How To Choose A Flattering Lipstick After 50

I don’t know about you, but lipstick is a powerful tool in my arsenal. I find it one of the most transformative makeup products women can wear. The older we get, the more we benefit from a little bit of color on our lips, and there’s also nothing quite as uplifting as a quick slick of pretty lipstick. The right lipstick will make your skin tone appear healthy and more vibrant. Formulas vary tremendously, and the right one for you may have changed over the years. Choosing a flattering color can also be a tricky thing, so let’s look at the best lipstick over 50.

I’m updating this popular post with some new info and favorites. I’ve also updated the formulas and colors that are working for my older lips and complexion.

Lip Primer

You can read more suggestions for lip care here. Proper care and prep is the first step to having your lipstick look fabulous. The next step is a primer. Lip primers create a smooth surface for your lipstick, help your color last longer, and work to keep lipstick from feathering. They also ensure your lipstick color remains true. A nice lip primer will also add an extra dose of moisture.

My current favorite is this cult favorite Anastasia clear lip primer. I’d read great things about this primer but worried that the waxy texture wouldn’t hold my lipstick. Surprise, it does, with the bonus of adding some extra hydration. I also love that it’s cruelty-free and vegan.

Best Lipstick Texture After 50

Is matte lipstick a good formula for women over 50? In a word, no. As we age, everything dries out, so matte finishes make your lips look flat, thinner, and older. Alternatively, a gooey gloss isn’t a great idea either because it’ll wick up the fine lines around your mouth and take your lipstick with it. Mature lips are often best with a long-wear, cream formula that’ll be less likely to migrate.

Long-lasting lipsticks or lip stains have more pigment, and because they dry quickly, they don’t have a chance to move into the liplines. Many lip stains dry the lips out, but I’ve found this Jane Iredale doesn’t, and it comes in many shades. A few even have a subtle frost which I like for keeping lips looking moist.

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.

I’ve recently switched to a less opaque lipstick because I’m finding the look less aging. Full-coverage lipstick can have a flat appearance on older women. This Chantecaille Lip Chic lipstick is a hybrid that combines the rich coverage of lipstick with the high shine of a gloss, and they stay put. It comes across as fairly light, so I line and fill it with this lip pencil.

Lipliner

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. You can either use a neutral lip liner that matches or is slightly deeper toned than your lip. You can also go with 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.

Best Lipstick Texture

Is matte lipstick a good formula for women over 50? In a word, no. As we age, our lips tend to be dryer and have more lines. Matte finishes make your lips look flat, thinner, and older. Alternatively, a gooey gloss isn’t a great idea because it’ll wick up the fine lines around your mouth and take your lipstick with it. Mature lips are often best with a long-wear formula that’ll be less likely to migrate.  Long-lasting lipsticks or lip stains have more pigment, and because they dry quickly, they don’t have a chance to move into the liplines. Many lip stains dry the lips out, so beware and add extra moisture on top.

I’ve recently switched to a less opaque lipstick because I’m finding the look less aging. Full-coverage lipstick can have a flat appearance on older women. 

Best Lipstick Color After 50

The best lipstick shade for you will help your complexion look healthy. Choose a color that matches the undertones of your skin. A cool-toned lipstick will look harsh against a warm-toned complexion and vice versa. Deep, brownish lipstick can make you look older unless you have naturally dark coloring. Bright colors are more flattering than deep up to a point. Fluorescent colors have the same effect as matte; they look harsh. Look for a glossy finish with some staying power to make your lips look fuller and younger. 

Red, strong, and bright-colored lipstick draws attention to your mouth, so be sure you’re happy with the attention it will place on your teeth.

Best Red Lipstick

The best red lipstick for you is one that doesn’t overpower your own coloring and matches your undertone. Softer reds can be flatter 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.

Best Nude Lipcolor

Nudes are tricky to get right, especially on older lips. Nude lipstick comes in warm and cool undertones, so choose ones that harmonize with your coloring. Nudes look best when they’re one or two shades deeper than your own lips. Overly pale nude lipstick won’t provide lip definition, and nudes that are too deep will leach the life out of your face. I’ve been steering away from nude lipstick because I need more color as my complexion fades.

Healthiest Lipsticks

KOSAS WEIGHTLESS BUTTERY LIPSCOLOR

What colors are appealing to you these days? Are you choosing brighter colors these days?

Be well, and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.