Lipstick can instantly elevate your look — or throw your entire makeup off. Just as your makeup routine evolves with age, so should your lipstick choices. Whether you swear by a signature shade (like Makeup by Mario’s Rosewood Glow) or love to experiment, one thing’s certain: it’s time to prioritize more hydrating, cushiony formulas that flatter and nourish your lips.
“Generally, when it comes to the best lipstick type for mature skin, I recommend formulas that offer hydration; comfort-satin or creamy finishes work beautifully,” explains Maria Jones, professional makeup artist and hair stylist at Cover Clap. In this vein, she says matte lipsticks might want to be avoided since they can be drying and accentuate fine lines.
Katy Holland, a professional makeup artist, agrees. “As we age, our skin tends to become progressively drier. Sheer and glossy formulas are perfect because they provide moisture and comfort without settling into fine lines,” she adds.
“They also add a natural shine and fullness, helping to hide dryness. It’s best to avoid ultra-matte lipsticks, as they can be very drying and emphasize wrinkles.”
With matte lipsticks taking a backseat, mature women should prioritize hydration and shine. Our beauty experts break down the lipstick formulas that are most flattering for aging lips.
Lipstick ingredients to look for
We’ve mentioned choosing a lipstick with moisturizing ingredients, but what does that mean, exactly?
According to Stacy Tapping, founder of the Beauty Sculpting Room, some hydrating ingredients to look for include hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, vitamin E and shea butter. These ingredients, she says, also help lock moisture into the lips.
“Women should also avoid alcohol and fragrances, even in lipsticks,” she says. “They can be drying and irritating for thinner and mature lips.”
Best lipsticks for mature women, according to experts
This Target find is a favorite of Kate Johnson, a makeup artist and the founder of Glossed Finishing Studio. The standout ingredient is mango seed butter, which helps keep lips kissably soft and hydrated. This color goes on sheer, so it’ll have a glossy finish with a hint of color, but it can be built up to medium coverage with a few more swipes.
Makeup and lash artist Shervonne Kitto loves Merit’s satin lipstick for her clients, and she offers up a hack to keep lipstick lasting even longer: “A great trick for a youthful lip is to use a bit of concealer around the edges of the lips before applying liner and lipstick,” she says. “Then, set it with a powder. This trick helps prevent feathering and creates a crisp, clean canvas that makes the lip color pop.”
Recently winning a Shop TODAY Mature Beauty Award for best lipstick, this vegan and cruelty-free formula is also buildable for more color. Plus, it’s made with vitamin C, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
Having a primer built into the lip color can help a lipstick stay on longer and go on more smoothly. That’s why Johnson recommends this formula to her older clients. This formula also has peptides and ceramides to help heal dry, damaged, and chapped lips.
The almond-shaped tip of this lipstick makes it super simple to apply, even on the go — and this formula from Charlotte Tilbury is one of Tapping’s favorites. “They have satin and creamy formulas for that plump look, and the shade range will perfectly match different women with different lip colors,” she says. This one’s made with light-diffusing pigments that add dimension to any lip size.
Jones loves the Luxe Lip line from Bobbi Brown because it’s made with skin care ingredients like jasmine flower wax to help moisturize and condition lips over time. After applying this lipstick, it looks like you also coated it with a fresh swipe of gloss — that’s how juicy lips appear after just one swipe.
Our editors' most-loved lipsticks for mature skin
Former editor Amanda Fama‘s mom, Jackie Fama, likes a lipstick “that has moisturizer.” Her go-to is this pick from L’Oreal Paris, which comes in over 50 shades (including sandstone, which is J. Fama’s favorite). It’s also formulated with vitamin E, which our experts recommend, along with moisturizing argan oil.
This '90s lipstick continues to be a favorite among Shop TODAY readers thanks to its balm-like consistency. The smooth application and hydrating formula glide on like a lip balm, but with the added boost of buildable pigment.
If you're looking for a pigmented lip balm without the matte finish, this is a great option. "My mom and I have been reaching for this lip balm for months now. It's smoothing Conditioning Complex and deeply hydrating formula has earned it a permanent spot in our makeup routines. Infused with shea butter and nourishing oils, it keeps our lips soft, hydrated and subtly glossy — the perfect everyday dewy finish," says commerce writer Jannely Espinal.
Ezpinal's mom has relied on this lipstick for years thanks to its vitamin E–infused, hydrating formula. “She recently ran out, and I’ve worn it too,” Espinal says. “I love the shiny, jelly-like texture — it’s non-sticky and leaves a glazed finish.” The formula is also enriched with pomegranate extract and hyaluronic acid for added antioxidant care.
Associate editor Allie Wise gave her mom, Cindy Wise, a sample of this long-lasting, buttery lipstick, and she “absolutely loves it.” Keep in mind this is a matte lipstick (which our experts don’t always recommend for mature skin). However, its formula contains some moisturizing ingredients like cotton oil extract and hydrogenated jojoba oil.
In other words, if you prefer a matte lip that’s still moisturizing, this is a good option.
Frequently asked questions
Jones says a pro makeup artist tip is to exfoliate your lips a few times a week (or before you apply lipstick to ensure it sits on the lips properly).
You can exfoliate with a lip scrub product or dampen a towel and gently circle the lips to remove dead skin. From there, hydrate lips immediately after exfoliating, she says, with a lip balm.
“A lip liner can also define the lips and prevent feathering, especially in mature skin,” adds Jones.
According to Jones, lip stains can be a great option for mature women. “Lip stains give natural color and tend to be more lightweight,” she says. “It does remain very important to choose one with moisturizing properties.”
How we chose
Shop TODAY spoke with makeup artists and estheticians about what ingredients to look for in the best lipsticks for mature women, and they shared their go-to picks. A few editors on the Shop TODAY team also reached out to their moms and asked what their go-to lipsticks are.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic such as lipstick for mature skin. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Maria Jones is a professional makeup artist and hair stylist at Cover Clap.
- Katy Holland is a professional makeup artist and educator.
- Stacy Tapping is the founder of the Beauty Sculpting Room.
- Shervonne Kitto is a professional makeup artist, lash artist and beauty educator with nearly a decade of experience in the beauty industry.
- Kate Johnson is a makeup artist and founder of Glossed Finishing Studio.
