The best lipstick for older women to suit every skin tone

When it comes to the best makeup for older women, one of the trickiest things to find is the best lipstick for older women. It might be an essential in every makeup bag, but finding the right lipstick shade to compliment your skin tone and lip shape can be difficult.

From neutral nudes, browns and pinks to bold reds and purples, a good lipstick is like a mascara for older women, in that it can make you look instantly put together when you're in a rush, even if you've not had time to put on your favourite foundation for mature skin.

The best lipstick for older women at a glance

• Best overall: bareMinerals Mineralist Hydra Smoothing Lipstick – Buy now from John Lewis

• Best red lipstick: Clinique Pop™ Reds Lip Colour, Red Handed – Buy now from John Lewis

• Best moisturising lipstick: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 – Buy now from Boots

As we get older, it's normal for our lips to loose volume and fullness and it's normal to start developing fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Luckily there are many formulas and colours designed to make your lips appear fuller and more hydrated throughout the day.

Whether you're on the hunt for a neutral tinted lip balm that you can wear everyday or a bold lipstick to wear on special occasions, we've rounded up some of best lipstick for older women that'll make you feel glamorous in an instant.

Best lipstick for older women

Which colour lipstick is best for older women?

With so many different colour options to choose from, it can be really difficult to find the best lipstick for older women in a shade that's right for you, especially when shopping online. For ageing lips, we'd recommend sticking to lighter shades rather than darker ones, unless you have a darker complexion as some of the darker browns and purples can make some of us look older.

Similarly, bold or fluorescent colours like bright pinks and oranges can look too harsh as we get older, so it may be worth trying the more subtle shades with a gloss added, particularly if you don't tend to wear much lipstick.

How do you apply lipstick at 60?

Just like you wouldn't put your foundation on without priming your face with your favourite face primer for mature skin, it's important to prime your lips too. To keep your lips nice and moisturised, we'd recommend using a lip balm every day and at night before you go to sleep to nourish your lips. If your lips are particularly dry, it might be a good idea to use a lip scrub or give your lips. a gentle exfoliation with a damp flannel or muslin cloth to remove any dead skin ready for lipstick application. Just make sure you add a thin layer of lip balm after exfoliating to keep your lips conditioned.

To accentuate the natural shape of your lips or make them look a little fuller in shape, use a lip liner in a similar shade to your lipstick to line your lips before adding your lipstick of choice over the top. If your lipstick bullet is getting old or if your lips are particularly thin, it might be easier to apply your lipstick with a thin lipstick application brush. You then might want to add a layer of gloss over the top for some extra glam.

Is it okay to use an old lipstick?

Most lipsticks have a shelf-life of two years once opened and the general rule is to throw away an old lipstick or gloss after one to two years of use depending on their state. After this time, it's likely your lipstick won't work as well and it could be harbouring all sorts of bacteria.

If you're not sure how long you've had your lipstick, check on things like smell, texture, colour to see if it's changed from when you first bought it. You may also want to do a patch test with the lipstick to see if it causes any irritation to your skin.

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Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.