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

Key ingredients: jojoba butter, mimosa butter, sunflower wax | Finish: satin | Shades: 24

Best Lip Balm for Mature Skin: Clinique Almost Lipstick

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

Pro tip: Tommy, a New York City-based makeup artist, shared his favorite way to apply this 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 | Shades: 2

Best Cream Lipstick for Mature Skin: Kosas Weightless Lip Color

Why it’s worth it: The nourishing formula behind the Kosas Weightless Lip Color is creamy without smudging, glossy without slipping, and perfectly hydrating while providing respectable hold. People with dry lips will appreciate the mango butter, cocoa butter, and rosehip oil that up the moisture ante. If you’re looking for a non-drying, go-to red lipstick with brown undertones, Deep Talks is a winner.

Pro tip: Apply this lipstick in two layers to help the lipstick last longer. Lightly press the first layer of color into your lips with your finger and then add a second swipe on top to seal everything in.

Key ingredients: mango butter, cocoa butter, and rosehip oil | Finish: satin | Shades: 12

Best Sheer-Coverage Lipstick for Mature Skin: 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.

Pro 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 | Shades: 20

Best Medium-Coverage Lipstick for Mature Skin: 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."

Pro tip: If you want a similar formula that yields a fuller effect, try Tarte's Maracuja Juicy Lip Plumper, a favorite of shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis that contains the same hydrating ingredients as the Juicy Lip Crème.

Key ingredients: maracuja oil, hyaluronic acid, grapeseed oil, goji berry, açai | Finish: glossy | Shades: 11

Best Full-Coverage Lipstick for Mature Skin: Anastasia Beverly Hills Satin Lipstick

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

Pro 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 | Shades: 12

Best Refillable Lipstick for Mature Skin: 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.

Pro 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 | Shades: 70

Best Glossy Lipstick for Mature Skin: 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 pouch, is its intensely hydrating formula. It's a favorite of Guth's and a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, and it's obvious as to 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 a chapped pout.

Pro tip: The menthyl lactate lends a cooling sensation, so avoid this formula if that's not your preference.

Key ingredients: menthyl lactate, shea butter, mango seed butter, argan oil | Finish: glossy | Shades: 12

Best Satin Lipstick for Mature Skin: 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' Satin Allure Lipstick is dewy and lightweight but still imparts enough pigment to boost your look—the winning combination for a 2023 Best of Beauty Award.

Pro 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: satin, shiny | Shades: 18

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.

Pro 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 | Shades: 35

Best Long-Lasting Lipstick for Mature Skin: Bobbi Brown Luxe Lipstick

Why it’s worth it: Bobbi Brown splashed onto the ‘90s makeup scene with its innovative line of neutral lipsticks, and we still look to the brand for lippie wisdom. As far as mature lips go, you need to try the Luxe Lipstick. This long-lasting, moisturizing, and buildable formula goes on smoothly and stays put for up to 10 hours without any feathering or flaking. At play? A blend of hydrating botanicals, including jasmine, sunflower, and coconut oils and extracts, naturally.

Pro tip: In search of a matte lipstick that doesn’t dry out your lips? The Luxe Matte Lipstick is formulated with conditioning ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, squalane, and peptides for comfortable, all-day wear.

Best Matte Lipstick for Mature Skin: Merit Signature Matte Lip

Why it’s worth it: If you’re all about the mattes, you know that many formulas can highlight fine lines rather than disguise them. So why settle for less when Merit’s Signature Matte Lip exists? This hydrating matte goes on sans-shine but looks lived-in right away. The key is a soft matte, bridging the gap between a balm and an indulgent velvety finish—you can thank the formula’s hyaluronic acid and sesame seed extract for that.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, sesame oil | Finish: soft matte | Shades: 8

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, jasmine wax, sunflower oil, coconut oils | Finish: natural | Shades: 33

Best Plumping Lipstick for Mature Skin: Makeup by Mario MoistureGlow

Why it’s worth it: Loss of collagen is unavoidable as we age, and our lips are no exception—so finding a lipstick with a little plumping power definitely can’t hurt. A 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, Makeup By Mario’s Moisture Glow Plumping Lip Colo bestows major pigment topped with hydrating glossiness. The innovation at play is encapsulated H2O, a.k.a little droplets sealed by a protective shell made from polymers, which allows water to be integrated into an oil-based lipstick. Props to the angled doe applicator, which makes precise application as easy as ever.

Pro tip: Line your lips with the Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil for an even fuller look.

Key ingredients: encapsulated water, vitamin B3, peppermint oil, peptides | Finish: shiny | Shades: 13

Frequently Asked Questions

While moisturizing lip products like lip balms, lip oils, and lip masks deeply condition your lips, it's understandable if you don't want to sacrifice your favorite red lipstick in the name of hydration. But the thing is…you don't have to. You can achieve the pigmentation you desire and still reap the benefits of lip-loving, texture-blurring ingredients.

Cosmetic chemist Ginger King says 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" or springing a tinted lip balm may be more suitable than a fully pigmented lipstick."

In case it wasn’t evident, hyaluronic acid is a beneficial ingredient for all, but especially older women. "Hyaluronic acid provides hydration and plumpness, and helps fill in the cracks on the surface of the lips by drawing in moisture—otherwise known as a humectant," explains Badro.

Other moisturizing heavy hitters are emollients like shea butter and cocoa butter, which soften dry cracks and blur the appearance of fine lines. These ingredients are also responsible for giving your lipstick formulas that easy-gliding feeling. As for ingredients to avoid? Guth recommends generally steering clear of matte lipstick formulas, as they have drier finishes that 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?