Makeup can be tricky once fine lines and wrinkles enter the picture. Bases that once looked seamless can suddenly catch on dry patches, sit in creases or make skin look dull. According to long-time makeup artist Laura Geller, the secret is not a heavier foundation but smarter prep.
“It all starts with how you prepare your skin before you put anything on,” she says. “Your skincare routine and the primer you use is absolutely key.”
Below, her key tips for helping makeup glide over mature skin instead of fighting against it.
Step 1: Treat skin before you touch your makeup bag
Think of skin as the canvas and makeup as the paint. If the surface is rough or dehydrated, no foundation will sit quite right.
For everyday prep:
- Cleanse gently. Use a non-stripping cleanser to remove sunscreen, oil and makeup residue without leaving skin tight.
- Layer hydration. A hydrating serum followed by a moisturiser helps plump fine lines so they are less noticeable under base products. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or ceramides.
- Seal with sunscreen in the morning. Daily SPF helps protect collagen and prevent further sun-related ageing, which in turn keeps texture smoother over time.
Once skincare has absorbed, Geller recommends adding a dedicated primer to create a smoother surface and help makeup last. She prefers a formula that feels moisturising and slightly grippy rather than silicone-heavy.
A hydrating primer “quenches the complexion and gives products a soft place to land,” she explains. The goal is for skin to feel supple and lightly cushioned, not slippery.
Step 2: Use targeted smoothing where lines are deepest
Even with good prep, some areas cling to product more than others. Think under the eyes, around the mouth and between the brows. A targeted line-smoothing product can help here.
These balms and creams usually:
- Have a velvety, slightly tinted texture
- Sit on top of skincare and primer but under foundation
- Gently blur and “fill” fine lines so makeup does not sink into them as easily
Many come with a cooling metal tip or applicator, which helps de-puff and makes application feel calming rather than like another chore.
Look for formulas that are enriched with skin-friendly ingredients such as vitamin C or niacinamide. These can support brightness and barrier health over time while delivering that immediate blurring effect “when you need instant confidence.”
To apply:
- Pat a rice-grain amount onto bare, prepped skin after primer.
- Focus on expression lines—crow’s feet, smile lines, vertical lines between the brows.
- Let it set for a minute, then press foundation or concealer on top rather than dragging.
Step 3: Choose makeup textures that flatter, not fight, your skin
With skin nicely prepped, less product is usually more.
- Opt for light-to-medium coverage. Sheer or buildable bases are less likely to cake or crack. Use a small brush or damp sponge to build coverage only where needed.
- Cream over powder. Cream blush, bronzer and highlighter tend to meld better with mature skin and move with facial expressions.
- Set selectively. Instead of powdering the whole face, lightly set only areas that crease or get oily, such as the T-zone or under the eyes.
Step 4: Adopt a pro-ageing beauty mindset
For Geller, technique is only half the picture. The rest is how you talk to yourself in the mirror.
“Embrace the skin you are in. You’ve lived, laughed, cried and your face tells a beautiful story,” she says. “Take care of yourself, give yourself grace and do things that make you feel alive. Beauty isn’t about perfection, it’s about embracing who you are.”
Some days that might mean doing a full routine with primer, line smoother and carefully applied foundation. On others it might be tinted moisturiser, mascara and a swipe of lipstick before heading out the door. Either way, the goal is to feel like the most confident version of yourself, not to erase every line.
The takeaway
With thoughtful prep and a few strategic products, makeup can enhance mature skin instead of highlighting texture. Hydrating skincare, a smoothing primer and targeted line filler can help foundation glide on more evenly, while softer textures and selective setting keep everything looking fresh.
Combined with a kinder inner dialogue, these small steps can turn getting ready into a daily ritual of care so leaving the house feels a little more like stepping onto your own personal red carpet.
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