Key ingredients: castor seed oil, rice bran extract, shea butter | Finish: satin | Shades: 9
Most Buildable: Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Crème
Why it’s worth it: We love a lipstick formula that delivers impressive color payoff upon initial application and fades gracefully to an effortless, lived-in look. Tarte’s Maracuja Juicy Lip Crème? It does exactly that. “This multipurpose lipstick contains a maracuja superfruit complex, which helps hydrate the lips for several hours,” says Guth. “It also has a satin-gloss finish and medium coverage.” It’s one of Tarte’s many viral products for its high-shine finish and a gorgeous lineup of 15 nudes and pinks.
Key ingredients: maracuja oil, hyaluronic acid, grapeseed oil, goji berry, açai | Finish: glossy | Shades: 15
Best Lip Primer: Sarah Creal Lip Grip Line Filler
Why it’s worth it: In many cases, your lipstick is only as good as the condition of the lips beneath it all. Sarah Creal’s Lip Grip Line Filler is “a must for more mature lips,” according to Black. “It’s a peptide priming treatment that smooths and blurs lip lines while keeping your lipstick in place for longer. Lactic acid gently exfoliates any texture, helping the other actives (like peptides) to penetrate more effectively. You can even dab some around your lips to soften any lines.
Key ingredients: peptides, lactic acid, blurring optics | Finish: hydrating, smoothing | Shades: 1
Best Shade Range: Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick
Why it’s worth it: While the Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick is sold in both matte and cream finishes, we’re partial towards the latter for mature lips. “The super creamy formula is infused with aloe vera and avocado oil so the lips will feel nourished and hydrated,” says Majdipour. The wide shade range makes it easy to find the right color for your undertones. Looking for something more sheer? Certain shades come in a high-shine finish, like the warm pink Weho for a light wash of color.
Editor’s tip: For softer color distribution, gently dab the product across your lips and blend by rubbing your lips together.
Key ingredients: aloe vera, avocado oil, sesame seed oil | Finish: matte, satin | Shades: 35 (13 satin, 15 matte, 6 high-shine finish)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of lipstick for mature skin?
While moisturizing lip products like balms, oils, and masks deeply condition your lips, it’s understandable if you don’t want to sacrifice your favorite red lipstick in the name of hydration. Thankfully, you can achieve the pigmentation you desire and still reap the benefits of lip-loving, texture-blurring ingredients, thanks to the abundance of hydrating and conditioning oils. In case you aren’t aware, moisture replenishment is especially important for diminishing the look of volume loss and fine lines, two key concerns that tend to pop up around the mouth as we get older. “As we age, our capacity to retain water in the skin diminishes, so skin becomes drier,” Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously told Allure. “Dry skin can appear dull and make fine lines more noticeable.”
