Testing notes: During testing, Yisrael tried to wipe it off with a damp towel, and it wouldn’t budge. “The colour is really strong, so if you’re going out for a night of fun, this will last. I don’t love how sticky it feels without the gloss and after a few hours I felt like I needed to lick my lips a lot, but the colour was not moving. Next time, I’ll apply some balm beforehand,” she says.
Best Lip Liner: NYX Professional Makeup Line Loud Longwear Lip Liner
- Pros: Waterproof formula; wide shade range
- Cons: Reviewers complained that it easily breaks during sharpening.
The liner you choose can make all the difference in whether your colour bleeds or migrates, so start with something like this creamy option that finishes demi-matte. Ellerby loves this lip liner for older women because it goes on smoothly, is long-lasting, and it’s waterproof. Nourishing jojoba oil and vitamin E in the formula means no tugging at application, which is a huge plus if you already have wrinkles around your mouth. “Because it’s wax-based, it helps prevent feathering from lipsticks, which prevents lipsticks from settling into fine lines around lips,” she explains.
READ MORE: How to apply lip liner like a pro.
Best Tinted Lip Balm: Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm
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Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm
- Pros: Moisturising; a little goes a long way, softens lips over time
- Cons: Sheer finish has very little colour; pricey for its size; limited shade options
If lipstick and lip gloss had a baby, it would be this lip balm-in-lipstick. The tube is ultra-moisturising, thanks to ingredients like castor seed oil and vitamin E. It’s the perfect alternative to traditional lipstick if you’re prone to chapped lips or simply find that your lips are getting drier as you age. The sheer wash of color looks youthful and fresh—not cakey. And the ultra-slim shape lets you get into corners without making a mess all over your mouth.
Best Lip Oil: Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil
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Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil
- Pros: Buildable; moisturising; lightweight
- Cons: Limited colours; starts off sticky
We love a two-in-one beauty product. The blend of nourishing oils in this one keeps lips hydrated, locking in moisture for hours of comfortable wear. And even though it’s a lip oil, one swipe gives you a natural finish that’s not overly shiny.
Testing notes: “I love Clinique’s Lip and Cheek Oil in its famed Black Honey colour. Upon first swipe, it gave my mouth the lightest wash of a delicate red, like a watercolour. When I added a couple more layers—Black Honey is famously buildable—it got ramped up into a Studio 54 level of glossiness. And the oil was not greasy, just slick and super moisturising,” says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine.
Your mature skin lipstick frequently asked questions, answered:
What ingredients should you look for when shopping for lipstick for older women?
Hydration is the name of the game. Ellerby recommends looking for shea butter and vitamin E to moisturize, plus fruit seed oils and argan oil to lock everything in. To help prevent feathering—a common concern around a maturing mouth—she suggests choosing formulas with candelilla wax, lanolin wax, or beeswax, which create a cushiony base that keeps pigment from migrating. “For older women, you want to look for hydrating and long-lasting, which helps the prevention of slipping and feathering,” she explains. “If you’re not into liquid lipstick, look for something with beeswax because it has a nice base and the wax keeps it from bleeding.”
Should older women wear darker or lighter lipstick?
It depends on your skin tone and undertones, according to Ellerby. Her rule of thumb is to avoid extremes. Very deep shades can make lips look smaller, and ultra-pale nudes may wash you out. “Mature women who have had a loss in collagen in their lips may have lost volume, which would cause them to appear thinner and result in more dryness. They should avoid overly dark shades of lipstick. Stick with something more in the medium range,” she says, like berries and plums.
Should older women wear glossy or matte lipstick?
If you’re navigating fine lines, Ellerby has one hard no: “Avoid super dried-down mattes at all costs! They can make the lines pronounced, and as you age, you naturally just dry out, and so you want to avoid anything that will add to the dryness. Mattes are [known] for that.” If you don’t already have pronounced lines on and around your lips, you may be able to pull off mattifying lipstick. As for gloss? Use it strategically. “A little gloss under the Cupid’s bow is nice, it gives a youthful appearance—but that depends on the size of your lips,” she says. “If you have superthin lips, stay away from gloss.” She recommends sticking to satin finishes instead.
Are there any colours of lipstick that can make you look younger?
Yes—anything that adds warmth, life, and dimension. Ellerby suggests corals, berries, plums and other medium-range shades. “Red is timeless,” she adds. “Red is that girl that transcends it all.”
This story originally appeared on Glamour US.