Short answer
Choose Perricone MD No Foundation if you want skin that looks bare but better. Choose Simply Ageless by COVERGIRL & Olay if you want more coverage, SPF 22 and a friendlier price.
- Most natural look
- Perricone MD No Foundation — serum-like, sheer finish
- Best value
- Simply Ageless — cream foundation with SPF 22
Aging skin is no reason to stop caring for it. The right products can still help you look and feel your best. Many women switch to anti-aging foundation in their 30s, and the need for a well-chosen formula only grows with time.
The shelves are crowded, though. So how do you pick the best foundation for aging skin — one that actually works for you?
Mature skin needs something different from younger skin
You can slow skin aging, but you cannot stop it. Your skin may look great for your age and still need something different from what younger skin needs.
Checking every foundation on the market takes time you probably do not have. Few brands label products as being for aging skin, so look instead for formulas that list antioxidants among their ingredients.
Six things to check before you buy
A few factors decide whether a foundation will truly work on your skin. Keep these in mind before you buy.
- Brand
- Some makeup brands specialise in formulas for mature skin. If a brand is known for them, give it priority.
- Skin type
- Oily, dry or combination skin each call for a different formula. Sensitive skin narrows the choice further.
- SPF
- Sun exposure speeds up visible aging. A foundation with SPF adds daily protection you will be grateful for later.
- Skin tone
- Know your shade before you shop. Test on an area that matches the colour of your face to see if it blends.
- Coverage
- Lightweight formulas suit daytime; heavier ones hide more. Pick the level of coverage you actually want.
- Price
- Decide early what you can comfortably spend, and shortlist within that budget.
Foundation evens your tone, and only by day
A foundation's main job is to even out your skin tone. Many formulas add extra benefits on top of that.
However good it looks on, foundation is meant for the day only.
Two foundations that take opposite approaches
Now that you know what to look for, here are two foundations worth getting to know. They take very different approaches, which makes choosing between them easier.
| Measure | Perricone MD No Foundation | COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Serum-like, sheer | Cream, non-greasy |
| Coverage | Light | Medium |
| Finish | Barely-there, natural | Visible makeup look |
| Sun protection | — | SPF 22 |
| Price | Very expensive | Reasonable |
| Watch out for | Limited shades | Sensitive skin, cakiness |
● marks the leader in that row. No prices are quoted here — check the retailer for today's price.
Perricone MD No Foundation
Perricone MD
<p>This foundation does not feel like foundation. It behaves more like a serum — extremely light and sheer, so at times you may forget you are wearing it. The brand says it helps skin look firmer and softens the look of fine lines.</p><p><strong>Sheer:</strong> works with many skin tones and never looks like you tried too hard to hide lines.</p><p><strong>Hydrating:</strong> leaves skin looking more hydrated, and hydrated skin looks younger.</p><p><strong>Neuropeptides:</strong> the brand credits them with making pores look less visible.</p>
Liked
- Well liked by most users
- Looks like no makeup at all
- A little goes a long way
Didn't like
- Very expensive
- Limited shade range
Simply Ageless by COVERGIRL & Olay
COVERGIRL & Olay
<p>Most of us want a foundation that is not greasy yet still gives real coverage. Simply Ageless aims for exactly that, while keeping skin hydrated — something mature skin needs to look fresh.</p><p><strong>Age spots:</strong> helps reduce the look of age spots and covers blemishes well.</p><p><strong>Fine lines:</strong> makes fine lines and wrinkles look less defined.</p><p><strong>Long-term:</strong> the brand claims regular use improves how skin looks over time.</p>
Liked
- Reasonably priced
- Helps hydrate skin
- Not oily
Didn't like
- Can turn cakey by day's end
- Not for sensitive skin
Bare-skin finish or real coverage
Perricone MD is so sheer that skin looks bare but smoother; it evens things out lightly and no more. Simply Ageless reads more clearly as makeup, but it covers age spots and blemishes far better.
Want to look like you wear nothing? Perricone MD. Want spots and blemishes hidden? Simply Ageless.
Premium price or everyday value
Perricone MD sits at the premium end, though a little goes a long way. Simply Ageless delivers hydration, coverage and SPF 22 at a far friendlier price.
On a budget, or want sun protection built in, Simply Ageless wins.
Our verdict
These two foundations are very different, and knowing how each behaves makes the choice clearer. Perricone MD is the pick if you want something that looks completely natural on your skin. Simply Ageless suits you better if you want more coverage and do not mind that you are visibly wearing makeup.
In the end, the best foundation for aging skin is the one that matches your skin type, tone and budget.
Most natural look
Perricone MD No Foundation
Best value
Simply Ageless by COVERGIRL & Olay
Marissa Chen
Has tested 180 skincare products for Beauty On Mind since 2021. Combination skin, sensitive after years of over-exfoliating. Buys everything she reviews.