14 Best Lipsticks for Mature Skin That Won't Accentuate Fine Lines

Editor Tip: If you want extra precision, use a Chanel lip brush to ensure super-fine lining.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba butter, mimosa butter, sunflower wax | Finish: Satin | Available Shades: 24

Best Lip Balm: Clinique Almost Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: Clinique's Almost Lipstick, a.k.a. the brand's version of a tinted lip balm that debuted in—wait for it—1971, has become a Gen-Z-driven TikTok hit, thanks to its sheer coverage and an ultra-comfortable formula packed with emollients like castor seed oil, candelilla wax, and vitamin E. It comes in two shades: the iconic 2023 Best of Beauty Award-winning Black Honey and Pink Honey. It's no wonder one tube of Black Honey sells every four minutes worldwide.

Editor Tip: Tommy, a New York City-based makeup artist, shared his favorite way to apply the lipstick. "I like to blot a layer of Black Honey with a tissue and reapply for extra color payoff, longevity, and hold," he explained. "I've had clients who wear it alone or under clear gloss."

Key Ingredients: Castor seed oil, candelilla wax, tocopherol | Finish: Satin | Available Shades: 2

Best Sheer Lipstick: YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick

Why It's Worth It: You'll always find us saying "YSL-yeah" whenever we're swiping on a Yves Saint Laurent lippie, and the Loveshine Lip Oil Stick is no exception. This bad boy is pigmented, hydrating, long-wearing, and sheer without being too subtle—bridging the gap between lipstick and lip oil. The moisturizing formula makes for a 24-hour-long juicy pout, helping to minimize dryness and fine lines.

Editor Tip: If you want a little more color, layer this oil stick over a matte YSL option of a similar or complementary hue.

Key Ingredients: 60% YSL signature oil base (contents not disclosed but the ingredient list includes passionfruit oil), fig pulp | Finish: Sheer | Available Shades: 20

Best Medium-Coverage Lipstick: Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Crème

Why It's Worth It: You know those lipstick formulas that deliver an impressive color payoff upon initial application and then fade gracefully to an effortless, lived-in look? That's exactly what the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Crème does. "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."

Editor Tip: If you want a similar formula that yields a fuller effect, try Tarte's Maracuja Juicy Lip Plumper, which is beloved by shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis and contains the same hydrating ingredients as the Juicy Lip Creme.

Key Ingredients: Maracuja oil, hyaluronic acid, grapeseed oil, goji berry, açai | Finish: Glossy | Available Shades: 11

Best Full-Coverage Lipstick: Anastasia Beverly Hills Satin Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: Anastasia Beverly Hills' Satin Lipstick distributes color evenly for immaculate application every time. In the long-wearing, highly-pigmented formula, you'll find moisturizing vitamin E and an ester complex that conditions and hydrates with each swipe. According to Los Angeles-based makeup artist Chloe Majdipour, lipsticks with satin finishes have more slip than matte formulas, making them easier to apply—a significant bonus for people with dry lips.

Editor Tip: If your lips are exceptionally parched, prep them using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Primer, a super hydrating, colorless, and smooth wax formula that will get your pout nice and juicy and help retain color.

Key Ingredients: Capric triglyceride (a combination of emollient fatty acids like coconut oil and glycerin), microcrystalline wax | Finish: Satin | Available Shades: 12

Best Luxury Lipstick: Dior Rouge Dior Refillable Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: We can always count on Dior for a perfect lippie, and the Dior Rouge Dior Refillable Lipstick has yet to let us down. The hydrating, satin formula is a dream for mature lips that may be experiencing a little extra dryness and need some comfort. The broad shade range comes in two finishes—satin and velvet—so get both when you find a color that strikes your fancy. You'll get up to 24 hours of soothing goodness and up to 12 hours of pigment.

Editor Tip: When it comes time to re-up, shop the refill options on Dior's website.

Key Ingredients: Red peony extract, pomegranate extract, shea butter | Finish: Satin, velvet | Available Shades: 70

Best Drugstore Lipstick: Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: If you thought Burt's Bees only made that iconic yellow tube of chapstick, think again—those bees are up to much more than just that. The brand's 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick is a drugstore hidden gem, ready to color and hydrate to the max. With full coverage and eight hours of locked-in moisture, this satin lipstick toes the line between sheer and solid, making it a perfect everyday product. Save the bees, and save this lipstick a spot in your purse.

Editor Tip: If you already have the Burt's Bees chapstick, use it as a moisturizing primer before you apply the lipstick.

Key Ingredients: Beeswax, moringa oil, raspberry seed oil, vitamin E | Finish: Satin, natural | Available Shades: 18

Best Lip Gloss: Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

Why It's Worth It: The only thing better than the Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Lip Balm's slim tube (which fits into any purse pocket) is its intensely hydrating formula. It's a favorite of Guth's and a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, and it's easy to see why. The lip-plumping ingredients hard at work are avocado and argan oil; the balm also includes shea and mango seed butter (common ingredients in a lip balm) to nourish chapped lips.

Editor Tip: The menthyl lactate lends a cooling sensation, so avoid this formula if that's not your vibe.

Key Ingredients: Menthyl lactate, shea butter, mango seed butter, argan oil | Finish: Glossy | Available Shades: 12

Best Plumping Lipstick: Buxom Plump Shot Lip Serum

Why It's Worth It: Skip the lip filler and reach for the Buxom Plump Shot Lip Serum, which juices up lips with all the good stuff. The vegan collagen, tri-peptides, and hyaluronic acid work hard to hydrate, plump, and smooth. In addition to its plumping powers, you'll get a nice wash of color that you can layer over creamy lipstick or use on its own.

Editor Tip: Buxom's website offers a virtual try-on feature to ensure you're picking a color that works for you.

Key Ingredients: Vegan collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid, avocado oil, tsubaki oil, jojoba oil | Finish: Sheer | Available Shades: 20

Best Liquid Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur

Why It's Worth It: Forget everything you know (and loathe) about liquid lipstick formulas of the past. Charlotte Tilbury's innovative Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur has a glide-on texture that smooths lips and blurs lines for an airbrushed finish, says Majdipour. Laced with hyaluronic acid to keep lips hydrated for up to 24 hours, this long-lasting formula is perfect for occasions where your lipstick follows you from meals to drinks, everything in between, and whatever comes after.

Editor Tip: If you're unsure which shade to go for, Pillow Talk, Tilbury's signature nude-rose hue, is a surefire hit.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, film-forming resin | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 8

Best Satin Lipstick: Pat McGrath Labs SatinAllure Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: Don't let the decadent vibe of this lipstick's opulent gold packaging mislead you: The color payoff is delightfully subtle. Pat McGrath Labs' SatinAllure Lipstick is dewy and lightweight but still imparts enough pigment to boost your look. Further proof you should pick one up: The hydrating formula helped this lipstick win a 2023 Best of Beauty Award.

Editor Tip: For an ombre look, apply a concentrated touch of the lipstick at the center of the lips and then blend out with your finger.

Key Ingredients: Botanical collagen, passionfruit oil, | Finish: Shiny | Available Shades: 18

Best Color Range: Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: While the Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick is available in a matte finish, we're partial to the satin version 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 for a light wash of color.

Editor 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: Satin | Available Shades: 35

Best Long-Wearing Lipstick: Revlon Colorstay Overtime Liquid Lipstick

Why It's Worth It: For Guth, a product like the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Liquid Lipstick accomplishes the difficult task of pairing long-lasting color and hydration. "This stays put and won't dry out the lips since it moisturizes the lips with vitamin E, chamomile, and soy extract," she says. Translation: All the comfort, none of the smudge.

Editor Tip: One side of this dual-ended product deposits color while the other offers gloss for a customizable look.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, chamomile, soy extract | Finish: Glossy | Available Shades: 24

Frequently Asked Questions

While moisturizing lip products like lip balms, lip oils, and lip masks reliably treat your lips right, it's understandable if you don't want to sacrifice your favorite red lipstick in the name of hydration. Thankfully, you don't have to. In the future, seek out lipsticks that are thoughtfully formulated with hydrating ingredients that apply smoothly without settling into fine lines on the lips.

Cosmetic chemist Ginger King tells Allure that taking this extra step to find a hydrating lipstick is worthwhile. "For mature women, the selection of lipstick is trickier because they tend to have thinner and drier lips." A safe bet, King says, is to "choose a more muted tone and just a hydrating sheer color; a tinted lip balm may be more suitable than a fully pigmented lipstick."

Hyaluronic acid is a beneficial ingredient for older women. "Hyaluronic acid provides hydration and plumpness—it also helps fill in the cracks on the surface of the lips by drawing in moisture, also known as a humectant," says Badro.

Other moisturizing heavy hitters are emollients like shea butter and cocoa butter, which work to soften dry cracks and blur the appearance of fine lines. These ingredients are also responsible for giving your lipstick formulas that easy-gliding feeling. Regarding ingredients to avoid, Guth recommends steering clear of matte lipstick formulas, as they're drier in consistency and may highlight fine lines.

Aside from seeking more nourishing ingredients for your maturing lips, your application technique plays a vital role in your finished look. To enhance the look of your lips, start with a clear lip balm to prime and prep the area. "Primers are a great way to ensure that the products stay in place and can prevent feathering, which can draw attention to fine lines," Guth says.

After lip primer, she recommends using a lip pencil one to two shades darker than your natural lip color to slightly overdraw and give the illusion of bigger lips (try the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner for this step). Fill in your lips with your lipstick of choice, pop a bit of a lighter shade to the middle of the lips to highlight, et voilà! Instantly plump-looking lips.

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best lipsticks for mature skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, makeup artists, and cosmetic chemists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, demographics, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, efficacy, and hydration. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

More lip products we can't shut up about:

• The Dior Rouge Forever Transfer-Proof Lipstick Is Exactly What It Claims to Be
• Lawless's Forget the Filler Lip Mask Is the Only Product That Actually Cures My Chronically Dry Lips
• 23 Best Liquid Lipsticks That Won't Budge or Fade, Ever

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