Struggling with makeup settling into lines? These primers changed everything for my mature skin

An issue we often find with primers is that they just don’t seem to last, but the Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer is designed for long wear to boost your foundation’s staying power. 

Our reviewer beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "Although it feels a tiny bit tacky when first applied on the skin, that goes after it has settled in. And, as it says on the box, it is the ideal primer for all-night wear. I tested its “eight-hour” guarantee when I went to a summer wedding dinner party and my make-up did not budge. I don’t have large pores on my face, but it worked in covering a small cluster of ones on my chin, helping smooth out the area. The formula feels very light-wear and soothing on the skin and glides on easily. It actually made my makeup have a matte effect. For women who suffer from dry patches, one of the key ingredients in this primer is glycerin, which really helps soothe skin."

For an affordable primer that performs well under foundation, the e.l.f Liquid Poreless Putty Primer is your best choice, especially if you tend to sweat (hello hot flushes). It's lightweight and grips makeup well.

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says:
"I absolutely love this primer. It does come in a putty, but the liquid version is so much better. The texture of it is silky and creates a smooth veil on the skin that smooths out puffy areas, leaving a nice base on which to apply make-up too. If you have dry skin, this is the best primer to use as its key ingredient is squalene which offers skin-smoothing and softening benefits. It absorbs quickly into the skin and makeup grips so well, I find I don’t need to reapply it during the day."

Laura Mercier products consistently garner outstanding reviews, and it’s easy to see why with the Pure Canvas primer. It’s fairly pricey, but we feel the price tag is justified due to the quality of the product. As we age, we need skincare products and makeup that will hydrate the skin and not dry it out. The Pure Canvas primer offers long-term moisture, and we love that it’s both silicone-free and contains naturally derived ingredients to help skin appear more radiant. 

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "As a primer, this does so much more than prep the skin for make-up. It is a dual skincare product that leaves skin beautifully moisturised. I suffer from dry skin, made worse by the menopause, and an application of this is so enjoyable to put on as it instantly has a calming effect, due to its blend of rose extracts that work to moisturise, protect and smooth skin. It is super lightweight, and the silky texture glides over the skin. Make-up sat beautifully on top and didn’t budge."

A budget-friendly rival to the Laura Mercier primer is the silicone-free face primer from Facetheory.
It’s suitable for use as an everyday cream or as a primer under makeup, and reviews have praised its level of hydration.

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "This primer specifically targets dehydrated skin, making it ideal for older women as our face is less able to retain moisture due to a drop in hyaluronic acid and collagen. You only need to apply a tiny amount of this product as it sinks into the skin nicely. Being silicone-free, it means it is free from harsh chemicals, which is a bonus for our skin. It has a tiny shine, which enhanced my foundation and made it look dewier, which is nice for summer. A very lightweight product with nice coverage and smooth make-up gliding on top."
Although it does leave skin with a little more shine than we'd like, we think this primer offers superb quality at an affordable price point.

Dry skin seems to become increasingly problematic as we age, when skin loses its natural moisture and elasticity. The classic beauty brand Estée Lauder offers the perfect solution with its Futurist Aqua Brilliance Primer. 

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "I don’t like gel-cream products, but this primer ticks all the right boxes for my menopausal skin, which occasionally looks lacklustre. With its vast range of skin-boosting ingredients, including Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin – which work together to enhance hydration and boost skin elasticity – it feels like I am giving my face some TLC. On days when I don’t wear makeup, the primer alone gives skin a lovely glow and leaves it so hydrated, working as a dual-acting moisturiser/primer."

This little gem isn't just your average primer—it's like a burst of freshness for your face, and we love it. We felt it was most suited to combination skin—while it does a good job of hydrating the skin, it also helps avoid breakouts from wearing makeup. Thanks to menopause, many of us will still suffer from spots or oily patches, along with some dryness as our hormone levels fluctuate. 

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "A moisturiser and primer in one, this has a very creamy texture that comes out white but is invisible once smoothed over the face. If you don’t want a make-up-free day, this is nice on its own as it gives a glow to the face. A blend of Vitamins B, C, and E helps replenish and condition skin with essential nourishment, and this is great for mature skin as it helps plump it. Although it is one of the most expensive primers featured in this guide, its dual purpose as a moisturiser and primer makes it good value for money."

This clever primer includes clinically proven ingredients such α-Bisabolol, Zeolite, Provitamin B5, Urea, and Shea Butter to help reduce redness. This can be especially good for those who suffer from skin conditions such as Rosacea or acne.

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "The best thing about this primer is that it contains an SPF 50. I love multi-tasking products as they save time and do not require an extra layer on the skin. The anti-redness formula really does help with uneven skin tone. I have patches of pigmentation on my skin, and this helped cover them up, plus in the recent hot weather we have had, I found it stopped my face from going red in the heat. Also, I have a couple of red capillaries and noticed the primer covered them. You only need to apply a tiny bit, and its lightweight formula means you don’t feel as though you have anything on the skin. It's also particularly good for those with uneven skin tones, like Rosacea, or pigmentation in the case of age spots and moles."

The Touche Éclat line from Yves Saint Laurent is a much-loved by many beauty fans. The YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer has a lightweight gel consistency; reviewers have noted that a little goes a long way on the skin. 

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "This is a gel so only a little is needed as it spreads generously over the face. It is an illuminating primer that gives you a radiant glow with the clever use of subtle luminescent particles. This really helped in adding some warmth to my skin, and it sinks in nicely, creating a smooth base for makeup. My skin actually felt like velvet. I think all skin types can benefit from this primer as it is enriched with nourishing oils—corn oil, apricot kernel oil, passiflora oil, and rice bran oil—to leave skin feeling incredibly soft without a greasy residue."

If creating a glow under your foundation is your main concern, the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer provides a dewy finish for younger-looking skin, as reviewers have noted.

 
Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "My skin has quite a lot of pigmentation and this primer works magically in covering it up and adds a lovely glow to my face. With hyaluronic acid to hydrate and rosehip oil to reduce inflammation, it works like a dream to give the skincare properties I need to help soothe my skin. The glow of the primer warms the skin and continues to shine through once I put foundation on top. The result is a fresh, dewy look. If you want a deeper glow you can also add this on top of your foundation and it works like a bronzer."

The Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting Primer is a great choice for a woman with mature skin. The blurring and smoothing effects of this primer also reduces the look of fine lines. It’s suitable for all skin types and tones as well.

Our reviewer, beauty writer Suzanne Baum, aged 51, says: "This comes out as a clear liquid and you only need to use one pump as it covers the face easily. It instantly gives skin moisture and when I touched my cheeks they felt baby soft. I tested it over a few days to see if it does what it states in controlling oil and shine for up to 16 hours and it did. My foundation settled on top so smoothly and it felt light-weight and comfortable on my skin. Due to its anti-oil properties, my makeup had a lovely matte effect which didn’t budge all day."

This oil-free primer is said to brighten and hydrate your skin while also creating a mattifying effect. One of Benefit's best-selling products, it's good for minimising both pores and fine lines, all while feeling super lightweight on your skin.

Our reviewer Yours.co.uk Editor Claire Tapley, says: "In all honesty, the Benefit The POREfessional Primer is not one I use often. But if I feel my pores are particularly noticeable that day, I'll use some of this around my nose and cheeks along with the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base on the rest of my face. Although it comes out of the tube tinted, it applies translucently. It's very lightweight in consistency and glides over your skin. It creates a blurred and mattifying effect, making the pores less noticeable. I imagine this would be a good primer to use with fine lines as it almost fills the space in the skin."

The Veil Mineral Primer by Hourglass is a luxurious, lightweight base that delivers a flawless finish. Our reviewer was impressed by its silky texture that glides on smoothly, blurring imperfections and minimising pores while creating an even canvas for makeup. Ideal for all skin types, especially oily or combination skin, it controls shine and enhances foundation longevity without feeling heavy. The formula includes SPF 15, offering light sun protection. It's fragrance-free and doesn't clog pores, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

Georgina Finegan, Brand Editor at Yours, who tested and reviewed the product, says: "The first time I wore this to work, my boss commented on how young I looked, which I definitely put down to the effectiveness of this primer. As someone new to primers, I didn’t know what to expect but I immediately loved the texture and how easily it glided over my skin. Recently, I’ve found that I struggle to achieve a natural base with the liquid foundations that I’m keen on and was often having to spend time blending in (even expensive) products to avoid a ‘caked-on’ appearance; however, this primer made applying my foundation effortless!" she said.

"My only reservation is that it wasn’t hugely hydrating, and as my skin is a little on the dry side, I would’ve liked more of that. But overall, it effectively blurred my pores and uneven sun-damaged skin tone and left my skin feeling lovely and soft. I’d go as far as to say that it helped make my wrinkles less obvious," she added.