The Ultimate Guide To Anti-Ageing Your Lips
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Caroline Barnes, A-List Make-Up Artist
Avoid Products That Claim To Plump
“I’ve tried hundreds of ‘plumping’ treatments, but honestly I’d avoid anything that overpromises or claims to ‘stimulate blood flow.’ These will just cause irritation and dryness, which is never a good look on ageing lips. Instead, you want to try balms that are fuss-free and without any essential oils as these can trigger reactions. I recommend taking it back to basics and using nourishing masks, alongside thick unguent balms, like Lanolips and La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Baume. These are two products I swear by and recommend to everyone regardless of age. They bolster hydration levels and keep lips smooth for days on end. I maintain that if your lips are moisturised, you can get away with nearly every colour and texture available.”
Try Nudes, But Don’t Rely On Them
“Colours depend entirely on individual taste, but as a rule of thumb, I would steer clear of nude-toned lipsticks as you mature. The older we get, the more drained our complexions can become, so we want to warm them up, not dull them down. With this in mind, you should look to corals or orange-y reds – these will give your complexion an instant lift. For darker skin, the same rules apply. I recommend using the lipstick you choose on your cheeks too. It’s a simple move but brings all the warmth together for more of an overall boost.”
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Joy Adenuga, Pro Make-Up Artist & Educator
Get Acquainted With A Few Tricks
“When it comes to creating fuller-looking lips, the rule is to go darker with your lip liner, but you can also create this effect with contouring, using a technique called ‘underpainting.’ This involves applying a cream contour the same way you’d apply a lip liner before any foundation application. Once you’ve done this, you apply your base make-up and carry on with the rest of your products as normal. The effect? A subtle shadow around the lips that gives a believable plumpness.”
Invest In Sugar Scrubs
“I really recommend using sugar scrubs at least three times a week. This will get rid of dead cells on and around your lips, creating a much smoother surface for products to adhere to. If you have sensitive lips, try using them just once a week. Follow up with a thick, conditioning balm like Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream. I use this every night before bed and it makes such a difference come morning.”
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Mary Greenwell, A-List Make-Up Artist
Don’t Underestimate A Good Lip Liner
“There are a lot of mixed opinions on lip liner, but the truth is they become an essential item as we get older. Not only do they plump up the appearance of the lips, they help prevent lipstick from travelling around into any small creases by the mouth. Look to ones with creamy textures that are easy to blend and build upon – Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel and Laura Mercier all have brilliant options.”
Apply Your Lipstick Straight From The Bullet
“Don’t bother with brushes, apply lipstick direct to the lips, you can then blot it or use your finger to diffuse the pigment should you need to. The bigger the mouth, the more colours you can get away with; if you’ve got slightly smaller lips, seek out tones similar to your skin. My top tip? Just make sure they’re roughly five tones darker than your natural complexion, so you don’t end up looking flat and one dimensional. I swear by both MAC’s Lipstick in Crème In Your Coffee and 111 Skin’s Lip Mask Duo Plumping Pen for extra hydration.”
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Ruby Hammer MBE, Make-Up Artist
Try Using Clear Lip Liners
“If you want to prevent your lipstick from bleeding or feathering into fine lines, look to clear lip pencils. Urban Decay and Dior both do the best ones. Use them as you would a normal liner, tracing the edges of your mouth after applying lipstick. They prevent any movement and slip of product, so you never have to worry about smudges come 4pm. They’re very useful if you’re wearing gloss, too, as they prevent stickiness from smearing around your mouth.”
Don’t Dismiss Bolder Shades
“I firmly believe anyone can wear a red lipstick – you just have to find the right one for you. As a mature woman, it’s about choosing a gentle formula that lasts, but won’t sit too heavily on the lips. The ones I recommend time and time again are Chanel and NARS. They both have great formulas that feel feather-light on the lips. The main thing to note when wearing richer colours is how you apply them. Personally, I feel lip brushes are essential as they allow you to mould the colour to your mouth, as well as help you sheer out the pigment for a more muted effect.”
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Grace Fodor, Founder Of Make-Up Brand Studio 10
Stick To Cream Textures
“Mature women can wear matte lipsticks but, ultimately, they often have a drying effect and can cause the lip area to look a bit flat. On the flipside, high-shine or frosted finishes can draw too much attention the lip area – so it’s about finding a texture that sits in between. Generally, I recommend demi-matte or satin finishes for more mature skin. Try dabbing the colour in the middle of your lip first, then work outwards with your finger or a brush to gradually build your colour up. When buying lipsticks, try to get ones that include moisturising ingredients like hyaluronic acid for a hydrated, plump effect.”
Play With Placement
“There are so many easy tricks to try for fuller lips. Firstly, I recommend contouring the lip with a flesh-coloured liner or highlighter. Focus this on the cupid’s bow only so that it creates a halo effect for visible fullness. Secondly, I love to finish with a gloss – no matter what product I’ve applied. The trick is to keep this gloss directly in the middle of the lips. Use your ring finger and push it directly into the centre of your mouth. Again, this will give the illusion of fullness and draw the attention away from the thinner corners of your lips.”
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