The best lipstick for older women to suit every skin tone

Best lipstick for mature women

by Lorna White |
Updated on

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

Best overall

Description

This creamy, natural formula is designed to glide smoothly onto the lips surface with ease for a

Pros

  • Hydrating on the lips
  • Wide colour range

Cons

  • Isn't very long lasting

Best matte lipstick

Description

If you prefer a matte finish to your lips, then Charlotte Tilbury’s award-winning lipstick is

Pros

  • Highly pigmented colour
  • Good staying power

Cons

  • Some customers found it quite drying

Best red lipstick

Description

Sometimes, nothing beats a classic red lip to make you feel a million dollars. Clinique’s iconic

Pros

  • Suits all skin tones
  • Doubles up as a blush tone

Cons

  • Some customers found some shades too bright

<meta charset="utf-8">Best lipstick for pale skin tones

Description

For those of us with a paler complexion, many lipsticks can make us look washed out or be far too

Pros

  • Comfortable wearing
  • Buildable

Cons

  • Some colours can be darker than they appear online

Best lipstick for olive skin tones

Description

Warmer skin tones are complimented beautifully by brown and orange undertones, which is why this

Pros

  • Super hydrating
  • Anti-ageing formula

Cons

  • Colour wears off easily

Best lipstick for darker skin tones

Description

This warm red shade from ILIA is ideal for darker skin tones. Full of moisture-boosting

Pros

  • Hydrating formula
  • Sheer, buildable colour

Cons

  • Some found the flat top difficult to apply with

Best moisturising lipstick

Description

We’re huge fans of Elizabeth Arden’s eight-hour lip protectant, so it’s no surprise we love the

Best budget lipstick

Description

You don’t have to spend a lot to find a luscious lippy to add to your makeup collection. This nude

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Moisturising and conditioning

Cons

  • Some customers commented that the taste was unpleasant

Best luxury lipstick

Description

If you fancy splurging on something a little more luxurious, then Victoria Beckham’s Posh Lipstick

Pros

  • Buildable coverage
  • Comfortable wearing

Cons

  • Doesn't last as long as other lipsticks

Best satin finish lipstick

Description

They may be affordable, but these satin finish lipsticks from Revolution are lightweight on the

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Some customers found that it came off easily

Best lip gloss

Description

If you prefer a glossy, high-shine finish on the lips, then you might prefer a gloss. This can be

Pros

  • Makes lips look fuller
  • Glossy effect

Cons

  • Can be very sticky in texture

Best liquid lipstick

Description

A liquid lipstick is ideal for longer-lasting wear and is highly pigmented. It’s perfect for

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • Might need reapplying throughout the day

Best long-wearing lipstick

Description

For an extra long lasting best lipstick for older women option, try Maybelline’s SuperStay 24hr

Pros

  • Bold colours
  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • The application process takes a while

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.

To enjoy more regular stories just like this, become a Yours subscriber and become part of our fun and friendly community of like-minded readers.

BUTTON

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.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us