There’s a lot to love about lipstick. A couple of swipes of this cosmetic staple can make you look instantly refreshed, put together, and downright glamorous. Painting those lips can also have benefits that run below the surface: lipstick has the power to boost your mood and give you a certain confidence that you’ll carry with you for the rest of the day. An eye-catching color can make you feel especially bold—and dare we say—a little daring too. 

If you’re a lipstick-loving spirit who has been beholden to wearing your signature color (and brand) for decades, you may want to rethink that lipstick line of thinking if you’re over the age of 60. The truth is your beloved lipstick shade may no longer be lifting your look, and could instead be drawing attention to skin that is, well, drawn in appearance.  

We’ve looked into it, and we’ve found that, when it comes to choosing lipstick colors for over 60, these are the three best shades to mull over. Read on how to shake up your lipstick shade game to settle on a color that works for you as you step into your second act. 

Let’s Look At The Anatomy of The Lips, For Starters

We get it, you didn’t think a superficial lipstick guide would turn into an in-depth biology lesson, but we promise there’s a point here, and we’re not just giving lip service. Our lips are composed of two parts: the cutaneous lip and the mucosal lip. The mucosal lip is the one that includes the vermilion which is responsible for the different color our lips have in comparison to the rest of our face. 

Medical experts say that the mucosal part of our lips are thinner compared to the rest of our skin because it’s made up of few layers and contains a ton of tiny blood vessels or capillaries. Both of these parts of the lips actually account for the color you see in the mirror. Because the skin on our lips is particularly thin, it makes the underlying blood vessels a heck of a lot more noticeable. 

And just as lips come in all shapes and sizes, so too does everyone have a different natural lip color. In fact, many people naturally have two-tone lips as well where the top lip is a different color (usually darker) than the bottom lip. 

Like You, Lip Color Should Evolve With Age

Truth be told, the lips you have today aren’t the lips you had, say, twenty years ago. Just as our lips get thinner as we age, we also tend to lose the pigment and once-natural color in our lips and they fade in shade over time. Something else to pout about: the loss of collagen (read: volume) and moisture can make our lips appear less vibrant and pretty dull-looking. Fine lines can also develop around the mouth.

What Color Lipstick Should an Older Woman Wear? Match Your Shade To Your Undertones To Look On Point

So what colors can we coat our lips in the winter of life? Go by your undertones: this will help you from looking sallow-skinned, washed out, and downright ruddy. How to tell your own specific undertone? If your veins appear blue in color, this means that you have a cool-toned skin with pink undertones. 

If your veins look more greenish in color, this means you have warm-toned skin with yellow undertones. If you see both green and blue then this is the luckiest undertone of all because it means that you can wear whatever shade of lipstick that suits your fancy.

Pink Will Make Them Blink

So what color lipstick should a 70-year-old woman wear for their particular undertone? For starters, think pink. 

A lively pink or coral hue with mid-strength color concentration is a ravishing rule of thumb that looks lovely on skin tones across the board. This stunning shade also looks fresh, bold, and sophisticated. 

If you have cool-range undertones, go for the cooler pinks. This would look best on fair complexions. Warmer pink hues—which are those that look more red or orange in nature—will look fabulous on darker skin tones. 

For those who have medium or tan complexions, you can benefit from either warm or cool, but the best shades would be a rose pink, as well as those that have a mauve or berry tinge to them. 

If you’re over 70, going with pink (for your particular undertone) will probably be your best bet because even at its brightest, pink is a soft color that won’t draw attention to fine lines and especially deep-set wrinkles. Similarly mature blondes should look for rose pink tones that are one or two shades darker than your natural lip color, say makeup experts. 

As you get older, you may find yourself more naturally drawn to colors that have been out of your comfort zone for years. "I am loving brighter colours now. Prime Lip has an amazing colour range. I get asked all the time what I am wearing", says designtigermom.

On the other hand, Suzanne Vassallo (tiktok redflameburn) chimes in with, "Lipstick color has definitely changed since my youth. As I have matured I definitely go with the lighter shades of nude or shades of pink and corals.  I also like shimmer and gloss just seems to be more youthful." 

Linda Holeman (Instagram handle: @lindasstyletips) says she used to like reddish-brown tones, but she feels like this color just drains her now. “Now I prefer a peach and pink-beige or a reddish-orange. In fact I often use a natural or nude lip pencil all over my lips and just add a clear gloss."

Nudes are Always in Season

Although color can make you pop, nude shades can actually give mature lips the appearance of being more naturally full. This is because there’s no defined lip border, say makeup artists. But one important mistake not to make: don’t equate beige with nude. Beige colors can actually make your teeth look yellow (yikes!) or even make it seem like you’re wearing no lipstick at all—in which case, what would even be the point?

 

Best Lipstick Colors for Mature Blondes

There’s no need to believe that darker and heavily concentrated colors aren’t “appropriate” for mature lips that are living it up. 

Cosmetic experts say that as long as you claim the right shade for your undertones (and your lips aren’t too thin), you can wear stronger colors. 

Burgundy and blackberry shades can be beautiful for women over 60—particularly if you wear eyeglasses because it can actually balance out the appearance of frames (especially those that are heavier in nature), and can make for a more proportionate look. 

Burgundy and cranberry also come highly recommended as lipstick shades for mature blondes. 

The only rule of thumb here is to dress down the eye makeup if you do go for a dark and concentrated lipstick color. 

 

Bonus: Some Rules on Red 

Ever heard someone comment - How do you wear red lipstick in your 60s!!

They are narrow-minded and probably afraid to express. 

Contrary to what you might think, mature women can wear red (hello, Helen Mirren and the Queen!), but there is a color caveat. Red lipsticks come with either blue or orange undertones and by this point, we know you know which is right for you. You got it: if you’re of a cooler undertone one go reds with bluish undertones, and if you’re of a warmer undertone, then go for hints of orange in shade of red. 

But a tried and tested rule to remember: as a mature woman, you’ll want to go for more matte lipsticks so that your lip lines don’t crack through and so that your stunning red lip doesn’t end up looking “clowish” after a couple of hours. Also, wear a lip primer before you apply the red as this will keep the look looking matte. 

 

The Size And Shape of Your Lips Might Be A Factor 

We’ve touched on it, but It’s worth mentioning again that mature lips that tend to run on the thinner side might want to avoid especially darker shades because this can make your mouth look a bit severe and harsh. If you’re blessed with fuller lips, you’re fortunate to be able to wear just about any color but vivid colors might make large lips look a little bit too prominent. 

Play around with the colors within your undertone category and maybe go a lighter on the layering by day and then full-on color by night. 

 

Some Lip Tips To Take To The (Dressing) Table

If you’re worried about lines or wrinkled-looking lips, experts say that keeping frosted and shimmery lipsticks at arm’s length is your best bet to avoid enhancing any lines. Look for cream formulations instead or lipsticks that have a moisturizing and sheer texture. Matte lipsticks can dry the lips and actually accentuate wrinkles. 

Makeup artists use a thin layer of facial primer as a trick of the trade to keep lipstick looking fresh and vibrant all the livelong day. This also stops lipstick in its tracks so that it won’t spill into any fine lines around the mouth. If you’re looking to temporarily plump up those lips (and fillers are not your thing), then a gloss finish or lip oil can do the trick. 

Looking for the perfect lipstick shade? PrimeLip lipstick has you covered with its range of colors for mature women. Our lip products also are specifically made with hyaluronic acid spheres to give your lips that luscious collagen boost. Your lips will not only look lovely but they’ll feel moisturized all the livelong day. They’re also vegan, hypoallergenic, and cruelty-free.