All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.
Makeup for women over 50 is all about the dew. Out with any product that’s prone to caking on the skin, say the pros, and in with skin care—think hydrating face bases and blushes infused with radiance-boosting ingredients. A well-placed bronzer never hurts, either—after all, a sun-kissed glow is winsome at any age.
Below, three celebrity makeup artists share a step-by-step guide to luminizing makeup for women over 50, from primer to makeup, eyebrow shaping, and the final spritz of setting mist.
“I find that the better the skin prep, the less makeup I need to use,” says celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon. For women over 50, “my focus is to hydrate, plump, and smooth the skin as much as possible,” she says. “I’ll often start with a sheet mask or serum as it delivers the product more deeply. Then I tend to massage on a heavier cream or oil, or apply a mask that can be left on under makeup to ensure a healthy glow.”
She gravitates toward brightening creams for the eyes. “Just don’t use anything too heavy as the makeup can slip and settle in any fine lines,” she instructs. Aharon is in favor of using the fingers or hands to apply skin care products; a brush will also do the trick.
Joanna Vargas
Twilight Sheet Mask
The deep-conditioning sheet mask uses epidermal growth factors to even out the skin tone and boost radiance.
Tata Harper
Hydrating Floral Mask
Packed with hyaluronic acid, this flower-powered mask replenishes lost moisture while evening out the skin tone—massage a generous layer onto the face and neck, then leave for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off.
Fresh
Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum
The milky face serum is infused with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to instantly hydrate, smooth, and restore elasticity to the skin.
Byroe
Rose Tea Eye Cream
“Brightening and hydrating is very important under the eye area to help the concealer have a more effortless finish,” says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose. “This eye cream plumps, hydrates, and brightens with a very light texture.”
“The right primer can really help blur fine lines and pores, and extend the life of your makeup,” Aharon says. She recommends brushing on a thin layer of primer after your skin care products have set in. “Let it settle for a minute before applying foundation,” she says.
Laura Mercier
Perfecting Pure Canvas Primer
With vitamin C for brightening and green tea extract to moisturize, the primer also has aloe vera to soothe irritated skin.
Armani Beauty
Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer
Formulated with shea butter, rice bran, and glycerin, the softening salve extends makeup’s wear while providing a luminous base.
Clarins
Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Pink pearl pigments have a blurring effect, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and giving the complexion an airbrushed effect—the formula also has an anti-pollution complex that can help ward off damage from free radicals.
Tatcha
The Liquid Silk Canvas
This blurring primer increases makeup’s color payoff while infusing the skin with a nourishing complex of Japanese superfoods.
Think thin when it comes to makeup. “The more mature you are, the less heavy your foundation should be,” says Rose-Marie Swift, makeup artist and RMS Beauty founder. “Thick makeup applied onto mature skin only exaggerates the quality of the skin. The thinner the base and more moisturizing it is, the better it will look.”
Tinted moisturizer is a great option for “fresh and easy everyday skin,” Aharon says. “But if you’re looking for coverage or a flawless finish, go with foundation.” For women over 50, she recommends a foundation with medium coverage and a skin-like finish—”one that is long-lasting and won’t settle into fine lines,” she says. “When it comes to concealer, a formula that won’t easily crease or look dry is important.”
Keep reading to discover the best makeup to moisturize and enhance mature skin, from liquid foundations that won’t settle into fine lines to crease-proof lipsticks and dark circle correctors designed to brighten up your under-eye area.
“Achieving flawless makeup starts with good skincare,” Dr. Shereene Idris , a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, tells PEOPLE. She suggests prioritizing multi-tasking formulas that marry the benefits of skincare and makeup, like those that lock in hydration and promote a dewy finish while protecting skin from UV rays and environmental pollutants. It’s also crucial to consider formulas that won’t settle into the skin or crease into wrinkles.
Our skin begins to lose its natural moisture as we age, requiring a bit more TLC in the form of hydrating, softening products. Your go-to blush or concealer may no longer support your skin’s needs — but there’s no need to worry. There are hundreds of products that are ideally suited to enhancing mature skin — most of them packed with skin-nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin E — and our PEOPLE Tested team tried them out in the real world over the course of weeks and months in order to bring you the very best ones.
Best Foundation
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
Sephora
View On Amazon
$60
View On Sephora
$43
View On Dior.com
Our Ratings
Pros
It features buildable coverage that evens skin tone, counteracts redness, and smooths skin texture.
A little goes a long way with this formula.
It’s available in a whopping 43 shades, making it one of the most inclusive foundations we tested.
The ultra-hydrating formula feels lightweight and doesn’t crease.
Cons
It’s better suited to dry skin — it may add too much moisture for oily skin.
We tested 23 foundations for mature skin, and the Dior Backstage Foundation easily earned our top pick for its hydrating formula. Boosted with nourishing squalane and hyaluronic acid, it creates a natural-looking glow, smoothes fine lines, and corrects redness. Our testers were blown away by the movie-magic effect of this lightweight foundation, which instantly provided even, buildable coverage and radiant skin with just a dime-sized amount of product.
The formula feels lightweight on skin and creates an airbrushed look in just one layer, although it’s easy to build up to more mid-weight coverage without it feeling cakey. We were most impressed with how the formula settled into the skin, smoothing out overall texture and never creasing or clinging to fine lines. One tester gushed: "This was, in all honesty, I think the best foundation I have used in my life. It immediately made an impressive change on my face. All I had to do was an application of one layer and my face looked as if I had it done professionally. Every person in the room also noticed the quick change."
The same tester noted that the refined foundation performed well as the day wore on, further smoothing their skin rather than creasing, and easily brightening up their dark under-eye circles. “It even made my fine lines seem to evaporate," they said. "I actually feel like I looked so much younger."
We love that the foundation comes in a wide range of 43 shades, which makes it a breeze to find your perfect color match. It’s also designed to be used on the face and the body, so you can dab it on red marks or blemishes for an all-over airbrushed look.
Sizes: 1.7 oz. | Shades: 43 | Key Ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid | SPF: No
People / Jessica Juliao
People / Joy Kim
People / Joy Kim
Best Foundation, Less Expensive
Make Up For Ever Reboot Active Care Foundation
Sephora
View On Nordstrom
$36
View On Sephora
$42
View On Makeupforever.com
Our Ratings
Pros
This lightweight, buildable formula helps reduce redness and evens out the complexion with just one layer; two layers create an airbrushed finish without weighing skin down.
It absorbs readily into skin without creasing or settling into wrinkles.
The formula feels serum-like in its weightlessness and hydrating properties.
It leaves skin feeling soft and visibly smooth.
Cons
The hydrating formula is made for normal to dry skin, so anyone looking for a product to mattify oily skin should look elsewhere on this list.
Unfortunately, there are only a few shades to match darker skin tones.
If you’re looking for the same benefits as the Dior Backstage Foundation but at a more affordable price point, we recommend the Make Up For Ever Reboot Active Care Revitalizing Foundation, which boasts a similarly lightweight, buildable coverage and hydrating formula — but at half the price. The one downside is it’s available in fewer shades, so matching to darker skin tones in particular might be difficult.
During our testing period, we found that just a single layer of this moisturizing foundation creates a blurring effect and minimizes overall redness, blemishes, and lightens under eye circles. For a truly airbrushed look, a second layer completely erases any lingering blemishes; the buildable formula absorbs readily into skin, so we were never left with that unpleasant mask-like feeling.
The formula boasts anti-aging, complexion-enhancing ingredients like camellia, which works to restore your skin’s natural glow, plus ginseng, which stimulates collagen production and improves skin’s suppleness. One tester raved that the product provided lasting softening effects, stating that when they took it off mid-afternoon, they noticed that their face felt very soft, smooth, and moisturized. Even the following morning, the skin on their face felt extra soft.
Sizes: 1.01 oz. | Shades: 17 | Key Ingredients: Ginseng, camellia japonica, mondo grass | SPF: No
People / Joy Kim
People / Joy Kim
Best Tinted Moisturizer
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
Ulta
View On Amazon
$39
View On Target
$39
View On Nordstrom
$34
Our Ratings
Pros
Hyaluronic acid and SPF 30 work together to boost skin’s moisture while fighting sun damage.
The silky formula helps bring out your inner glow.
It layers easily with other skincare products and makeup.
We found that the moisturizing formula enhanced our skin year-round, making this our go-to for everyday use.
Cons
There aren’t a wide range of shades for darker skin tones.
The silky finish can settle into under-eye creases due to its lightweight consistency.
Out of all the tinted moisturizers we tested, this best seller from BareMinerals earned a nearly perfect score during testing for its silky, lightweight formula, which is enhanced with nourishing hyaluronic acid as well as protective SPF 30. We love that it’s part makeup, part skincare, and that the built-in SPF means we can save some time during our morning routine by applying both at once.
An ideal tinted moisturizer for mature skin should be moisturizing, with lightweight coverage that won’t settle into wrinkles. Although this formula isn’t the best for under-eye, as the silky finish can get into creases, it still checks all our boxes: It goes on smooth and creamy, with a hint of tinted coverage that keeps skin feeling hydrated and naturally glowing. We tested it through the seasons, and found that it became indispensable as our daily go-to — our skin looked plumper and more luminous year-round, without suffering dry spots in winter or oily patches in summer.
Sizes: 1.18, 0.5 oz. | Shades: 20 | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, squalane | SPF: 30
People / Tamara Staples
Runner-Up, Best Tinted Moisturizer
Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
Amazon
View On Sephora
View On Nordstrom
$40
View On Ulta
$46
Our Ratings
Pros
Vitamin C helps even out your skin tone, resulting in a brighter-looking complexion.
The thinner formula moisturizes skin without drenching it, so the product absorbs readily without creasing into our fine lines.
The formula is easy to apply and feels featherweight on the skin.
Cons
It's a bit more expensive than other tinted moisturizers we tested, but it’s also slightly larger.
This ultra-lightweight tinted moisturizer is incredibly easy to spread and buff into the skin. Despite its gentle tint, it manages to create solid coverage in just one layer, while simultaneously plumping our skin with French Polynesian Kopara, which provides a boost of extra hydration. We love how soft and supple the thinner formula feels on our skin — like we’re not wearing any makeup at all. When applying the pigmented moisturizer, it never creased or settled into our fine lines.
We felt like this offered the perfect amount of coverage while still feeling like a moisturizer rather than a foundation. While this pick is slightly pricier than other tinted moisturizers we tested, we feel it’s worth it for the quality and long-lasting finish — not to mention, the built-in SPF 30.
Sizes: 1.9 oz. | Shades: 16 | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, French Polynesian Kopara | SPF: 30
People / Tamara Staples
The 14 Best Foundations for Acne Prone Skin of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Best Self-Tanning Drops
James Read H2O Tan Drops Body
Revolve
View On Amazon
$41
Pros
The water-based formula is ideal for mature skin, as it won’t cause dryness.
This product gets mixed into your moisturizer, so it goes on evenly.
Hyaluronic acid and aloe vera help to hydrate skin.
Cons
These drops work well on all skin types, from sensitive to dry, mature, and acne-prone; we think they’re great for everyone to try.
Self-tanners are typically prone to settling into dry patches and exacerbating them, rather than evening them out. Those with dry skin should look to the James Read H2O Tan Drops, which stand out for their moisturizing formula packed with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to help nourish the skin while gradually helping you to achieve a deeper shade. The drops are designed to mix into your daily moisturizer, ensuring a smooth application that won’t crease in any dry spots or fine lines.
The skin-satiating ingredients include soothing aloe vera, hyaluronic acid to improve elasticity, nourishing castor oil, and water to further hydrate thirsty skin. We love this serum for everyone — the paraben- and sulfate-free formula makes it an excellent choice for those with dry or sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, and more. Application couldn’t be easier, either — just mix 1 to 4 drops into your moisturizer, depending on how deep a shade you’re looking to achieve.
Sizes: 1.01 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, aloe vera | SPF: No
Best Setting Powder
Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder
Sephora
View On Sephora
$30
View On Walmart
$52
View On Cultbeauty.com
Our Ratings
Pros
The squalane-enhanced formula plumps skin rather than drying it out.
Mica particles impart a luminous glow without looking shiny.
The weightless, velvety texture blends in easily and still allows you to see the skin’s natural texture through it.
Cons
Since it isn’t intensely mattifying, the powder wears off after a few hours.
Setting powders can easily get caught in wrinkles or fine lines, but this product from Saie is boosted with skin-nourishing squalane that’s made to hydrate and plump up skin rather than dry it out. It ensures a smooth, natural finish that blurs blemishes without looking or feeling cakey.
The barely-there feel of it adds a subtle, velvety texture that enhances skin, rather than covering it up. We love the aerated-cream technology, which provides the soft airbrushed effect. The formula also helped control shine when used on top of our dewy foundation by mattifying skin while still providing a lit-from-within glow thanks to the mica base.
Our only gripe is that, given the formula’s hydrating properties, it tended to wear off sooner than other setting powders that we tried — around the five-hour mark. Still, we’d prefer the occasional touch-up in exchange for the smoothing, plumping effects of this setting powder.
Sizes: 0.14 oz. | Shades: 3 | Key Ingredients: Squalane, aerated-cream technology, ethically sourced Mica | SPF: No
People / Leticia Almeida
People / Leticia Almeida
Best Dark Spot Corrector
Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector
Amazon
View On Amazon
$19
View On Target
$22
View On Walmart
$19
Our Ratings
Pros
Retinol further boosts this formula’s anti-aging properties.
The lightweight formula can be used to target stubborn dark spots or applied all over the face.
In addition to lightening acne scars and dark spots, the formula helped to brighten our overall skin tone.
Cons
Given the retinol-based formula, it’s best to only apply this at night and to ensure you wear plenty of SPF during the day to protect your skin.
An even skin tone is one of the keys to maintaining a more youthful complexion, and a reliable dark spot corrector like this pick from Neutrogena is a great way to achieve that. This soft, velvety formula absorbs quickly and blends easily with other makeup. We noticed a marked difference in our dark spots over the course of six weeks of regular use, with our acne scars lightening up the most.
We love that this hydrating formula can be used as a spot corrector or all over the face, thanks to the vitamin C and moisturizing hyaluronic acid that keep skin feeling fresh and glowy. The vitamin C also helped to brighten and firm up our skin. Best of all, this dark spot corrector is equipped with retinol, which targets fine lines and wrinkles while also fading the appearance of dark spots.
Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | SPF: No
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Cream Blush
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Amazon
View On Sephora
$26
View On Ulta
$26
View On Fentybeauty.com
Our Ratings
Pros
The creamy, buildable formula is easy to apply and to blend without ever looking blotchy.
The lightweight formula is sweat- and water-resistant, making it perfect for hot summer days.
The addition of Isononyl Isononanoate helps even out skin texture.
Cons
The formula isn’t as long-lasting as we’d like.
Cream blushes are the way to go for those with dry, flaky, or mature skin, as they tend to impart hydration rather than settle into dry spots. This vegan formula from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line goes on easily with either fingertips or a brush, smoothly blending out without collecting in patches or settling into pores.
We love the dewy effect that it has, creating a naturally flushed look without ever leaving us feeling sticky or greasy. The formula is lightweight, sheer, and super buildable — during testing, we found that a little goes a long way with this product, which boasts Isononyl Isononanoate to help even out skin texture.
Choose from ten gorgeous shades designed to suit a range of skin tones, with options like shimmering tangerine and dusty rose. You can opt for just a hint of glow, or you can make the pigment truly pop if you’re looking for a more vibrant look.
Sizes: 0.1 oz. | Shades: 10 | Key Ingredients: Isononyl Isononanoate | SPF: No
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Concealer for Dark Circles
Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer
Sephora
View On Nordstrom
$23
View On Sephora
$27
View On Walmart
$65
Pros
The serum-like formula is fortified with vitamin C to hydrate skin while brightening the under-eye area.
It’s waterproof, making it a great pick for warm weather.
The lightweight formula is buildable and doesn’t feel cakey if you choose to layer it on for an airbrushed look.
Cons
The silky formula did cause some creasing in our tests.
Whether you’re going for a barely-there touch up or a full-coverage finish, this magic wand from Benefit has got you covered — literally. During our testing, we found that this silky formula was easy to layer on to cover up any dark circles or bags thanks to the soft doe-foot applicator, which allowed us to build up radiant coverage without looking cake-y. We did discover that the product can crease lightly given its moist formula, so it’s best to apply a smaller amount of product at first and go from there.
However, this product immediately brightens up the under-eye area while also helping to hydrate it. Enhanced with vitamin C for instant illuminating and red algae extract to help improve skin’s elasticity and moisture-retention, this is essentially part-makeup, part-skincare, and it’s perfect for those with dry or mature skin.
Sizes: 0.17 oz. | Shades: 26 | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, red algae extract | SPF: No
The 7 Best Epilators of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Best Under-Eye Concealer
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Sephora
View On Nordstrom
$13
View On Nordstrom
$13
View On Nordstrom
$13
Our Ratings
Pros
The ultra-buildable formula earned perfect scores on all our tests.
Grape seed extract helps to hydrate skin while magnolia bark minimizes puffiness.
It’s available in a widely inclusive range of shades, plus a mini-size.
The formula is free of parabens, formaldehydes, sulfates, and other drying agents.
Cons
It’s somewhat pricey for a small amount of product, but a little will go a long way with this formula.
Those in the know have sworn by this concealer from Nars for years. When we tested under-eye concealers, this one earned top marks in every category, thanks to its ease of application, hydrating feel, crease-resistant formula, buildable coverage, and superior staying power.
This product boasts a multi-active botanical blend of magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract, and vitamin E designed to hydrate and tighten the delicate skin under the eyes, while also reducing redness and improving the skin barrier. Light-diffusing mineral powder blurs fine lines and blemishes, helping to even out the skin tone and in turn, reveal a more youthful complexion.
We were blown away by how long-lasting this concealer is — it’s meant to stay on for 16 hours and hydrate the under-eye area all day long. We love that it’s available in 30 shades, making it easier to find your match for a radiant, natural look.
Sizes: 0.17 oz. | Shades: 30 | Key Ingredients: Mineral-tone balancing powder, light-diffusing mineral powder, magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract, vitamin E | SPF: No
People / Jhett Thompson
People / Tamara Staples
Best Drugstore Concealer
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
Amazon
View On Target
$9
View On Walmart
$9
View On Ulta
$11
Our Ratings
Pros
The built-in sponge tip applicator makes applying and blending out the right amount of concealer a breeze.
The creamy texture layers well under makeup, and doesn’t ever settle into wrinkles or fine lines.
The medium-to-buildable coverage made an instantly-noticeable difference in the appearance of our dark circles after we applied it.
Cons
We wish the sponge-tip applicator was removable to make it easier to clean.
Being able to walk into a drug store and find an undereye concealer that works on mature skin and blends out any blemishes is a game-changer — and we stand by Maybelline’s New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment. The soft sponge top applicator makes it a breeze to apply on the go, although we wish it were removable so that we could clean it more easily.
Ultimately, this hydrating concealer minimizes redness and dark circles by infusing the under-eye skin with haloxyl, which improves circulation and creates an overall lighter effect — a boon for all skin types, but particularly for drier and more mature skin. The delicate yet powerful formula provides 12 hours of hydrating coverage, with a creamy texture that rarely creases.
Sizes: 0.20 oz. | Shades: 18 | Key Ingredients: Haloxyl | SPF: No
People / Jhett Thompson
People / Jhett Thompson
People / Jhett Thompson
Kelsea Ballerini's 2023 Grammy Makeup Was Done Entirely Using Drugstore Makeup
Best Waterproof Mascara
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara
Walgreens
View On Target
$9
View On Walmart
$11
View On Walgreens
$3
Our Ratings
Pros
The hydrating formula is designed to revive dry, brittle lashes.
The tapered wand makes it easy to swipe the desired amount of product on inner and outer lashes.
The formula is truly waterproof — it never smudged during our tests — but is still easy to remove with micellar water.
Cons
Some people may prefer a curved wand for even easier application.
The formula is very volumizing — minimalists may find it too va-va-voom for everyday wear.
Looking for plump, voluminous lashes that are absolutely smudge-proof and won’t break the bank? Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara checks all our boxes: a tapered wand makes it easy to apply even on your inner lashes, and the waterproof formula won’t budge come rain, tears, or sweat. Plus, it’s under $10!
We applied eye drops and sprayed water on our faces during testing, and our lashes remained thick and clump-free — there was absolutely no smudging or runiness to be seen. The volumizing formula is enhanced with hydrating hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and keratin to boost shine and lash thickness while replenishing brittle lashes.
Another bonus is that unlike other waterproof formulas, which often require ill-advised rubbing and scrubbing to get off: This formula is a breeze to remove gently with micellar water.
Sizes: 0.21 oz. | Shades: 2 | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, keratin | SPF: No
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Long-Lasting Lipstick
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Lip Color
Ulta
View On Target
$11
View On Walmart
$10
View On Ulta
$11
Pros
The consistency is matte and buildable, and never settled into creases or the sides of our mouth.
It doesn’t dry out your lips and the color lasts for hours.
The arrow-tip applicator allows for precise application.
It’s available in 30 vibrant shades.
Cons
The formula takes a few moments to dry down, and transfers slightly even after settling.
You may want to layer it with lip balm or vaseline in cold weather for maximum comfort.
For long-lasting color that won’t dry out your lips, matte liquid lipstick is the way to go. We love this wallet-friendly pick from Maybelline that we tested, which settles without creasing into the fine lines and corners of your mouth. The sheer, buildable consistency is comfortable enough to wear all day long, and we found that applying two coats helped it to stay on for several hours.
While the formula takes a few moments to dry entirely — and can transfer slightly even after it’s dried — it’s packed with softening dimethicone, which absorbs nicely and doesn’t leave an uncomfortably sticky consistency. The arrow-tip applicator makes it easy to apply the color with precision, especially on smaller lips.
While this is an excellent wallet-friendly pick that won’t chap your lips, it’s still a good idea to layer it with lip balm or Vaseline in colder weather to avoid any dryness or flaking. With 30 different shades available and at such an affordable price point, you can even stock up on a few for you and your BFF, or try out multiple shades to mix it up from day to night.
Sizes: 0.17 oz. | Shades: 30 | Key Ingredients: Dimethicone | SPF: No
Best Face Primer
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Sephora
View On Amazon
$58
View On Nordstrom
$24
View On Sephora
$24
Our Ratings
Pros
The velvety formula helps even out any redness in the skin while also minimizing the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and fine lines.
SPF 15 helps protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
This formula is free of sulfates, parabens, and other drying chemicals.
Cons
It’s designed for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin, so we’d recommend this for most skin types.
The cost may be prohibitive for some.
This cloud-like facial primer from Hourglass is worth the investment, thanks to its smoothing capabilities and built-in sun protection. The formula boasts titanium dioxide, which helps with broad spectrum protection, while zinc oxide offers a physical barrier from UVA rays.
We found that putting this on helped our foundation glide over our skin, particularly when it came to the fine lines around our mouths. We awarded this product a perfect 5 out of 5 rating when it came to the application — it goes on smoothly and remains seamless for hours, without every pilling or creasing.
While this is more hydrating than most similar formulas, you still may need a moisture boost — particularly for more mature skin or in winter. We’d use this after your go-to facial moisturizer in order to first create a hydrating barrier for skin.
Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide | SPF: Yes
People / Jessica Juliao
People / Leticia Almeida
People / Leticia Almeida
Best Setting Spray
Mac Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray
Ulta
View On Target
$16
View On Nordstrom
$14
View On Ulta
$35
Pros
This setting and hydrating spray is packed with antioxidants that protect the skin from blue light damage.
Our makeup stayed perfectly fresh all day long thanks to this ultra long lasting formula.
It’s alcohol free, so it won’t dry out your skin.
Cons
You need to shake it before spritzing in order to get a fine mist — otherwise it can spray a bit harshly.
Those with mature or chronically dry skin will adore this hydrating setting spray that we tested from Mac Cosmetics. Equipped with antioxidants like green tea extract, it’s designed to liven up your skin and boost your natural glow — not to mention, protect you from blue light and environmental pollutants. Crucially, the formula is alcohol-free, so it will never dry out your skin — unlike many other moisture-stripping setting sprays that contain high levels of alcohol.
This product features a milky consistency that instantly revitalizes skin when spritzed on top of makeup: We particularly love layering it on after dusting our foundation with powder for even more staying power. The weightless consistency upped our glow without causing our skin to look oily, in turn crafting a moisturized, mattified look that lasted all day long.
Truly, the brand’s 16-hour promise is no joke — this spray helped lock in our makeup for the full day. It also enhanced the overall texture of our skin, blurring out blemishes while enhancing our makeup. Just be sure to shake it up before spritzing, as otherwise the fine-mist pump can get backed up and spit out the product rather than gently spray it.
Sizes: 3.4 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Ingredients: Cucumber extract, green tea extract, caffeine | SPF: No
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Lip Oil
NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip
NYX Cosmetics
View On Amazon
$9
View On Target
$9
View On Walmart
$9
Our Ratings
Pros
Our lips still looked and felt supple after more than 30 minutes of wear.
The squalane-enhanced formula imparts a luscious amount of hydration.
At under $10, this is one of the most budget-friendly picks we tested.
SPF 10 helps offer a little extra protection against UV rays.
Cons
The dense texture feels more like a gloss than a lightweight oil.
Lips oils are a nourishing alternative to lip balms, formulated with hydrating ingredients that are meant to enhance the skin of your lips and smooth out any cracks or dry areas. We love this wallet-friendly lip oil we tested from NYX, which instantly plumped and softened our lips with its dense, squalane-enhanced formula. It’s not as sticky as other lip oils we tried, yet offers a lusciously thick and moisturizing feel.
After 30 minutes, our lips still felt hydrated and comfortable. It never felt greasy or slippery, and it stayed on well even while eating and drinking — although we liked to reapply sometimes after eating to maintain the sheer color boost in addition to the hydration. We appreciated that a little goes a long way with this product, which requires only one swipe to infuse lips with softening hydration and glossy shine.
Sizes: 0.16 oz. | Shades: 8 | Key Ingredients: Vegan squalane, raspberry oil, cloudberry oil | SPF: Yes
People / Jessica Juliao
People / Jessica Juliao
People / Jessica Juliao
Best Eyeliner
Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil
Ulta
View On Amazon
$25
View On Sephora
$25
View On Ulta
$25
Our Ratings
Pros
This gel-pencil is a breeze to apply in one smooth stroke.
It dries instantly and lasts all day long, even on oily skin.
Available in eight shades, including matte, glitter, and metallic finishes.
Cons
The formula isn’t ideal if you prefer to go for buildable color and thickness.
When it comes to applying eyeliner on more mature skin, you want to avoid tugging at all costs. That’s where this gel-pencil hybrid from Lancôme comes in: the formula is smooth and easy to apply in one easy stroke. We found we could line both the top and bottom lashes without any pressure or pulling. The eight available shades — in vibrant matte, glitter, and metallic finishes — required only one swipe to enhance the eyes.
We loved that the pen dried instantly, and it earned our top pick for a long-lasting formula thanks to how well it stayed on oily skin during our tests without ever smudging. Those who prefer a buildable eyeliner may want to look at the other products we tested that scored highly on our tests.
Sizes: 0.42 oz. | Shades: 8 | SPF: No
People / Jhett Thompson
People / Jessica Juliao
Best Lip Plumper
Elf Cosmetics Lip Plumping Gloss
Walmart
View On Amazon
$7
View On Target
$7
View On Walmart
$7
Our Ratings
Pros
It produces a cooling sensation as it plumps lips, which calms skin instead of irritating it.
The softening formula is enhanced with vitamin E and coconut oil.
It’s comfortable enough to reapply throughout the day without causing any uncomfortable tingling sensations.
Cons
We wish there was a clear gloss option for minimalists or to layer with everyday makeup.
It doesn’t yield the most dramatic results compared to others we tested.
When it comes to trustworthy drugstore brands, Elf is at the top of our list — and this lip plumper we tested is an excellent example of why. Supple and smoothing, this hydrating gloss plumped our pouts in just one swipe, producing a cooling sensation that soothed our skin. We much preferred that sensation to the unpleasant tingling feeling caused by most of the other lip plumping products we tested. We appreciated how moisturized our lips felt for hours after applying the product, thanks to the formula’s nourishing blend of vitamin E and coconut oil.
For those looking for more dramatic plumping results, you may want to consider other options we tried — the softer sensation of this one translates to slightly less in-your-face results. However, our pouts were definitively fuller after use, and the small size makes this a breeze to toss in your purse for on-the-go touch ups.
Sizes: 0.09 oz. | Shades: 9 | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, coconut oil | SPF: No
People / Jessica Juliao
People / Jessica Juliao