You're never too old to wear lipstick. Here's 4 expert tips for women over 50...

Back in 2011, women over the age of 50 bought more lipsticks than any other age group.
Since, however, the rate of older women purchasing lipsticks has dropped substantially, while those under the age of 25 can’t seem to get enough* (blame Kylie Jenner and her lip kits if you will).
RELATED: 8 of the best age-fighting foundations
And while these stats could be interpreted to mean anything, we couldn’t bear the prospect of women over 50 avoiding lipstick because they’re unsure of how to wear it. Or worse, if they consider themselves 'too old' to rock a red lip.
So to put all stigmas and uncertainties aside, we asked experts Janet Muggivan (Founder of Beauty Dossier) and make-up artist Liz Kelsh for their best lipstick tips for older (wiser) ladies...
Tip #1 Everyday care
As you age, your lips can lose fullness and form a thinner appearance. To keep them in good condition, Janet recommends using a hydrating lip balm liberally. “[This] is the very first step to a fuller, more youthful-looking mouth.”
Try keeping one of these lip balms on you at all times and apply throughout the day as needed:
- Blistex® Deep Renewal
- Rubifresh Skincare Lip Balm
- Carmex ® Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm
- asap hydrating lip balm+
Liz adds that exfoliating the lips every now and then can help give them a more youthful, smoother appearance. And if you suffer from pesky cold sores, keep ViraproX Lip Balm and COMPEED® Invisible Cold Sore Patches in your arsenal.
RELATED: What you need to know about cold sores
Tip #2 Colour choice
If you want to wear purple, green or even blue shades – we’re all for it. But when it comes to making mature lips look fuller, shade selection is very important. Janet recommends neutrals: “Neutrals for mature women are different to neutrals for our younger counterparts. A ‘nude’ for a young woman is usually light, and quite beige in tone. Mature ‘nudes’ are soft, muted roses or corals. They give a natural flush to the lips which is universally flattering. The beige tones on mature lips are very unforgiving and they can also make teeth look yellow.”
Liz agrees with opting for nudes, and suggests how to nail the perfect shade. “A more flattering nude is ideally one or two shades darker than your natural lip colour,” she says.
bh recommends:
- Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in 'Nude Rose'
- MUD Lipstick in 'Coral Crush'
- Burt's Bees 100% Natural Lip Crayon in 'Sedona Sands'
- jane iredale PureMoist™ Lipstick in 'Rose'
- Avon Luxe Couture Crème Lipstick in 'Lustering Nude'
Tip #3 Find your finish
While matte lipsticks may be leading the charge on Instagram, both Janet and Liz think a cream finish is best on mature lips. “If you currently wear a frost, next time you are in [a] store, try the same colour but in a cream formulation and you will see it gives a really soft, flattering look. Frosts can also make your lips appear dry,” explains Janet.
“A gloss finish can also bring more radiance to your overall look,” says Liz. So it’s a good thing glosses are making a comeback…
RELATED: Do you have stained teeth?
Tip #4 Try this trick…
We’re not talking about dramatically overlining your lips – that can be tough to pull off at any age. Instead, Janet says, “An incredible tip I learned from Halle Berry’s make-up artist on a shoot in LA was to apply the teeniest, tiniest amount of an eye primer around the lip line. Not on the lips, only around the lips. This smooths lines and acts as a barrier to stop lipstick feathering into those pesky lines we all have. It really works!” See here for more tips on how to hide wrinkles around the mouth.
Would you like to see more makeup tips for older women? What’s your best lipstick tip?
*Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January-December 2011 (n=10,352) and January-December 2015 (8,791). Base: Australian women 14+
120 Member Comments
I actually think women buy less lipstick as they get older because you accumulate so much over the years and you also know what you like by then, so there is less need to experiment.
As for rules, I say do what you want!
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I'm really enjoying wearing lipstick these days and like to experiment with colours. I use Avon Plumping Conditioner, then line my lips with a nude lipstick, and then apply colour. I use the nude coloured lipstick instead of a lip liner because it stops colour bleeding. However, I like the idea of using an eye primer so I will definitely give that a go.
As for colour, I'm 63 and no way does a nude lipstick on its own do anything for me. Corals and such colours look hideous. The colours that work best for me are mauves, amethyst, rose and plums. If I purchase a lipstick which I think is too dark I simply apply a nude lipstick all over my lips first and then apply the dark shade. This usually tones down the shade to one that suits my colouring.
I find the most flattering lipsticks for me are cream or gloss lipsticks.
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I have been a tad obsessed with finding the perfect lipstick shade recently, and was excited to find this article. I am 48 years old, and have always loved lipstick, and am rarely without it. I so agree with Petal's comments and also do not believe in beauty rules. I like to consider them, sometimes try them, and then do what suits me. I have quite full lips, and have noticed that lipstick does "bleed" a bit on my top lip as I get older. I use some concealer on the edge of my top lip if I really am going to be fussy, before my lip liner. This works well for me. I also put some Natio Paw Paw lip balm on my lips while I do the rest of my face. I wipe most of it off, then apply the lip liner and lipstick. Finally, I have discovered the most amazing lipstick formulation...Clarins Joli Rouge lipstick. It really does moisturise, and stay on for hours. Can't say enough great things about it.
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There should be more tips but also thing you should be able to wear whatever you want no matter the age
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Nude lip? Nope, it ages especially creamy and matte ones. It really ages whoever wears it. As when one gets older lips do lose that nice pink and red pigment, so why make it worse?
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The ladies 40 plus now look amazing
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I have been using primers for sometime now and have just bought a lip and eye primer to try. Also recently tries a lip exfoliator which was fab. I must look up the brand to let everyone know. I'm only new to this site and really enjoying sharing info thanks
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Some great tips here, especially the eye primer one, to stop your lipstick feathering.
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The eye primer is an interesting tip I've never read before - makes sense though. Will have to try it! A 49 year old who's dreading 50!
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Never thought of using primer around the lips but the eye area is sensitive so I can see it working. I think the notion of “neutral” varies dramatically by person and complexion. For me, a dark rich berry or wine shade is actually pretty neutral, whereas more traditionally “neutral” pinks and roses look awful on me and anything but neutral - they tend to go all bubblegum on me. One thing I don’t like so much now I’m older is shiny gloss. Doesn’t really stay put very well. Has to be a strong pigmentation. I find I wear more, rather than less, lipstick as I get older.
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I love nude shades! So suitable for any skin tone and age
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I'm 53 and I prefer to wear brighter and bolder lip colours. If I do wear a pale lip colour, it must be a highly pigmented one in a cool undertone so that it shows up with my complexion. I've tried pale warm-toned nudes and they are very unflattering on me. I don't believe in beauty rules and I think that people can wear whatever makeup that they want to.
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Yes! SO true Petal! And I have seen that nudes make things worse on lips, and overall look
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My mature lips and I thank you for these tips, especially tips #2 and #4
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I'd try the Burts Bees one :)
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OMG can't believe I'll be 50 in 6 years. I don't wear a lot of makeup now.
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I'm 56 and wear bright and dark pink lipsticks all the time, as well as shimmer. They look great with my magenta coloured hair! I've tried nude lipsticks, such as those recommended for my age, but they wash me out. I exfoliate often and keep my lips hydrated with lip balms when not wearing lipstick. My 82 year old mum looks fabulous with a dark pink lip!
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The Blistex lip renewal looks nice I had not heard of it
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Being in my 60's and fair skinned I tend not to wear too much makeup as I feel it often makes me look older, I do wear lipstick , usually a paler one (no nude) or a little darker when I'm dressed up. I find that really dark reds make my face look sickly so I dont use too dark a shade. My Lips also tend to chap or look prune like as I get older, so I do use a lip balm but probably not as often as I should...as your article suggested. I will try and do better. I think we each have to try whatever we feel comfortable wearing, and what makes you feel good. If you like dark red lipstick Go for it,
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I am almost 60 and my colour pallette has been changing over past years. I have more confidence now with brighter shades, but all colours must be warm. I think we should wear the colours we feel good in, and by this stage of our lives we should know what makes us feel good! My everyday rule is to wear a lip balm under lipstick, and I constantly apply balm when not wearing my lippy. I just like the texture of the lip balm or gloss!
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I must be a rule breaker. Just yesterday I wore a very matte, very dark, rose-brown/burgundy shade of lipstick and it looked gorgeous, and I'll be 52 at the end of the month. I love super dark colours in autumn/winter and really bright pops of colour in the warmer weather. I do wear nudes, but usually only if I am wearing a darker eyemakeup look, just to balance things out. I have never worn a beige nude though, but not because of my age, it just doesn't suit my skin tone. I like the tip about using eye primer around the lips, I will have to give that a try.
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Im 50+ and refuse to play by the rules. Im loving bold reds at the moment.
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Love a bold red! I think any age can wear them Meedee. Do you find blue-based or yellow-based reds suit you better?
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A good lip primer goes a long way, also understanding the tones thing is important too, wrong ones can really age I agree!
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I do like the Nude colours. And I only use more colour in the evenings, or if I am going to a special occasion, where things are alittle more formal. Great tips to remember
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