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+
117 Member Comments
My lips get so dry and I seem to be putting lipstick on all the time and also use a lip gloss. Do you think it is a case of the more you use the more you need?
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I love your article and I find a woman over 50 with good lipstick very attractive, in a way that she can look gorgeous and feel the way she does.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great article & the eye primer was a good tip. Love a good red lipstick .
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I like to splurge on a lippy that is of a good quality. And no nudes...ever. They make lips look ages and washed out. Also accentuating lines.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Maybe older women are buying more expensive lipsticks, but less of them.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Of course lipstick is for everyone
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I think red lipstick can look great on women over 50
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I've only just got the confidence to wear bright lipsticks in the last few years. And I plan to continue for a long time yet!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great tips and I think the right colour makes a huge difference. Pick the wrong colour and it can ruin your whole look.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great tips and advice.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great tips! Eva’s lip colour is gorgeous in the photo
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Love Burt's Bees lip products - stalking up on their tinted lip balm :P
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I would love to see more and so many great tips here, thanks.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Thanks for the eye primer tip! Better get some asap, as I hate the lipstick feathering into the fine lines around my lips
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
The only tip you need to do to rock anything is to do whatever like and not worry about what anyone else thinks and be confident
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
this article annoyed me- if you want to wear whatever you want at any age do it! geee
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
That’s an interesting tip about the eye primer! Hopefully I won’t have to use it for a little while.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I'm really surprised lip primer isn't on this list at all. I would have thought it would be #1. I'm only in my early forties, but feathering has suddenly become an issue for me, and feathering lipstick makes you look like a mad, half-blind old lady. Lip primer is an absolute must!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Regardless of my age I can never pull off a beige lipstick! Way too washed out!! I think it's more skin tone dependent than age.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Im over 50 but I refuse to be put in a box. I love to wear all different shades.
I agree with Jatz. When I was younger I had 2 lipsticks...a pink and a red. As I got older my lipstick collection grew as I was very lucky to have a Mum who worked in a pharmacy so she gave me all the products that she would be given by the sales reps. Mum had her set look and she never wavered. Now im in my 50's I have a huge lipstick collection. Ive honestly never counted but there would probably be around 70 to choose from and thats just my lipsticks. Then I have some coloured glosses and liquid lipsticks.
There is a brand of lipstick thats made in the USA and its called .W ...its put out by color the .World ....Its made especially for older woman and it wont feather or dry. Its vegan and really worth a look. I discovered them just this past week.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 1
Thanks for the tip, I'll check out that line.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 1
Lip primer is great
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I find that red lipstick looks great on women of all ages! I feel like mature nude colours would make you look older
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 1
Not me Miss19 - red and darker colours are hideous on me.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0