It seems there is an endless supply of concealers marketed towards women. Yet surprisingly few cater to those with mature skin.
Putting on makeup products is not exclusive to younger women, of course! Plenty of older women still wear it as well and we ‘mature’ women don’t benefit from all the swathes of advice around the internet, which is all focused on young skin.
The difference is that older women have some additional priorities, especially when it comes to skin rejuvenation and hydration. I have sensitive skin, too – which makes it even more difficult.
Of course, makeup is a way to ensure you look your best, but wrinkles and changes in complexion make this more difficult for older women.
As a woman over 60, I’ve put together the five best concealers for mature skin, with the strengths and weaknesses of each one.
Covered in this Article:
The Best Concealers for Mature (Over 50 and Over 60) Skin
If you have no idea where to start and just want a ‘quick’ answer then this is my top pick and the one I use:
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
(Check Amazon’s Price)
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind is great for concealing the common signs of aging skin. This concealer will last a long time – most reviewers say it stays opaque all day and can reduce swelling under the eyes.
Applying this concealer is exceptionally easy. You can use a sponge, concealer brush, or your hands. The little sponge does work very well, though.
Unlike many other concealers, there are plenty of 5-star reviews (and some pictures) from women over 50 and over 60 who are happy with this amazing concealer, as am I!
Pros:
- Long-lasting after a single application
- Easy to spread using the fingers or other tools of your choosing
- Reduces puffiness and the presence of small creases
- Offers complete coverage and dark spot blending
Cons:
- Some customers complain of color inconsistencies
- At times the consistency can be a bit thick and hard to work with
Bourjois Radiance Reveal
(Check Amazon’s Price)
Bourjois Radiance is more than a simple concealer. It also has skin-loving ingredients that can plump the skin and reduce the appearance of lines and dark circles.
This is something I go on about a LOT and wrote a separate article on the best eye creams for the over 50s if you’re also looking for better eye cream products.
Of all the concealers on this list, this Bourjois Concealer has the most finely tuned applicator, making it easy to apply after first dotting it around the eyes.
If you don’t have much time in the morning (many of us are still working, despite our age!), this one’s the easiest to apply, in my opinion.
Pros:
- Has a hydrating effect on your natural skin
- Lasts for an entire 24-hours
- Includes a wand for precise application
- Serves multiple purposes as it can act as a highlighter
Cons:
- Comes in a small size
- Medium coverage concealer
Phoera Coverage Control Concealer Kit
(Check Amazon’s Price)
I’ll fully admit I’d never heard of Phoera and was skeptical since concealers sold on Amazon can sometimes be weird, cheap imports.
However, this is a bit of a ‘sleeper’ – a quality product that flies under the radar.
Phoera Coverage Control isn’t just a concealer but a full kit (concealer, brush, and primer) with products that work really well on older, more fragile skin under the eyes. The gem is the face primer – it really helps the concealer do its job.
When you have older skin, normal concealers tend to crack or settle into your lines (a polite way of saying wrinkles, let’s face it) as the day goes on, and this concealer tends not to. It also costs much less than other full kits – probably because the brand isn’t widely known.
Pros:
- Comes with a brush with specialized synthetic bristles for easy application
- Has an appealing fragrance that will add to the allure of your skin
- Applies smoothly and doesn’t cake later on
- Lightweight formula so that you can feel comfortable as you wear it
- Full kit, including brush and primer
Cons:
- Can leave an oily texture on certain skin types
- The pump has a tendency to malfunction at times
Max Factor Facefinity All-Day Concealer
(Check Amazon’s Price)
Despite this concealer being very well known, I couldn’t leave it off the list because it does what it says! Max Factor Facefinity has been around for a long time and is both consistent and not pricey concealer.
I’ll fully admit that this liquid concealer isn’t really targeted towards older women – it’s used by makeup artists for all skin types.
Facefinity is long-lasting and blends well to conceal dark circles. It is also a lightweight concealer, making it comfortable to wear. And, for a concealer, it’s also fairly affordable compared to some of the other options available.
This is the concealer I keep in my handbag when I’m on the go, because it’s easily replaced if lost, and does a decent job when I haven’t got time for anything else.
Pros:
- Smooth consistent medium to full-coverage concealer
- Easily hides under-eye dark circles
- Last long without you noticing you are wearing it
- Reasonably priced so you won’t need to spend too much to look fantastic
Cons:
- Thickness can lead to discomfort
- Does not blend well with some moisturizers and other skin products
BareMinerals Correcting Concealer
(Check Amazon’s Price)
Don’t be fooled by this BareMinerals Correcting Concealer. At first glance, it appears to be a powder-based concealer, which is not the best option for mature skin. But this concealer is actually cream based.
The creamy formula makes this product more hydrating than powder concealers. It also protects you from harmful UV rays, which is helpful for those with lighter skin tones.
All this comes in a lightweight case, so it’s handy for travel, too. There are lots of comments in the product reviews on how well it works on mature skin.
Pros:
- Protects your skin from the sun with SPF
- Works well for those with pale and rosy complexions
- Comes in a lightweight size and design for easy transport
- Cream base allows for easy application
Cons:
- Comes in a small size
- Some colour inconsistencies
How to Apply Under-Eye Concealer to Mature Skin
If you’re going to make the effort to buy an ideal concealer you can get the best out of it by learning the best way to apply concealer to mature skin. Here are a few tips for applying under-eye concealer:
- Make sure your concealer is light and can hydrate your skin – powders usually don’t work very well
- Always moisturize first, or use a professional primer or base to prep your skin
- Choose a colour that is slightly lighter than your natural skin tone to brighten your eyes.
- Apply a moderate amount gently using a single finger, or ‘dot’ the concealer in smaller circles. If the concealer comes with an applicator wand or brush, have a few practise ‘tries’ – don’t make the mistake I did and apply a new concealer just before going out!
These tips can help you apply an under-eye concealer or a flawless finish. These tips will lighten the area under your eye while being kind to that soft under-eye skin.
How to Stop Concealer Creasing on Mature Skin
Creasing is one of the biggest problems when applying concealer to mature skin, and it’s really annoying because it makes it look too ‘obvious’ you’ve used concealer – which is supposed to be concealed!
Tips for stopping concealer creasing on mature skin:
- One of the best things you can do is nothing to do with the concealer itself, and that’s using a quality moisturizer first. The skin under the eyes is the most delicate skin and needs extra hydration.
- Choose a light texture concealer – think cream, rather than a stick. All the ones recommended in this article are light and hydrating and provide good coverage.
- Don’t automatically presume (as I did for a long time) that your concealer should be the same shade as your foundation. Usually, it needs to be a lighter shade, especially if you have dark circles.
- Less is more! More concealer doesn’t mean more coverage – but you do need to get the concealer in between the lines, so gently stretch the skin, and use a warm finger or brush to gently blend outwards.
- Finishing with a very light, translucent style powder can help minimize the sight of creases and fine lines even more.
I hope this helps some of my fellow ‘mature’ women to find the ideal concealer for older skin, bearing in mind the particular attention we have to pay to our eyes and fine lines.
I cover beauty topics for older women quite often, so don’t forget to read my other articles too.