Back in 2011, women over the age of 50 bought more lipsticks than any other age group.
Since, however, the rate of older women purchasing lipsticks has dropped substantially, while those under the age of 25 can’t seem to get enough* (blame Kylie Jenner and her lip kits if you will).
And while these stats could be interpreted to mean anything, we couldn’t bear the prospect of women over 50 avoiding lipstick because they’re unsure of how to wear it. Or worse, if they consider themselves ‘too old’ to rock a red lip.
So in honour of National Lipstick Day, we endeavour to put all stigmas and uncertainties aside by asking experts Janet Muggivan (Founder of Beauty Dossier) and makeup artist Liz Kelsh for their best lipstick tips for older (wiser) ladies…
Tip #1 Everyday care
As you age, your lips can lose fullness and form a thinner appearance. To keep them in good condition, Janet recommends using a hydrating lip balm liberally. “[This] is the very first step to a fuller, more youthful-looking mouth.”
Try keeping one of these lip balms on you at all times and apply throughout the day as needed:
- Blistex® Deep Renewal ($5.39 at Chemist Warehouse)
- Maybelline New York Baby Lips Lip Balm ($2.39 at Chemist Warehouse)
- Carmex ® Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm ($5 at Chemist Warehouse)
- Eau Thermale Avène Lip Balm with Cold Cream ($14.95 at Chemist Warehouse)
Liz adds that exfoliating the lips every now and then can help give them a more youthful, smoother appearance. And if you suffer from pesky cold sores, keep ViraproX Lip Balm and COMPEED® Invisible Cold Sore Patches in your arsenal.
RELATED: What you need to know about cold sores
Tip #2 Colour choice
If you want to wear purple, green or even blue shades – we’re all for it. But when it comes to making mature lips look fuller, shade selection is very important. Janet recommends neutrals: “Neutrals for mature women are different to neutrals for our younger counterparts. A ‘nude’ for a young woman is usually light, and quite beige in tone. Mature ‘nudes’ are soft, muted roses or corals. They give a natural flush to the lips which is universally flattering. The beige tones on mature lips are very unforgiving and they can also make teeth look yellow.”
Liz agrees with opting for nudes, and suggests how to nail the perfect shade. “A more flattering nude is ideally one or two shades darker than your natural lip colour,” she says.
bh recommends:
- Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in ‘Nude Rose’ ($40 at Adore Beauty)
- MUD Lipstick in ‘Coral Crush’ ($2.50 at Woolworths)
- Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Crayon in ‘Sedona Sands’ ($16.95 at Burt’s Bees)
- jane iredale PureMoist™ Lipstick in ‘Rose’ ($31.50 at Adore Beauty)
- Models Prefer Nude Lipstick ($9.99 at Priceline)
Tip #3 Find your finish
While matte lipsticks may be leading the charge on Instagram, both Janet and Liz think a cream finish is best on mature lips. “If you currently wear a frost, next time you are in [a] store, try the same colour but in a cream formulation and you will see it gives a really soft, flattering look. Frosts can also make your lips appear dry,” explains Janet.
“A gloss finish can also bring more radiance to your overall look,” says Liz. So it’s a good thing glosses are making a comeback…
RELATED: Do you have stained teeth?
Tip #4 Try this trick…
We’re not talking about dramatically overlining your lips – that can be tough to pull off at any age. Instead, Janet says, “An incredible tip I learned from Halle Berry’s makeup artist on a shoot in LA was to apply the teeniest, tiniest amount of an eye primer around the lip line. Not on the lips, only around the lips. This smooths lines and acts as a barrier to stop lipstick feathering into those pesky lines we all have. It really works!” See here for more tips on how to hide wrinkles around the mouth.
Would you like to see more makeup tips for older women? What’s your best lipstick tip?
*Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January-December 2011 (n=10,352) and January-December 2015 (8,791). Base: Australian women 14+
I love Lustering Nude’s look.
I’ve always thought as lipstick as more of an older woman thing – but I think its because its the only make up I can remember my mother using when I was young
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I tend to wear more lip balm as I have very dry lips.
I’m yet to try the eye primer trick. In regards to shades, I simply wear what I think looks best on me. Nudes are just a washout so I like a bit of colour.
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