Our faces shift as we age, growing new lines and deepening existing wrinkles. While it’s nothing to sweat about—it’s natural—there are tricks and tips to help draw attention away from these signs of aging if you’d like to. “As we age, most commonly our philtrum (the space between our nose and lips) gets longer, and the lips themselves thin out, leaving us with increased lines and wrinkles around the mouth,” explains mature skin makeup expert Amanda Hill. To help combat the look of these changes and help make our lips look younger, or at least their age, we asked experts to share their top makeup tips for mature lips.
Featured experts
- Amanda Hill is a mature skin makeup expert
- Laura Geller is a former celebrity makeup artist and the founder of Laura Geller Beauty
- Mally Roncal is a celebrity makeup artist and the founder founder of Mally Beauty
- Sandy Linter is a celebrity makeup artist
- Lisa Aharon is a celebrity makeup artist
Use primer
Like any other part of the face, lips could benefit from a layer of primer ahead of makeup application. While you can use a lip primer or traditional face primer, former celebrity makeup artist and founder of eponymous makeup line Laura Geller’s secret hack is “to use an eye primer around the edges of the lips before applying lipstick to prevent lipstick feathering.”
Products to try: Sarah Creal Lip Grip Peptide Priming Treatment ($36), Laura Geller Spackle Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer ($24), Guerlain KissKiss Bee Lift Lip Primer ($40)
Don’t forget lip liner
In addition to priming the lips, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Mally Beauty Mally Roncal also advises using lip liner “to help keep lip product from traveling.” Celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter recommends using a lip pencil in a similar shade to the lipstick and opting for a soft pencil. She also suggests waiting to the line the lips until after applying lipstick.
Products to try: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil ($25), Hermès Lip Pencil ($53), Jones Road The Lip Pencil ($24)
Wear lip balm or gloss
Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon explains that “keeping mature lips hydrated with balm or gloss can create the illusion of volume that can be lost with age.” She adds that these products can also “help to smooth lips and fill fine lines.”
Products to try: Saint Jane Luxury Lip Oil ($28), Soshe Ceramide Lip Silk ($30), Typology Replenishing Lip Balm ($39)
Opt for creamy formulas over matte
Roncal advises against using matte lipstick formulas and recommends opting for creamier lipsticks “to help make your lips look smoother and plumper.” Geller agrees, noting that “hydrating lip formulas will help keep your lips from splitting.” However, if you can’t quit matte Linter says you can opt for a semi-matte formula like the Westman Atelier Lip Suede ($50).
Products to try: Merit Signature Lip ($26), Laura Geller Jelly Balm Hydrating Lip Colors ($24), RMS Legendary Serum Lipstick ($36)
Try a lip brush
Adding another tool to your routine can be annoying, but sometimes it makes all the difference. Linter recommends applying lip product with a lip brush—specifically a full sized brush, not a skinny one.
Products to try: Bobbi Brown Lip Brush ($43), Fara Homidi Lip Brush ($58), Dior Backstage Retractable Lip Brush N° 31 ($34)
Wear overnight lip treatments
“Dry lips will add years to any age,” Hill points out. She suggests trying lip slugging before bed for a surge of overnight hydration. Aharon says mature lips can benefit from treatment “that replenishes lips with moisture while you sleep, helping to decrease the appearance of fine lines.” Hill suggests layering on moisturizing lip products and sealing it all in with a thick ointment.
Products to try: Jouer Overnight Conditioning and Repairing Lip Mask ($30), CeraVe Healing Ointment ($12), Fresh Sugar Recovery Lip Mask Advanced Therapy ($29)
