Choosing the Right Lip Color for Women Over 60: Expert Tips and Recommendations
How many lipsticks have you purchased that are now in the reject pile, and how many in the everyday use pile? If you’re like most of us, the ratio is probably 2 favorites to 10 mishaps, with lots of regret tossed in there. Finding the right lip color can feel arduous and time consuming, not to mention expensive.
Having said that, by having a few tricks up your sleeve you can boast not only beautiful lips, but a smashing lipstick! Here are my 6 tips for luscious lips.
#1: Moisturize
I really hate adding more products to my shelf. I’m a nerd with a long history of over-obsessing in skin care and makeup, so if you saw how much (expletive!) stuff I have, you’d probably spit up. Maybe it’s the rush of something new, but I am a professional dabbler so that’s my excuse.
In any case, hydrating my lips means I have the usual chapsticks, lip balms, glosses, and CBD infused something-or-another. Keeping lips hydrated involves many factors like weather, water intake, medications, and chemicals in the air. Your lips have thinner skin than your face and contain no oil glands, so the possibility they will be dry is pretty good.
The number one solution for dry lips is inner hydration and nutrition. I won’t run off on my usual tangent about how we all need to eat more vegetables and drink fresh water; just do it, it helps. Second to that is topical hydration like a balm. My current favorite is Happy Buddha Hemp Botanical Healing Salve. It works for elbows, knees, eczema, lips, etc. It’s nontoxic and made from a private brand in Colorado. Love them.
#2 Exfoliate
Exfoliating lips is so easy you will throw down your banana. Grab something that is exfoliating like sugar, body scrub, cinnamon, or petroleum jelly, apply to lips, and then using your toothbrush, scrub your lips like you mean it. This will help remove dry, chapped skin and any build-up that has occurred. Your lipstick will go on easier, and your lips will feel more hydrated and plump. Yup.
#3 Lip Plumper
I once created paid content for a lip plumping brand. The stuff really worked, but I’m sure it was so toxic I probably grew an extra lip just by using it. Having said that, not all lip plumpers are bad, and some work to an excellent degree.
If you aren’t into them, I totally get it. If you are, my current favorite nontoxic lip plumper is Jane Iredale Hyaluronic Hydropure Lip Gloss. It comes in lots of pretty shades and stays on well for a gloss.
#4 Line Outside the Natural Lip Line
This tip is tricky, and can be taken to an unhealthy extreme. You’ve seen her, the lady at the bar with her lips so overdrawn she looks wackadoodle. That doesn’t have to be you. The secret is to use a neutral liner that’s only about 1-2 shades darker than your lips, and draw only slightly outside your lip line.
I like to apply lipstick first, and then add the liner – it makes it easier to get it right. In the video below, you can see what a huge difference a beautiful berry lipstick made on the model’s face, and also my lip liner strategy in action.
#5 Line and Fill with Lip Liner
Filling in your lips with liner can be really helpful to make lipstick last longer and give you more definition. This can be messed up by using too dark a liner, though. Word to the wise: use a liner about the same color as your natural lip shade when you pinch or bite your lips. Then toss a gloss or lip color on top and viola, mega lips.
#6 Chose Berry, Apricot, Peach, or Rose
One time I made up Christiane Amanpour at CNN. I admired her courage reporting from war zones, but she always wore a lipstick color that looked like mud. When I made her up, I asked if she would be comfortable trying a plum lipstick and, to my delight, she agreed. Everyone praised her new look, but she removed it as soon as the interview was over. Old habits die hard. Can you relate?
Typically, browns are not for mature ladies – sorry. Instead, try a neutral rose or burgundy berry like what I used in the video on Lois, or go for a warm apricot or peach if it suits your skin color. You want something that is flattering for your skin, clothing, individual taste, and state of mind.
What do I mean by state of mind? When Lois walked in for her makeover, she wore the stunning burgundy top you see in the video. She was ready to be fabulous! We curled her hair, tossed on a stunning lipstick, and told fun stories about Ecuador, where we live. There is nothing like makeup to perk up your mood!
Experts are Dumb
Yes, I am a so-called expert, and yes, you know yourself better than I ever could. Take what works for you – and toss the rest. If you are into lipsticks and love to play, there is a lot to work with here. If not, then grab the lip balm and finish the banana. Life is worthy of a little chill time.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you wear lipstick? What about lip balm or gloss? How do you care about your lips? Do you make it a point to hydrate during the day?
I have recently discovered the perfect lip product for me, it’s a berry coloured tinted lip balm that has a generous amount of colour and keeps my lips hydrated. This is especially important at the moment as we are in winter here in the southern hemisphere. The colour is very flattering without being too bright and really suits my hair and skin tone. I now carry a tube of it wherever I go.
Hi Yvette, I love that you found a shade that is flattering all the time! Berry’s are wonderful and wearable for most people. Thanks for sharing
I wear lipstick every day, even if I’m wearing no other make-up. At night I use Ashley & Co lip punch to hydrate, just love it. My go to for the day is Chanel Lip Baum in Natural Charm or if I want a bit more pizzazz Dior Lip baum No 8.
Hi Sarah, it’s so great when we find the colors that work for us!
Several years ago I went through my lipsticks and was horrified by all the browns. Into the trash. They must have been popular at one time and somehow I thought they were flattering. So, agree 100% on that point! Something with color that accentuates skin tone. One think I never wear as I have aged is sparkling textures on my lips or eyelids. They look good on youngsters in their teens and early 20s.
Hi Faxon, Yes, browns and sparkles are a challenge for mature ladies. They are not completely out, just need to be tailored to fit the individual face and coloring. Personally, I love a little glitter, but it has to be applied very carefully!
I have never used a lip liner and don’t plan to, and I have long used a sheer, slightly pearl lipstick that has brown undertones, but it is flattering to my skin, and I frequently wear it as a base for a brighter color. I think that it helps the color to harmonize with my coloring. (BTW, I have dark blond hair and brown eyes. Same thing with eye shadow: I use colors as liner, rather than a harsh drawn-on line, and let it be a little smudgy). Lip glosses feel sticky; I prefer to find lipstick with a little shine instead of the matte ones.
Hi Lisa, you are smart to soften your eye liner as a heavy line can age the face. Lip liners can as well if not done properly like matched to a lipstick and blended. Shimmer, when softened like how you do it, can be used, too. It’s all in the application!
I’m with you on that…have always steered clear of lip liners. Your coloring sounds similar to mine….soft Autumn. Like you I don’t enjoy the yucky feel of a gloss but these days search out the ‘balm’ style lipsticks…moisture and lustre without the stickiness
Any suggestions for those of us who don’t have lips? Mine are virtually non-existent. Just a slash, and it’s hard to line and color what’s not there. Help!!
Hi Margie, Thanks for your question, it is a common concern! My first thought is to use a hyaluronic infused gloss like Jane Iredale Hyaluronic acid infused gloss. (I don’t remember the exact title but if you visit janeiredale.com you will see it.) Before you overline your lips, take your toothbrush and scrub your lips a little and this will make them puff up and help you line them easier. Then line and apply a plumping gloss! I hope this helps!