Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of brands Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story As your lips change with age, so should your makeup. That's where upgrading to the best lip liners for mature skin come in: Paired with a good lipstick for older women , they can help restore definition, create the appearance of fuller lips, and keep color from feathering into fine lines around the mouth. “They’re the underrated MVP of the lip category,” says LA-based makeup artist Fiona Stiles . “They can help define your shape and maximize it while also giving your lip color more staying power.”
While many of us tend to focus on how our facial skin changes over time—leading to a newfound demand for targeted moisturizers and serums for aging skin —the lips get overlooked. But they have a naturally impaired skin barrier and few to no oil glands, so aging can be uniquely tough on them. “Structurally, the lips lose volume , and the border of the lips loses definition,” says Joshua Zeichner , MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC. Not only that, but "the lips often become dry as the skin barrier becomes weaker as we get older,” he adds.
How should you apply lip liner on mature lips? How do you keep lipstick from bleeding on older skin? Is lip liner good for mature lips? Meet our experts How we test and review products Our staff and testers That means formulas that drag or settle into lines can make those changes more noticeable. Instead, look for a lip liner that glides on smoothly but has enough grip to keep color from migrating beyond the lip line. You want to choose one that has staying power, but also isn’t too drying,” says NYC-based celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty .
Luckily, that no longer limits you to a classic pencil. Today’s options include nude lip liners that look like your-lips-but-better, long-wearing stains , and chubby contour sticks that can softly bring back volume you’ve lost. Ahead, we found the best lip liners for mature lips, with expert-approved picks that make defining your shape a whole lot easier.
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Charlotte Tilbury
Why it’s worth it: There’s a reason this pencil has become a makeup-bag staple. Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Long Lasting Waterproof Lip Liner nails the trifecta, with a comfortable formula, impressive staying power, and an impressive shade range that makes finding a natural-looking match refreshingly easy. The formula, which can glide onto skin without skipping, is especially helpful for mature lips. “The texture is beautiful,” says Bhatty. “It's not dry but not too creamy, so it wears really well.”
Hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, which both hydrate and moisturize, give the pencil that slip. Then comes polybutene, which is “a flexible film former that helps prevent feathering and smudging by locking pigments in place,” explains Kelly Dobos , a cosmetic chemist based in Cincinnati, Ohio. That means your color will stay in place even through multiple cups of iced coffee. We’re partial to the brand’s iconic Pillow Talk family, which includes four takes on the original rosy-nude shade.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, jojoba seed oil, ceresin Shades: 19 Best Drugstore: L’Oreal Paris Blurfiller Blurring Lip Contour Save to wishlist Save to wishlist L'Oréal Paris
Why it’s worth it: Lip shape can subtly change over time. “We lose not only volume in our lips as we age, but also the vermilion border—which is your visible lip line—tends…