I've found that since hitting my late 40s, I've become a little disheartened with foundation. Not because I don't want coverage anymore - I absolutely do - but because I want it to look as though I'm not wearing any. I still want my skin to look like skin, just on one of its better days.
I also need something that keeps my complexion feeling hydrated and comfortable from morning until bedtime. The days of full-coverage formulas sitting perfectly on my face for twelve hours are long gone. Now, if a foundation feels heavy, settles into lines or cracks every time I smile, it doesn't matter how flawless it looked when I first applied it - it isn't staying in my makeup bag. It's a bit like finding the perfect pair of jeans. You try them on, they're flattering for five minutes, then halfway through the day you're desperate to undo the button. I've realised foundation can be the same. It might promise a flawless finish, but if it feels tight, dry or starts clinging to texture by lunchtime, it simply isn't the right fit anymore.
Why 40+ women may need to rethink their foundation
The reality is that our skin changes dramatically during our 40s and 50s. Falling oestrogen levels mean skin produces less oil, loses hydration more quickly and becomes thinner and less elastic. Years of sunshine, stress, and life also begin to show through pigmentation, enlarged pores, uneven texture, and fine lines. None of these are flaws to erase, but they do change the way makeup behaves.
For years I assumed I needed more coverage to compensate. In reality, I've discovered the opposite is often true. The heavier the foundation, the more it seems to settle into the very things I'm trying to soften. Rather than disguising texture, it often ends up drawing attention to it. These days, what I look for is a formula that moves with my skin rather than masking it. I still want enough pigment to blur redness around my nose, soften pigmentation and even out my complexion, but I don't want to hide every freckle or completely flatten my face.
What are the benefits of a ‘skin tint’?
The best foundation formulas simply give me what I think of as a veil of confidence. It's a conversation I have surprisingly often with friends in their 40s and 50s, and one that Trinny Woodall clearly had in mind when developing her new Trinny London Fearless Skin Tint Drops, £45. "I want coverage that becomes part of my skin, not coverage that sits on top of my skin," she told Hello!. "The coverage of a foundation, but the benefit of skincare."
That idea sums up why I've found myself reaching for skin tints far more often than traditional foundations. Unlike many classic formulas, today's skin tints are designed to work with mature skin rather than against it. Alongside lightweight pigments, many contain skincare ingredients. Fearless, for example, combines biomimetic lipids (ingredients that replicate the natural fats in your skin that are lost over time) with Evodia Rutaecarpa plant, which boosts your skin's own natural radiance - rather than simply creating the illusion of glow with light-reflecting particles, as many foundations do.
You’ll also find ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides and barrier-supporting ingredients in other tint and balm formulations that help keep skin looking fresh throughout the day instead of becoming increasingly dry or cakey. Just as importantly, the pigments themselves have evolved. Rather than creating a flat, opaque layer, many modern skin tints use flexible, light-diffusing pigments that move with your expressions and allow your natural complexion to shine through. Instead of trying to create a perfectly blank canvas, they simply make your skin look healthier, brighter and more rested.
How to use a skin tint?
The beauty is that it's far more forgiving than traditional foundation. There's no need to aim for a perfectly even, full-face application - in fact, you'll probably get a better result if you don't. "If you have things to cover, I think a sponge is better because you feel you're not moving it too much, whereas if you want it to become part of your skin and you've got nothing to cover, then use a brush and buff it in”, says Trinny.
Her biggest tip, though, is to rethink where you actually need coverage. Rather than automatically applying product everywhere, concentrate on the areas that naturally become more red or uneven, before blending outwards. "I've realised I don't really need that much here," she says, pointing to her jawline, "but I might need it here around my nose, so I start where I need it the most, and then I blend out." It's a technique I've adopted myself, and it makes a surprising difference. Instead of creating one flat colour across your face, natural flush and skin still show through where they should. The result is fresher, more believable and, in my experience, much more flattering on midlife skin.
Shop skin tints
After testing dozens over the past year, these are the skin tints that genuinely make my skin look fresher, healthier and, most importantly, like me - just with a little extra help.
Best for: Mature skin that wants no-coverage coverage with skincare benefits.
Trinny London Fearless Skin Tint Drops, £45
The lightweight texture melts in quickly, taking down redness and evening tone without masking freckles or texture. It stays comfortable all day and never feels heavy, making it ideal for skin that changes throughout the month.
Best for: Covering redness, pigmentation or broken veins without feeling heavily made up.
It Cosmetics Do It All Sheer Face Tint Balm, £49
If skin tints normally leave you thinking, "Is that it?", this might be the one to change your mind. It gives noticeably more coverage than most, so I found myself reaching for it on days when my skin looked particularly tired or blotchy. It still feels comfortable, but definitely leans closer to foundation than a tint.
Best for: Dry skin and anyone who prefers a really natural, glowy finish.
Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, £42
This is the one I throw on when I don't really want to wear makeup but know I'll feel better with something on. It won't hide everything, but it makes skin look fresher and healthier in minutes. The added SPF is a bonus because it's one less step to think about on busy mornings.
Best for: A plumper, smoother complexion with a hint of tint and a lot of radiance.
Drunk Elephant Kamo Triple-Peptide™ Cover Drops, £37
This surprised me. It can be as sheer or as polished as you want it to be. I like mixing a drop into my moisturiser on good skin days, then using it neat around my nose and chin when I need a little more help. It also comes in 25 shades so there’s a good chance of finding one to suit your skin tone.
Best for: Even-toned minimal coverage that won’t settle into skin texture.
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint, £39
Lisa Eldridge understands real skin better than most makeup artists, and it shows. This has just enough pigment to make you look more awake without looking like you've applied a full face of foundation. I also found it lasted surprisingly well without disappearing or collecting around my nose.
Best for: Dehydrated or perimenopausal skin that has lost a bit of its bounce.
Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm, £36
It gives that well-slept glow that becomes harder to fake as you get older, and it never clings to the dry patches that seem to appear from nowhere. If you like a matte finish, this probably isn't for you—but I love how healthy it makes my skin look.
