The Modern Guide to Aging Gracefully

Foundation Is Your Friend

If you’ve been sticking to tinted moisturizer because you’re leery of heavy foundation, it’s time to reassess. “The technology has changed so much,” says Carmindy. “The latest foundations are lightweight and can mimic the skin’s natural texture, but they still cover redness, lines, broken capillaries, and other imperfections the way tinted moisturizer can’t. Plus, they last longer.” These newer, sheerer formulas blend into the skin—unlike their matte, masklike ancestors—giving it a radiant finish that can “honestly take years off your face,” says Kashuk. Pick a hydrating cream, mousse, or liquid formula with light-diffusing pigments, such as YBF Hands-Free Light Diffusing Foundation ($25, hsn.com). One with antioxidants, such as Lorac Breakthrough Performance Foundation SPF 14 ($38, loraccosmetics.com), helps shield skin from free-radical damage that can lead to wrinkles. Instead of matching the shade to your face, match it to the skin on your breastbone. This way, when you spread the formula to the base of your neck (which makeup artists agree is a must for avoiding ring-around-the-jaw), you won’t appear two-toned. Be sure to apply sunscreen and moisturizer first, says Schick. Poorly hydrated skin can drink up the moisture and the pigments in the foundation, leaving you with blotchy coverage.