5 Unflattering Lipstick Shades Older Women Should Avoid Because They Wash You Out: High-Contrast Red & More

Lipstick is like a little bit of magic. The right lip color can add instant brightness to your face, and you may even find that you can get away with not a stitch of additional makeup as long as you’re wearing your favorite lip shade — it can make that powerful a transformation.

But something natural happens to many of us as we age. Our lips may appear smaller and the lip line less defined. You may find it more difficult to apply just lipstick without a primer or lip liner. Or you may be applying the same lip shade that looked amazing on you in previous years, and it’s just not hitting the same way.

Makeup is meant to evolve with our changing style and needs. This doesn’t just mean swapping one foundation formulation for another, like a formula that is better for dry skin. It also means taking note when your lips aren’t “singing” in that lip color and adjusting it to one that is lighter, more muted, or less matte (matte lipsticks are notorious for drying out the lips). Although there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to lip shades and you should wear whatever makes you feel your best, generally speaking, these five lipstick shades tend to be unflattering on many women over 50.

1. Deep Purple or Black

If you want to rock a goth look, by all means, do it. If something isn’t sitting right though when you apply a very dark shade like purple or black, it could be because of the high contrast it provides against your skin, as well as how these shades can more prominently highlight fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

2. Orange

A bright, bold shade like orange can sometimes be harder to apply if the skin around your mouth has lost some elasticity and your lip line isn’t as clearly defined. As a result, they may appear more messy. It’s also important to check that an orange tone doesn’t clash with your skin’s natural undertones, which can change with age. The high contrast between orange and your skin may also look less flattering than a more muted shade.

3. Frosted/Metallic Colors

Few lipstick shades and finishes will call attention to wrinkles and fine lines like frosted and metallic colors. These lipsticks may have been fun and flirty in your teens and twenties, but they can overwhelm the skin and lips when your complexion has more texture.

4. Matte Nudes

Dark and bright colors aren’t the only ones you may find on your lipstick chopping block. A matte light nude shade could be so dull looking against your skin that it blends right in, making your lips disappear. If you want to try a nude lip, look for one that has a hint of color like blush or peach and a slightly glossier finish to give your pout more oomph.

5. High-Contrast Red

There’s a good argument to be made that red lipstick should never be ditched, at any age, but modified to suit your current skin tone and undertones. If you wore high-contrast reds back in the day and you find them to be too garish now, find a more muted red or even a gloss with a hint of rose or red in it.