If you’re aiming for your makeup look to be youthful-esque and fresh, you might want to take some advice from the experts. We caught up with celebrity makeup artists who explained how making one common lipstick mistake could instantly (and inadvertently) add years to your look, often without you even realizing.
Not using the right lipstick shade or type, they note, can dry out your lips and make your teeth appear more yellow, and that’s a no-no when it comes to looking radiant and supple.
We checked in with celeb MUAs Margina Dennis and Kerrin Jackson, who detail the common makeup misstep of using dark, matte lipstick over 40, and better alternatives to emphasize your favorite facial features! Read on for their tips, suggestions and insight.
Want to Look Younger? Ditch This Common Lipstick Faux Pas: Dark, Matte Lipstick
It's no secret that the right lipstick shade has the power to instantly draw eyes to your lips, promote facial symmetry and make your other features like your cheekbones and eyes pop. Dennis explains that wearing "too dark of a lipstick" can "make your teeth look yellow," which can also make you look "older," which might not be your intention.
In addition, choosing a matte lipstick (while definitely trendy and long-lasting) can sometimes dry out your lips, and as we age, we lose moisture in this area, naturally. To avoid additional flaking, chapping and dryness, she advises against not only a matte lipstick, but also a dark one. "Too dry of a formula of lipstick can emphasize wrinkles and dryness," she warns.
Jackson concurs, and says that "the trend of dark lipstick comes and goes with much regularity these days." This fad, she stresses, will "never help anyone look younger, and this is due to simple principles of light." Black or dark red shades "absorb more light than lighter and brighter shades," she notes.
What that means, Jackson says, is that "these lipstick shades actually make your lips appear thinner than they are, and this results in aging your face." The best way to avoid this "aging illusion," she continues, is by "avoiding dark lipstick shades altogether."
Brighter And More Moisturizing Alternatives
Instead of a matte lipstick, Dennis advises picking a "moisturizing and balm lipstick" in shades that "emulate a youthful flush." She also suggests "a clear lip liner or one that matches the lip color that will keep the color from feathering and look more natural." The more you know!
