines will instantly fade. How, you ask? It’s all due to an incredible blend of ingredients, including micro-blurring powders, light-reflecting particles that even out skin texture, plumping hyaluronic acid, and antioxidant powerhouses blue and red micro-algae.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, smoothing, plumping, protecting

Who It’s For: If you’re battling rough, dry, and uneven texture, you can count on this luxe skincare-primer hybrid to leave your skin oh-so-smooth.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, blue and red micro-algae

What We Love: Contains hydrating and protecting ingredients; antioxidant-rich formula; 12-hour wear

What We Don’t: Scented formula may not be for everyone

Customer Review: “Love love love this primer. Amazing for dry to normal skin. Love the glow and hydration that it gives my skin, and it also keeps my makeup in place. Highly Recommend!” — Ulta

Unprotected sun exposure isn’t just unsafe (it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer), but it can also bring out age spots, melasma, and hyperpigmentation. While you should always apply sunscreen as a first step before makeup, a makeup primer that contains SPF is an added bonus. This Shiseido formula is light and dewy and locks hydration into dryness-prone skin for well over eight hours, making it an especially great pick for mature skin over 50.

Finish: Radiant

Benefits: Hydrating, brightening, skin barrier-strengthening,

Who It’s For: A great primer for daytime wear, this protective formula plays nicely with all skin types, even sensitive.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Fermented Kefir+, avobenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene

What We Love: Contains SPF and microbiome-loving prebiotics; lightweight texture; blurs imperfections

What We Don’t: Leaves a subtle white cast

Customer Review: “Gave me a beautiful glowy radiance on its own. This absorbed quickly without any residue and made my texture and pores look less noticeable. Wearing it under makeup, I noticed it made my foundation stay fresh longer than usual and worked well with my other products.” — Nordstrom

Your skin is in for a treat with this powerful little primer. Not only does it impart a refreshing, cooling sensation on contact, but it also delivers a tightening effect, thanks to the brand’s cryo-firming complex. Natural marine extracts tighten up pores and smooth over fine lines and wrinkles, leaving your skin revitalized and renewed after just one use.

Finish: Natural

Benefits: Tightening, smoothing, hydrating

Who It’s For: Fine lines and wrinkles are no match for this formula’s smoothing and tightening benefits, and its cooling properties make it an especially refreshing pick for humid summer days.

Key Ingredients: Cryo-Firming Complex, Mediterranean algae, marine extracts

What We Love: Cools on contact; tightens and firms skin; smooths fine lines and wrinkles

What We Don’t: May pill if previous products aren’t fully absorbed

Customer Review: “Instantly smooths skin and makes foundation go on flawlessly. It’s also good to wear on its own.” — Nordstrom