THE MATURE WOMAN’S GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE BEST LIPSTICK SHADE.

Lipstick is one of those luxuries and little pleasures in life that can instantly put you in a good mood, make you feel more confident, and just give you that extra boost of energy and excitement about your day or evening. But if you find that your favorite shade of lipstick has been looking off-color lately and you also happen to be in your 50s, then age most likely has something to do with it.

The harsh truth is that your signature red or hot pink lipstick may be making your mouth—and indeed, the rest of your face—well, harsh. No need to panic, it just means that you might have to tone down the tone you’ve relied on for decades, for a one that better represents who you are today: the more evolved, experienced, and elegant you.

We promise that once you’ve gone through our step-by-step guide on how to choose lipstick in your second act, you’ll look just as good—and dare we say—even better than before.

Why Does Your Favorite Lipstick Not Look Good Anymore? Science Has Something To Do With It

To get the lowdown on why lipsticks that looked oh-so-fabulous in our 30s and 40s leave a lot to be desired in our 50s and don’t make our lips look luscious anymore, we have to talk a little science. Rest assured, that you’re not the only one because age does have something to do with it.

Just like our skin changes with age and as a natural progression of life (hello, fine lines and wrinkles) so do our lips. We usually find that by the time we reach our 50s that our lips start to lack volume and become thinner than they were.

Science can back this up. Doctors and dermatologists say that the reason that lips get thinner as we age is because as we get older, we lose bone density that not only makes for a more sunken look as we age, but our bones don’t support our lips as well as they used to. It’s the bone loss that makes the lips roll inwards, and this is what makes them look thinner than they used to.

The research doesn’t stop there. Most women know a thing or two about collagen and how we lose it as we get older (hence our love for collagen-boosting skincare products like retinol).

Well, we’re sad to say that the lack of plentiful collagen as we get older affects the lips too. In layman’s terms this means that our lips become less plump than they used to be.

What Lipstick Colors Should I Stick With In My 50s…Light Or Dark?

So, if your signature crimson shade is far from stellar, does that mean you have to swear off reds for good? Makeup artists do suggest that we start wearing softer colors once we’re in our 50s because these can be more flattering without being overpowering. Read on for a breakdown of color schemes that will make you scream…with delight.

Get A Passion For Mid-Range Pinks

Pink and coral lip shades are complimentary on a range of skin tones and they have this ability to make you look instantly fresh.

Makeup artists say that cooler pink tones (those that have bluish undertones) are usually more suited to lighter skin tones while warmer pink hues (ones that are closer in color to either red or orange) look better on darker skin tones.

If your complexion is more medium in color, then you can go a bit darker with say rose, mauve, and berry shades. If you’re dark-skinned, makeup artists say that you’ll look amazing in reds, browns, and deep plum tones.

Make Nudes The New Normal

Nudes may not be up your alley as far as exciting lipstick shades go, but there is something to be said about going the neutral route.

For one thing, soft nudes and lighter shade lipsticks love mature lips because they give the impression of being fuller and poutier because there is no specific lip border.

But when we say nudes and neutral, we don’t necessarily mean beige tones because this shade can make teeth look yellow.

Also, too pale can look like you aren’t even wearing lipstick so don’t go down that route either. Makeup artists advise choosing nudes that are in soft, muted tones or two shades darker than your lip color.

Frosted Lips Are A No Go

If you have lined or wrinkled lips then forget about frosted or shimmery shades because these lipsticks will only make any lines look a lot more pronounced.

Dark Colors Aren’t Completely Out Of The Question

Before you do away with the idea of darker lipstick shades altogether, cosmetologists say that as long as you choose the right shade for you—going by your skin tone—then you can wear those berry and plum shades, for example.

Also make sure that your lips are too thin so that the dark color doesn’t make them look harsh or severe. Burgundy can be a great darker color choice on some lips.

Now That I’m In My 50s, Should My Lipstick Language Be Mattes Or Creams?

Ah good question, and this tells us you’re quite the lipstick connoisseur to be asking this one.

We’re sorry to say that mattes might have to be a thing of the past, because they have a tendency to dry out your lips (something mature skin is dealing with already), and not only will they make for a harsh look, they also might make your lipstick bleed and feather out. If that’s not enough, they’ll exacerbate any fine lines and wrinkles, so in short, forget about it!

Cream formulations are your newfound friend forevermore. They’ll also do double duty: not only will nourish your skin with moisture and plump up your lips, but they’ll stay put. Win, win.

Can I Go Glossy?

Another good question. The good news is that a gloss finish can temporarily plump up the lips and look especially hot in the summer.

Dabbing on a touch of lip gloss over your lipstick can also make the lips look fuller and full of life, and create a natural-looking shine. Give it up for gloss!

Get your gloss on with PrimeLip Gloss. You’ll be glossed to perfection.

How To Choose Your New Favorite Lipstick?

The best way to choose lipstick is by determining the undertones of your lips and skin.

The way to do this is by looking at the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist. If your veins have a blue or purplish tint, then you have cool undertones so colors like pinks and berries will compliment you. Green veins mean that you have a warm skin tone. Colors that will look the best include coco, chocolate mousse, reds, rosés, and rose-golds.
If it’s hard to tell if your veins are definitively blue or green then you most likely have a neutral skin tone and can choose colors from either the warm or cool palette or color tones. Look for shades that have a gold or silver undertone such as rose gold and mauve or even lilac would look lovely. For example, people with an olive complexion have neutral undertones.

For a range of fabulous colors, head over to Prime Causemetics for our PrimeLip Lipstick collection so that your lips will shine in their prime. Make those lips all the more moisturized with our PrimeLip Moisturizer.