The Best Drugstore Foundations for Mature Skin for Under $20 That Will Make You Glow

Buy from Walmart, $13

Badro says this one is great because it is makeup and skincare in one, courtesy of the plumping 5% squalane and hyaluronic acid inside. She says, as you use it, “over time, you’ll begin to notice your skin getting smoother.” It also gets top marks for having a nice medium coverage, a gorgeous dewy finish with an illuminating quality to erase dark spots and 28 shades to choose from. 

Buy from Walmart, $15

For those looking for a full-coverage formula or prefer a matte finish, look no further than this foundation from NYX. The highly pigmented formula is budge-proof and waterproof— yet it’s light enough that it won’t settle into fine lines. Why it made Green’s list? “It offers amazing coverage and has shades for everyone.”

Buy from Walmart, $6

With 30 shades and a $6 price tag, it’s hard to say no to this best-seller. Green insists, “It looks beautiful on mature skin and is easy to build up the coverage you need.” Rivero agrees noting that he loves that it takes minimal blending to get a natural finish, explaining, it “melts into the skin without much fuss” and it requires no powder to set it.

Buy from Walmart, $15

Both Badro and Shara Strand, celebrity makeup artist and licensed esthetician at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City, picked this formula made with mature skin in mind as a must. That’s because it doubles as skin care with a blend of a hyaluronic acid complex and vitamin C inside to brighten and smooth skin. 

Fans love that it goes on sheer but is buildable, blends easily, and hydrates areas of dryness. It has a great color range to choose from to help you find your perfect match. And, Strand insists, “It’s good for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin.” 

Buy from Walmart, $8

“This one is wonderful for mature skin, “ says Badro, pointing to the formula’s vitamin B3 that helps strengthen the skin barrier to keep skin moisturized and irritation-free. Strand’s list of reasons to pick up a tube: “I love the SPF 50, light coverage and that it includes a hydrating serum.” It’s also incredibly lightweight and gives an ultra-natural finish.

Buy from Ulta, $14

This illuminating formula acts as four products in one—it primes, conceals, highlights and evens out the skin tone to create a gorgeous canvas for the rest of your makeup look. Badro also loves that it has a built-in sponge tip applicator, explaining, “It makes it super easy to apply and touch up!” 

Buy from Colourpop, $11

With a soft-matte, transfer-resistant finish that makes it ideal for both your face and body and light-diffusing powders that illuminate skin and make fine lines vanish, this is a one hard-working foundation. Green recommends it to her clients over 40 because “it’s infused with coconut water, papaya extract and more ingredients that offer major benefits for mature skin.”

Buy from Walmart, $14

It’s hard to find a dewy foundation that lasts— but this one manages to pull it off in spades. Thanks goes to its serum formula that stays put all day. In fact, Rivero calls it “my go-to for an ‘I have nothing on’ formula.” And with brightening vitamin C, it’s great for anyone who is battling age-related dullness or discoloration. 

Buy from Walmart, $13

This one is beloved by Green since it provides full coverage in an easy-to-use stick that makes for a swipe-and-blend application. It’s also great for tricky-to-match skin tones, as it has a special Shade ID technology made of multi-colored chromatic pigments that neutralize imperfections while blending into the complexion. And, finally, it’s enriched with antioxidants like vitamins C and E to nourish and enliven skin.

Buy from Walmart, $14

Rivero says this formula is “great for long days out.” That’s because it contains oil-absorbing ingredients that make it sweat-proof and transfer-resistant. However, it’s ultra-thin, so it doesn’t crease or look cakey on mature skin, but it’s also buildable. This allows you to control the exact level of coverage you want each day. 

Buy from Amazon, $13

Formualted with 0.5% bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative perfect for sensitive skin, the skin-plumping formula in Covergirl’s Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increases skin’s firmness. The lightweight, gel texture contains 71% water that provides an instant burst of moisture upon application and keeps skin hydrated for the entire day, making this a drugstore must-have for anyone with dry skin!

Buy from Amazon, $10

ColorStay Longwear Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin is infused with even more skin-caring ingredients like antioxidant Vitamin E so your skin stays nourished and protected without looking oily. Use 1-2 pumps and a foundation brush (we like this one from DUCare) and blend out starting at the center of your face.

Buy from Amazon, $12

This balm with Firming Serum melts into skin to instantly smooth your complexion and minimize imperfections like wrinkles and fine lines while providing comfortable wear throughout the day. Whether you have matte or oily skin, this cream will last all day and it won’t break the bank!