Lipstick has the power to impact any makeup look, and it can enhance your best features instantly, at any age. However, makeup artists warn that there are several mistakes lipstick-wearers over 40 could make (without noticing) that might create effects that are directly opposite to a youthful-esque look. We checked in with professional makeup artists to learn more about 2 common errors many of us make when applying lipstick that could lead to a dull, lifeless or older look overall. Read one for tips and suggestions from professional makeup artists: Mandie Brice and Mary Winkenwerder.
1. Choosing The Wrong Color Or Shade
With so many makeup brands, lipstick colors and product types to choose from, it can often feel overwhelming to find a lip color that works with your skin tone. It doesn’t have to be this way! Whether you’re experimenting with samples or testing swatches on your hand when shopping, Brice adds that finding your colors is much easier with a few quick tips in-mind. Each of us, she says, have colors that contrast with our skin tone, so for “fair-skinned” people, that’s generally super “dark or bright” colors, and for “darker-skinned” people, that’s often “very light” colors. “The greater the contrast between the lip color and the skin,” Brice says, “the more apparent wrinkles will be.”
2. Using A Matte Or Drying Product
While matte lip colors and sticks might look great when first applied, you might notice cracking or peeling throughout the day. This, Brice explains, is due to our lips naturally drying with age. She notes that this is why hydrating, moisturizing lip products (even when picking out a colored one) are essential over 40. “One way you could inadvertently look older with lipstick would be to use a product that’s super drying,” she says.
Our skin naturally produces less moisture as we age, and using something like a matte liquid lipstick could “exaggerate texture, especially if you end up with your lip flaking,” Brice continues. Winkenweder agrees, and points out that “lip liners and lipsticks that are applied to a dry, chapped or wrinkled area only make things worse,” so exfoliating regularly is key. Brice concludes that this is a “great reason” to make sure you’re including your lips in your skincare routine as well, “exfoliating with a scrub, and ensuring they’re properly moisturized.”
