While wrinkles can be a point of insecurity at any point in life, they come front and center as we age. For young women, it’s hard to imagine, but hit your 40’s and you start to take notice when fine lines begin to crease more deeply.

As we age, our skin naturally changes, losing its youthful resilience as key dermal structures begin to lose their elasticity, and your skin has a harder time retaining moisture. It lacks luster, begins to sag, and gets more dry and “papery.”

Thankfully, there are great ways to combat blemishes in mature skin with active skincare ingredients and quality makeup. 

A great concealer will blend seamlessly into your skin to fade blemishes and even wrinkles for a more youthful look. 

Here are some of the best concealers for (and effective on) mature skin.

How Do You Prevent Wrinkles and Blemishes In Mature Skin?

The best way to keep your skin looking healthy and youthful is to care for it like you do the rest of your body––proper nourishment and protection from environmental damage.

For skin, preventing wrinkles and blemishes as you mature means regular UV/sun protection (we recommend an SPF of 30 or higher daily), regularly moisturizing, and gentle cleansing daily. 

These are the low-hanging fruits of preventing and avoiding wrinkles and blemishes, and the earlier in life you begin this “preventive maintenance” the better. Sun screen is your number one tool in preventing the look of older skin later in life, but the work starts early.

Then, there are “active” skincare ingredients, like retinoids that speed up your skin’s healing and rejuvenation process, including in older women. 

A quality retinoid-containing skincare regimen is another key step in fighting wrinkles, as it can cut the time your skin takes to “turn over” (or bring new skin cells to the surface) significantly. In our youth, our skin cells turn over once a month or so––by the time we’re in our 60’s that timeframe can double. A good retinoid can speed up the process, shortening that turnover timeframe meaningfully.

Read the whole story on retinoids in our Guide here.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Concealer for Mature Skin

Finally, let’s talk about concealers for mature skin, the easiest way to fade and hide blemishes on mature skin in no time. 

Many factors can affect how a concealer blends with your complexion. They include product type, application method used, and how much concealer is applied.

No surprise, but you want to find a quality concealer that works with your skin tone, and some products are designed specifically for use on mature skin or darker complexions.

The process of finding the right concealer starts by knowing what you’re looking for in functionality and features. You might want a product that has built-in sun protection or one with an extra dose of hydration for dry or irritated skin needs. Below are some factors to consider when buying concealers for mature skin.

Your skin tone- It’s the first step in determining what type of concealer you should buy. If you’re covering specific blemishes, like redness, you’ll want something that matches your skin tone closely. But if you’re looking to cover under-eye circles, you may want something slightly lighter than your own natural skin tone to “brighten” this area. Something with pink or peach tones will also help to offset the blue-gray of under-eye circles.

The texture of the concealer- The texture of the concealer should be suitable for mature skin, generally avoiding heavy waxes or a lot of powders that can wind up “caking” on skin that’s naturally more dry. Increased dryness in skin, sometimes described as "papery", is the number one change that most people experience as they age. A concealer with moisturizing qualities can help.

Effectiveness against dark circles- As we age, our skin doesn’t bounce back quite like it once did. That’s true for dark circles under your eyes, and many women report that this is the number one reason they're using concealers as they mature. 

Coverage levels- Depending on your needs, you should find an appropriate level of coverage by checking for ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Most women look for products within medium/full tones because these are typically easy to work with when applying color cosmetics like foundation or eyeshadow.

Some of the Top 9 Concealers for Mature Skin

The best concealers for mature skin are often those that are highly pigmented. They can help blend imperfections such as bags under your eyes or obvious blemishes, including sun spots or dark circles.

You can find these 10 concealers for mature skin just about anywhere, at drugstores like CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, and Target. They span the gamut in price, and with this list you're bound to find something you like.

1. CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Concealer

CoverGirl’s Outlast All-Day Concealer is infused with color-conserving pigments that help combat your complexion’s discoloration due to environmental factors, such as temperature extremes. This long-wearing formula provides coverage for up to 16 hours in a single application. For best results, apply before foundation and allow time to dry on the skin before continuing with your makeup routine.

2. LORAC Pro Conceal

LORAC Pro Conceal is a concealer for all skin tones in many shades and undertones. It makes the eyes look bright, with even color distribution without looking cakey. LORAC provides medium to full coverage depending on your needs while still lightweight enough to wear comfortably daily.

3. Vibrancy Argan Oil Full Coverage Concealer Fluid

This is a high-coverage concealer with natural ingredients, including argan oil, honey, and aloe juice. It comes in six color options: Fair/Light Neutral, Tan, Medium/Tanto Deep Dark Chocolate Brown.

4. Hello FAB Bendy Avocado Concealer

A unique avocado concealer that’s easy to use, and the lightweight cream formula is moisturizing for dry or oily skin types and absorbs quickly with no caking. Just blend a small amount of the foundation along the naturally under eye area, then apply as regular coverage on top of makeup. 

5. Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer

This concealer is made from a blend of skin-loving ingredients including hyaluronic acid and vitamins A, C & E. It also contains antioxidants such as green tea extract to fight aging and support your natural radiance. The coverage this product offers is intended to hide imperfections without feeling heavy or cakey on your face. It has an oil-free formula, so it may be ideal for those who are looking for lightweight, long-lasting liquid foundations in their cosmetic routine.

6. LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer

This concealer is a great option when you need to cover blemishes nicely and protect your skin from the sun. It comes with a high SPF built-in and doesn’t crease or fade over time. LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer has a quality formula that covers dark circles under the eyes well, as it uses pigment instead of liquid foundation. 

7. Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer

For mature skin, this concealer is designed to cover imperfections and correct skin color with a smooth, creamy texture that blends easily while providing long-lasting coverage.

8. NYX Professional Makeup Concealer Wand

This concealer wand is a must-have item for those on the go, as it features an angled head that fits comfortably in your hand and comes with a refillable cup applicator so you can keep using it throughout the day without having to worry about spilling.

Apply from the Tanner to the Faintest Tint

The best way to start with a concealer is by applying it from darker/tanner to the faintest tint. 

For example, if you have dark circles under your eyes, try using a lighter concealer than you would normally use to fight redness.

Another way to apply your concealer is by using your fingertips. Apply the product and blend it in with the tips of your fingers so that it doesn’t look cakey or unnatural. Next, pat it into place with a tissue or cotton swab. This will allow for an even application and can help the concealer last longer on your skin.

An excellent tip for under-eye circles is to use a white eyeliner pencil on top of the concealer. Apply this before you put on any other makeup, so if mistakes are made in applying the concealer—they don’t show through as much.

Conclusions

When it comes to finding the best concealers for mature skin, you've got options. Our skin changes with time, and so should your beauty routine.

Perfecting a great routine takes some trial and error, however. If you're not sure where to begin with your changing skin, start with lower-priced products to learn what you don't like, and to make sure you find the right tone for your application. Sometimes the right solution is all about learning what the wrong solutions are.

Covering blemishes isn't the only thing you can do for them, too. At Nava MD, we help you get custom, prescription skincare formulations for common conditions like wrinkling, scarring, acne, and more. It's all done online, with dermatologists prescribing custom formulas based on your situation, if appropriate, and shipped to your door. Learn more by clicking here.