Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

As we mature, it’s not always about wanting to look younger, it’s about wanting to look better: less tired, less sallow, healthier. Luxuriously rich without being heavy, this foundation delivers. We felt it made skin look “expensive” – as if you spend your time between yacht and dermatologist’s clinic. With natural extracts of cordyceps, lychee, bamboo and apple, the serum formulation feels nourishing and adds luminosity. It hydrates while ultra-fine pigments smooth the complexion. Extra points for the high SPF too.

Best: For uneven skin tones

Rating: 9/10

Blending skincare and make-up, this is a wonderfully moisturising formula with ion charged water and chia seed extract. Plumping, illuminating and very flattering, we loved this one for its silky feel and light yet full coverage. It smoothed over large pores, fine lines and evened out skin tone a treat. We also rated the high SPF and the packaging which sits upside down – the pump is at the bottom, letting you make the most of every last drop. Eight new shades were recently added increasing the shade range to 28.

Best: For online shade matching

Rating:9/10

A viral sensation across social media, the killer USP here is its online shade matching service. From an impressive range of 50 shades, it picks your perfect match and, if it’s not right, you can return it (for free, in any condition) within 60 days.  With mature skin-friendly vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, the formula provides a forgiving medium to heavy coverage that gives a matte finish without looking flat.  We loved it for the way it blurs imperfections and pigmentation to leave an even smoothness (and yes, it got our shade right first time).

Best: For lifting and firming

Rating: 8/10

Armani is famously good at foundation and this one is specifically created to flatter mature skin. It contains “Armani electric blue pearls”, a luminous blue pigment that makes skin look lifted, paired with firming skincare actives. We liked the balance of lightweight formulation and medium coverage and the fact that a little goes a long way. The emollient, liquid consistency moved with our skin rather than lying on top like a mask. The finish is matte yet glowy, with a nice natural sheen – and it lasted well too.

Best: High street buy

Rating: 8/10

The protect & perfect range has become a mature skin stalwart on the high street with its affordable, actives-packed products. This foundation, designed for “the first signs of ageing”, includes collagen peptide-based technology to plump, pro-retinol to smooth and vitamins A and C plus an antioxidant complex to guard against free radicals and protect the skin. Not to mention an impressive SPF50+. Great value for money, we liked this one for its ability to cover imperfections and smooth out tone. It needs to be blended in well for the best results.

Best: For luminosity

Rating: 9/10

A sophisticated foundation that elevated our skin to a more luminous level, this is dewy skin in a jar. We loved the oil-free, gel texture, made up of 60 per cent water and seaweed, which feels wonderfully cool on the skin. It has flattering light-reflecting pigments, aloe, camomile and arnica to soothe along with antioxidants including rosemary, green tea and rice bran. It melts seamlessly into the skin, feels luxurious and made our skin look naturally good.

Best: For glow

Rating: 8/10

This foundation contains SUQQU’s signature glow-giving properties for a your-skin-but-better look. What’s more, the high-tech formula is designed to adapt to skin throughout the day, keeping you glowing from dawn ‘til dusk. Within the (display-worthy) jet black and gold pot lies green tea extract and silk protein, collagen and amino acids to keep skin protected and moisture levels topped up. It’s not one for those looking for full coverage but if you have generally good skin that you just want to look dewier and fresher, this beautiful cream gives a great glow.

Best: For oily skin

Rating: 8/10

Serum formulations are a godsend for more mature complexions. They blend with the skin (rather than lying on top and then settling into lines) and bring the benefit of skincare ingredients such as the vitamin C, salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid present here. Dispense a small amount to start with as the formula is highly concentrated. We loved the natural look of the satin matte finish which didn’t budge even following a stickily humid walk. Our skin felt plumper and looked brighter (also kudos to the tactile, egg-shaped, recyclable bottle).

Best: For dry skin

Rating: 8/10

For those looking for full coverage, this fairly thick cream foundation contains silicone-coated pigments that stick to skin without looking too heavy thanks to a gel base. We liked the way it felt on our skin (it contains shea butter and we definitely felt its nourishing properties) and the way it lasted through a long working day. It goes on easily, blends in well and kept skin moisturised. We found it especially good on dry skin.

Best: For brightening

Rating: 9/10

This is soft-focus in a bottle: it seems to blur out the bad bits (pigmentation, fine lines) and accentuate the good. Superstar make-up artist Pat McGrath is an expert in the field so it’s no surprise that this is one serious piece of kit. It contains a complex which encourages the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, resulting in plumped up, juicy skin. The complex formula also smooths the skin’s texture and illuminating pigment scatters light to make skin appear brighter. We especially liked the sheer, liquid consistency which sinks into the skin and allows you to layer up to your perfect coverage.

Best: For multi-tasking

Rating: 8/10

More of a face tint than a foundation, we’ve included it here because we feel mature skin sometimes craves a lightweight formula rather than a full-on foundation. This all-purpose BB cream combines sunscreen (although you may want to add on a separate higher SPF), concealer, foundation and an anti-ageing cream. With vitamin C to brighten, it also contains hyaluronic acid microspheres which drip feed the potent moisturiser into the skin for daylong hydration. We felt it left our skin firmer, softer and more even. It’s like wearing a forgiving, flattering veil.

Best: Value for money

Rating: 9/10

With moisturising hyaluronic acid and watermelon seed extract, True Skin can hold its own next to formulas ten times the price. We rated it for its ability to successfully cover redness and blemishes. It offers a good level of coverage while still feeling light and comfortable to wear. The finish, slightly more matte than dewy, lives up to its “real skin” claim, giving a natural, polished look. We also loved the way it dispenses cleanly and easily.

Best: For instant gratification

Rating: 9/10

With Trinny London, you can rest assured that the products have been tried and tested for real life, mid-life needs by Trinny herself – as evidenced on her entertaining Instagram feed. Not strictly a foundation, this formula is a make-up/skincare hybrid. Active ingredient neurophroline counteracts the effect stress has on making skin look haggard while hyaluronic acid moisturises and antioxidants boost radiance. We were also impressed by the high level of pigment which gives skin polish without looking overdone. It’s a brilliant quick fix with (long term) benefits.