Choosing The Most Flattering Lipstick For Over 50 Lips

Lip Care Essentials for Women Over 50

Healthy lips are the foundation of any good lipstick look, so try adding these tips to your beauty routine:

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your lips (and skin) hydrated from the inside out.
• Use SPF: Lips can get sunburned too! Use a lip balm with SPF during the day to protect your lips from harmful UV rays. 
• Night Treatment: Apply a nourishing lip treatment before bed to keep your lips soft and smooth. I find shea butter very helpful, as well as exfoliants that remove dead skin cells.

This Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask has papaya enzymes, which help exfoliate my lips and is a permanent staple in my lip routine. It has no taste and virtually no smell, and I wake up with soft, hydrated lips. I also love this lip balm, which is a bit more portable, so I pack it when I travel. It also contains hyaluronic acid, and the cooling ceramic tip feels nice going on. It can be used as a daily lip balm or a nighttime treatment.

Best Lipstick Formulas for Women Over 50

When choosing a lipstick, look for these features:

• Hydrating Formulas: Lips tend to dry out as we age, so opt for a hydrating lipstick with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and natural oils.
• Satin or Creamy texture: Matte lipsticks can accentuate fine lines and give a dry appearance. A satin or cream finish is more forgiving and adds a touch of softness to the lips.
• Long-Wear without Drying: Long-lasting lipstick is great for staying power but can be drying. Look for long-wearing options that include moisturizing ingredients like moringa oil.
• Lipsticks with a subtle gleam ( not frost) give a plump, moisturized appearance.

This soft Chantecaille lipstick has a subtle gleam and soft shine that stays on very well. I often slick it over other lipsticks to add some shine without gooeyness.

Lipsticks to Avoid After 50

Not all lipsticks are created equal for mature lips. Look for a moist-looking finish with some staying power to make your lips look fuller and younger. 

• Super Dark Shades: Very dark colors can make lips look smaller and harsher, which isn’t ideal for mature lips. If you love dark colors, choose a berry or wine shade that’s not too deep. 
• Ultra-Matte Formulas: Over 50, our lips tend to be dryer and have more lines. Matte formulas can emphasize both of these things. If you love a matte look, opt for a semi-matte product with hydrating elements.
• Glossy Formulas: While a little shine can be youthful, overly gooey formulas can migrate and settle into lines. Stick with a long-lasting finish that’s less likely to migrate. 
• Drying Products: Beware of lip stains, which can dry lips out.

I’ve been hooked on this lip stain for years. It stays on for hours and doesn’t flake or dry out my lips. Other lip stains I’ve tried have been very drying. This one is also cruelty-free, full of antioxidants, and contains sunscreen. Win, win, in my book! My favorite shades are Blissed Out and Fascination.

Choosing the Right Lip Color

• Your own coloring and chemistry will alter how the colors look on you, so test them out because they never look the same in the tube as on your face. You’ll know the color is right when it makes your complexion look healthy.
• Just like foundation, your lipstick should complement your skin’s undertones. If you have cool undertones, look for shades with blue or purple bases like berry or mauve. Warm undertones look best with shades like coral, peach, and brick red. 
• The shape of your lips will also impact how lip colors work for you. Fuller lips can handle darker, more dramatic shades, while thinner lips benefit from lighter colors that create the illusion of fullness.
• There are some colors that I think women over 50 are best to avoid. Fluorescent colors, for example. These vibrant colors tend to look both harsh and unnatural. The same goes for deep, brownish lipstick colors unless you have naturally dark coloring.

Ultimately, the colors you choose are highly personal, and you should wear what you love. You may also enjoy How To Find Your Personal Contrast Level And Why It Matters.

Best Lipstick Colors After 50

Reds

The best red lipstick for you is one that doesn’t overpower your own coloring and matches your undertone. Softer reds can be flattering at our age and still have that classic look. For pale and cool complexions, a deep rose or deep pink can appear red on you. Opt for bright over deep but not so bright that all you see is your lips…unless that’s the look you’re going for.

Remember that bolder colors like red are going to draw attention to your mouth so be sure you’re happy with the attention it may place on your teeth.

Nudes

Nudes are tricky to get right, especially on older lips. They’re available in warm and cool undertones, so choose ones that harmonize with your coloring. An easy way to find the right tone is to pull down your bottom lip and choose a color that matches the inside. Nude lipstick looks best when it’s one or two shades deeper than your own lips. Overly pale shades can look washed out and won’t provide enough lip definition. Lipsticks that are too deep can easily overpower and leach the life out of your face. 

Pinks

Pink lipsticks come in a wide range of colors, from light baby pinks to bold fuchsias. I like to wear middle-of-the-road shades like Gracefully Pink from Charlotte Tilbury because my complexion is pretty fair, and I have medium/low contrast. A medium pink looks great with casual daytime looks and enhances your complexion without overwhelming your look.

Berry/Plums

Deeper lipstick colors like berry and plum add a little bit of drama and brighten your face. To keep your look fresh, go for creamy or hydrating formulas that can last through dinner. Be sure to check in for touch-ups, as these deeper shades tend to show fading more noticeably than lighter nudes or pinks. Don’t go too dark when choosing your berry color because these deeper shades can lean black and look “goth”. 

This is MERIT Beauty’s Fashion, which is a soft berry that looks red on me. Unlike a lot of lipsticks, this one is hydrating and lasts a long time without feeling dry. It gives a nice satin finish that can be layered if you want more color.

Application Tips for a Smooth Finish

Even the best lipstick can look unflattering if not applied correctly. Here are some tips to keep your lipstick looking perfect.

Use a Lip Liner

Those little or large lines around your mouth are notorious paths for the lipstick to wick up. A lip liner can be one of your best defenses against feathering. Choose either a neutral lip liner that is slightly deeper than your lips or one that matches your lipstick. The benefit of a lip liner that’s just slightly deeper than your own lips is that when your lipstick wears off, you don’t end up with a funny ring around your mouth.

I like to trace around my lipline, subtly correcting any uneven edges, then fill in the entire lip with the pencil. Lining just outside your natural lipline can help thinning lips look fuller, but don’t go overboard, or you risk the “Who’s Afraid Of Baby Jane” look. Liners come in long-wear formulas, too, and my new favorites are those by Charlotte Tilbury.

Lipstick Application Tips

• Use a Lip Brush to Apply: This step is optional, but many makeup artists recommend applying your lipstick with a brush. This allows for more precision and helps the color adhere better to your lips.
• Blot and Reapply: For longer wear, blot your lips with a tissue after the first layer of lipstick, then apply a second layer.

If you make a mistake applying lip stain, it can be hard to fix. I’ve discovered this little magic product from Stilla does a great job at fixing it without having to start all over.

What’s your favorite lipstick color? Let me know in the comments!