Lips can start to look different over time. Colour can “bleed” more easily, edges can soften and lipstick that once looked crisp can start to feather by midday. That is why lip liner often becomes the quiet hero in a mature makeup routine.
Make-up artist Laura Geller says lip liner is not an optional extra for older skin, it is a simple way to bring back definition. “We tend to lose shape in our eyes, in the volume of our cheeks and in our lips shape,” she says. “We get softer, our lips get thinner.”
Geller also points to the way routines have sped up. “Everybody wants to do the quick, quick thing which is just stroke on a quick lipstick or put on a quick gloss,” she says. “Women shied away from using lip liner in the last decade or so because it takes time and accuracy a little bit. But it’s so worth those few extra seconds because it really gives you shape back to your lips.”
Why lip liner matters more with age
A good liner does three useful things: it sharpens the lip line, reduces feathering and gives lipstick something to grip to so colour lasts longer. If the goal is a fuller-looking lip without overdoing it, definition is often the difference between “fresh” and “fussy”.
How to appear to have a fuller-lip
Geller’s go-to move is not just outlining. “When I need to go out for the day or do something where I really want to take the time to make sure my lips look as full as possible, I take it and not just outline my lip, but I fill in my whole lip with it because it’s creamy enough. It has vitamin E,” she says.
Filling in the entire lip can help even out colour and create a smoother base, especially if lipstick tends to slip or fade quickly.
The finish to aim for
Geller’s goal is long wear without the downside of migrating colour. “What I love about it is that it doesn’t bleed into the lines around the mouth,” she says. “And you can top it off with a little gloss after if you want to, or maybe your favorite lipstick.”
If lips feel dry, pair liner with a hydrating lip formula rather than a very matte lipstick, which can emphasise texture.
The takeaway
A few extra seconds with lip liner can make the whole face look more polished, especially when lip edges have softened with age. The key is gentle definition, a comfortable formula and a finish that stays put without feathering.
Newsletter
