The 13 best foundations to suit all skin types for those over 40 - and FYI, they all have skincare benefits

Dior Forever Skin Glow is a gorgeous soft, creamy formula which acts like a 'digital retouch' that instantly corrects imperfections and offers a soft-focus effect. Its buildable, provides medium-to-high coverage, and it's long-lasting. 

What's more, you get the fresh and lightweight foundation with all the benefits of luxury skincare. 

For the first time, Dior incorporates three star-molecules into the Skin Glow formula. You've got hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides - this trio helps visibly transform the skin in just one week.

Clarins Double Serum Foundation is seriously trending on social media right now and I can concur, the hype is real. Powered by Double Serum technology, this 2in1 hybrid foundation is being raved about largely because of the unique dial for a made-to-measure dose.

With a luminous, satin finish and customisable medium to full coverage, this is a real treat for the face in more ways than one.

The foundation contains 14 active ingredients, including stabilised papaya to restore glow, alongside hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and peptides to boost collagen production.

I've worn this foundation on around three occasions now and I can confirm it lasts brilliantly, it feels comfortable on the skin and is really easy to build for a more full coverage look, should you want it.

For best results, use the Gua Sha-Inspired Foundation Brush, £39, blend upward for lift or dab for more coverage. You can also use your fingers if you prefer. Mix both phases on your hand, apply from the centre outward, then press with your palms to fuse into skin.

As we age, we can develop more redness or imperfections. However, many foundations don't work with mature skin. Bobbi Brown recommends using her What The Foundation, a sheer foundation formula with light pillowy coverage. 

A complexion enhancing skin tint formula that locks in moisture, doesn’t dry out the skin and leaves skin looking fresh and healthy.

Containing key skin boosting and restoring ingredients including jojoba oil and vitamin E, as well as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, this breathable and lightweight formula evens out skin tones whilst providing a veil of hydration. She also recommends her Jones Road Miracle Balm, £36 / $38, as an all over colour corrector and skin tone to bring some life back into some skin that needs a bit of help.

Have you heard the news? Estee Lauder has reformulated the iconic Double Wear. Made with skincare ingredients and enhanced pigments, this revamped classic features polymer mesh matrix technology (colour-treated micro-pigments) to support tone-true wear without fading or creasing. If you’re already a Double Wear fan, count on the same true-to-skin match in an even better formula. 

If you're a regular on TikTok you'll have seen all the praise for Lady Gaga's medium coverage foundation - it has been getting rave reviews, and Molly Mae even recently declared it her favourite foundation right now. The weightless, gentle foundation includes fermented arnica that helps reduce redness and protects from environmental stress.  

Made with 20+ skincare ingredients, this award-winning Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation with Fermented Arnica formula delivers ultra-comfortable, longwear performance without compromising your skin. 

Its weightless, serum-like texture seamlessly blurs and smooths for a natural, luminous finish that wears all day. No slipping or caking. 

I knew I'd love Makeup by Mario's SurrealSkin Foundation just from seeing the pump I applied on the back of my hand - it was the perfect consistency. Applying this is like a dream and it feels weightless on the skin. If you're after a medium coverage but still want your foundation to look natural, this is the one. I love the fact that it doesn't look too matte or too glowy. It's the perfect combination. 

You'll no doubt have seen this Dior foundation stick on social media. It's constantly trending because people use it and become obsessed with it. 

Enriched with pigments, this easy to use foundation stick visibly reduces the appearance of pores and conceals imperfections. It is infused with iris extract, the signature ingredient of Dior Forever makeup, the stick's formula hydrates the skin for 24 hours. 

If you're after a "blurring filter" effect with heat and humidity-resistant wear, this is the one for you. I absolutely adore this foundation and tend to save it for best - it’s so smooth and creamy with great coverage, it's also great for oily skin and I can trust it'll look good for over a long period of time, making it my go-to for special occasions.  

The NARS Light Reflecting Foundation is a hybrid makeup and skincare formula designed to even skin tone and blur imperfections. Expect medium, buildable coverage while infusing your skin with hydrating ingredients such as milk thistle and cacao peptides for a luminous, skin-like finish. 

MAC Cosmetics' iconic matte foundation has been remastered with a soft-matte finish, with lightweight, natural-looking coverage that feels breathable on skin. I love using this foundation - it's easy to apply and the pump gives you just the right amount. What's more, it features 87% skincare ingredients – including hyaluronic acid and red algae extract to hydrate the skin, and sugar kelp extract to help control oil.

If you've seen this foundation all over TikTok you're not alone! It has gone viral since Stephanie Valentine (aka Glamzilla) showed it off on her socials. It glides on like a dream and is sweat-proof and waterproof - making it perfect for your next holiday. "Oh my god, it's so good!" she declared as followers - myself included - rushed out to buy it. 

Glamzilla applied using a brush, and then went over it with a beauty blender. It has real staying power but still lightweight.

Fun fact! Charlotte Tilbury secretly tested the Beautiful Skin Foundation on her celebrity clients for the three years leading up to the launch. Promising dewy, hydrated skin (without shimmer or glitter), this foundation was designed to bridge the gap between Charlotte’s Light Wonder Foundation and Airbrush Flawless Foundation. Expect a buildable, medium, long-lasting coverage that’s natural, not cakey, and dewy, rather than matte.

It not only covers imperfections and gives a dewy finish, but is packed with active skincare ingredients to treat the skin along the way. A multi-tasker if ever we saw one.

Armani Luminous Silk always makes the cut and it's popular for a reason - in fact, it's Meghan Markle's favourite foundation because she likes that it lets her freckles show through. The formula is so lightweight, but it still blurs the skin and covers the odd small blemish. This has been reformulated for enhanced coverage and wear.

The Bobbi Brown long-wear foundation lasts 16-hours, is incredibly breathable and weightless, and provides natural matte coverage with an SPF component. The foundation visibly minimises pores instantly and strengthens skin’s barrier over time, while it hydrates instantly helping to conceal redness and discolouration. The formula also helps keep excess oil and shine in check, making it a perfect foundation for oily skin.