How to Apply Cream Foundation for Older Women With Wrinkles

By: Tarah Damask

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Mature skin requires different treatment than younger skin but that doesn't mean you can't achieve a beautiful finish. Rather than relying on the makeup you chose when you were 20-something, consider the tips and tricks that will best illuminate your features instead of your wrinkles. From the type of foundation you choose to the way you apply it to your skin, these little details can mean the difference between a not-so-great finish or the appearance of a super-smooth, youthful complexion.

Step 1

Select a "second-skin" cream foundation, which means a sheer formulation that is meant to let your skin peek through. Heavy foundations magnify wrinkles. Look for an oil-based foundation if you have skin that doesn't tend to break out or reach for a water-in-silicone formulation if you still see a pimple or two.

Step 2

Rub a gentle exfoliating face wash between your hands and add water. Gently apply this to your face in small circular motions to remove any dead skin cells which can result in flaking and a not-so-smooth appearance.

Step 3

Apply your daily moisturizer to your face for hydration -- if you don't have one, choose a moisturizer formulated for mature skin and your particular skin type, whether dry, normal or oily. Dry skin will need extra hydration while oily skin may require moisture plus mattifying properties.

Step 4

Squeeze a dime-size drop of makeup primer into the palm of your hand. Dot the primer on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and spread evenly to help fill in lines so your foundation doesn't sink into them.

Step 5

Squirt or pour a pea-sized amount of foundation onto the back of your hand and pick a bit up on a foundation makeup brush. Sweep the brush over your nose in small circular motions, working your way out toward the outer margins of your face, focusing on covering up discoloration for beautiful coverage with a smooth finish.