How do I Choose the Best Lipstick Color as a Mature Woman?
Choosing the right makeup can be difficult. There are so many options and something that looked incredible under the makeup lights at Ulta or Sephora can look awful on the street the next day. The sheer variety of options, styles, and price points makes shopping for makeup hard for educated consumers and can feel almost impossible as a beginner. The key is doing your research, knowing what to look for, and asking for help when you need it.
Lipstick is a key component of most makeup routines. It can take a look from the workplace to an evening out with friends almost immediately — a few easy swipes can change up your look completely. People who rely on one lipstick their entire lives are missing out on a world of possibilities! Picking out lipsticks can be challenging, especially as we get older and our skin begins to change. If you’re a mature lady who’s looking to switch up your lipstick routine, this info will help you pick the best option.
Choosing Based on Undertone
One of the most important aspects of our skin that no one talks about is the undertone. Everyone’s skin has an undertone and learning what it is can really help us identify which colors of makeup will work well with our coloring.
There are two different types of undertones: pink and cool or yellow and warm. The vein test is the simplest way to determine your skin’s undertone. Look at the veins that you can see through the thin skin on the inside of your wrist. Do they look blue or green? People with blue veins have a pink undertone, while veins appearing green means that your undertone is yellow.
Every color of lipstick has an undertone, which is why the same shade of red or pink that looked great on your friend may not necessarily look incredible on you. You just have to find a similar color with an undertone that complements your skin.
People with cool undertones generally look great in blues and greys, so L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Lacquered Strawberry is a great pink that will pop against their skin. People with warm undertones tend to wear more greens, pinks, and cream-colored garments. L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in Berry Matte Pink is a great complement to warm undertones.
Choosing Based on Finish
Once you’ve figured out which colors of lipstick work best with your skin undertone, you can make a decision about your lipstick finish. There are a variety of different formulas and finishes, which influence the final look of your lipstick. The way your lipstick is formulated also affect how it’s applied and how long you can reasonably expect it to last on your lips. The most popular types of finishes are cream, satin, and matte. Although the majority of lipstick sold fits into these three categories, there are some lipsticks made in more unique finishes including metallic, high-shine, and frosted.
The most common type of lipstick out there is a cream lipstick. It’s likely the first thing you wore once you started wearing makeup. It goes on smooth and is super hydrating for our lips. Cream lipsticks can bleed or feather, which may be an issue for you, especially if you have lots of fine lines around your mouth. Use a matching or clear lip liner to lock in color. Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick is a cult favorite.
Satin lipstick is another popular finish. It’s long-wearing, provides more staying power than cream lipstick, and gives a gentle shine. MAC makes some of the most popular satin lipsticks on the market.
Matte lipstick is a little bit more difficult to wear since it tends to be quite drying. It does last for quite a long time, so it’s an ideal finish for an all-day event or time when you need your lips to be flawless from morning to night. Lots of brands carry matte lipstick now, but Anastasia Beverly Hills’ matte line has over 30 colors ranging from bold blues to pale nudes.
Choosing Based on Longevity
The finish of your lipstick is a major factor in determining its longevity, but it’s not the only factor at play. Nowadays, lipstick fans can choose from a variety of formulas including liquid lipstick, lip stains, and lip glosses. All these different formulas affect the way that you can build and layer color and will also affect how it wears throughout the day.
Lip gloss is great for women with small or thinning lips, as it gives lips shine and makes them look larger. The color of lip gloss can be quite muted, so some women layer a long-lasting lipstick underneath lip gloss, which gives everything added color and shine. Glossier is a makeup brand that’s trending right now and they make a slick-looking product that lightweight and longer-lasting than most drug store lip glosses.
Lip stains are extremely long-lasting and are generally shinier than matte lipsticks. These gel-like stains layer extremely well, so you can swipe on additional coats to boost your color if you find that it’s fading towards the end of the day. Lip stains give vibrant color, but they can stain coffee cups and fabric, so aren’t a great choice for a day where you’ll be doing lots of eating and drinking. Sephora’s Cream Lip Stains are only $14 per tube, and they come in more than 80 different shades.