Lipstick is (and always will be) an effective statement piece for any outfit or look. While certain lip trends will come and go with different style eras, it’s hard to find anything more timeless, stylish and classic than a red lip. With that said, a great lip look can be worn at any age, and of course this includes anyone 40 and up! We spoke with professional makeup artists who give specific tips for aging beauties regarding lipstick— and one go-to trick you’ll want to memorize immediately. Read on for insight from beauty experts and professional MUA’s— Lindsay Kastuk, Rebecca Cody, Jen Cayle Gaum and Kerrin Jackson.
#1 Tip: Find Colors To Match Your Natural Skin Tone & Undertones
The main trick you'll need to know about anti-aging lipstick requires finding colors that match and highlight your skin tone and its undertones. You'll also want to skip lip liner to avoid that 'bleeding' look that happens to all of us after an entire day of speaking and eating— some colors are bound to fade.
The thing is, finding colors that bring out your best assets will never age you, and makeup artists will explain this in greater detail. "You need to have color in your lips to outline your natural plumpness, and to give you some color to your face," says Cody. "My suggestion is using a semi-sheer or a colored balm as glossy lips will also help to make your lips look more full," she adds.
While dark lipstick colors can look edgy and bold, as we age, these shades can emphasize smile lines or wrinkles around the mouth. A great lipstick always highlights the wearer's best features and downplays imperfections. To find your correct colors, experts say to first determine your general skin tone before getting specific (light, medium, dark). Then, to find your undertones, see if you have more pink (cool) or yellow (warm).
This is key for shades that will brighten your complexion and appear to whiten your teeth. Basically, just because one color is trendy doesn't mean it will have the same effect on everyone. You might have to experiment and play around a bit with swatches on your arm while shopping. If there is a color you want to try, experts say to find it in the hue that also takes your undertones into account for the best optimal look!
"Choose sheer colors or those similar to [slightly lighter or darker than] your natural lip tone that are moisturizing," says Gaum. "This will enhance your natural lips and make them appear fuller without looking dry and parched." Jackson agrees, noting to "steer clear of blue-based reds," or too-dark lip tones. "They can make your lips appear thinner and definitely make you look older than you are," adds Jackson.
While you may think lip liner is a necessary step since many makeup gurus love it, Kastuk says that its usual effects may not work on aging lips and skin. While this doesn't mean it will instantly age you, she notes you might find it causing a "bleeding" effect. "Lips look a bit aged when bright lipstick starts to bleed into fine lines," she says.
"It happens to everyone, but there are some steps you can take to make it happen less—I personally don’t love lip liners." Instead of a lipliner, Kastuk likes to line lips "with a liquid lipstick" that dries down. "You can fill the lips with a creamier, matching lipstick to ensure the lip lines don’t bleed too far into your lips, and that you still have a hydrated, glossy appearance."
Overall, when it comes to lipstick, the main recommended tip to remember is that finding colors that highlight your tones and undertones. This is essential for anti-aging effects. Skipping lip liner and hydrating your lips instead can help with this, as these makeup artists explain. Jackson's concluding advice is to "stick with classic, understated beauty and style." She continues, "simplicity and subtlety are key to create a softer, more youthful look." We couldn't have said it better!
