I published this blog post more than a year ago so I wanted to update it with my current favorites. Though I’ve been a makeup lover and wearer for more than 20 years, face powder have never been a huge presence in my everyday makeup routine. I have powders that I use and wear but nothing ever wowed me enough to truly become a staple everyday. Most powders would make me look too flat, too dry and I ultimately would stop reaching for them over time. Over the past few years, the formulation of pressed and some loose powders has drastically improved to the point that I now wear one every single day.

There are three pressed powders that have become an absolute must have in my routine because of their ability to blur and soften the skin in the most amazing way. And as someone who is now in her mid-40’s, I am particular about how powder looks on my skin now more than ever. These are definitely worth trying and really defy everything I had assumed about powders for so long.

When applying these pressed powders, I find that pressing them into the skin with a soft powder puff (these are my absolute favorite) is the most effective way to get that blurring effect without leaving a powdery finish. I stay away from using powder brushes because they tend to leave the product sitting on top of my skin which will highlight texture and fine lines.

Best Setting Powders for Mature Skin

Kosas Cloud Set Brightening Powder in Candy

I don’t know what magic they put in this powder or how it was formulated but this pressed powder is one of the best powders I have ever tried! It’s a talc free formula that begins as a mousse and once it is baked becomes an ultra-fine sheer powder. Talk about blurring and smoothing – holy cow! It’s absolutely amazing how well this powder sits on the skin and manages to mattify without making the skin look too flat or dull. I bought the pink shade and it is perfect for brightening. It also comes in skin tone shades as well as a buttery yellow and sheer peach shade. This is the most powdery formula out of this entire list but by far the most blurring and smoothing to the skin.

Saie Slip Tint Baked Setting Powder

This finely milled setting powder gives a soft radiant finish that takes away excess shine. You can see from the above photos that this does take away shine but still leaves a soft focus glow on the skin. Nothing with shimmer or anything reflective, but rather a healthy lit-from-within glow to the skin. I tend to reach for this powder in the colder months when my skin is extra dry. I need all the additional bits of radiance I can get which is exactly what this powder gives.

Givenchy Prisme Libre Pressed Powder

This pressed powder feels like combination of the Kosas and Saie together. It’s blurring and mattifying while leaving a soft luminous finish to the skin. I wear shade 2 which is perfect for my skin tone but doesn’t add any extra brightness like the Kosas. If I want to use two powders together, I will put the Kosas under my eyes to brighten and the Givenchy in my t-zone to smooth and blur imperfections.

I have way too many lip products so if I constantly reach for the same ones over and over again, I know they are truly amazing. My preferences in lip formulas have changed significantly over the past 5 years. I still love glosses and products with a shiny finish but they have to stay put without bleeding. And if the formula isn’t glossy, it needs to have slight blurring properties to make the lips look smoother. Finally, I NEVER wore lip liner in my 20’s and 30’s but now I can’t be without it. Thankfully I have found lip liner formulas that help to define the lips without leaving a harsh line.

In addition to sharing the exact products I’m loving, I am also specifying which shades are my most worn. I’ve completely shifted my lip color preference over the past few years because neutral tones no longer look the same on me. As I’ve gotten older, my face needs more color so I have found that brighter colors worn in a sheer way give my face so much life. They look much more flattering and youthful. If you are in the market for a new everyday lip, this list is a perfect place to start!

Best Lip Products For Mature Lips

Lip Liners

Rhode Peptide Lip Shape Liners in Lift and Press

The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape liners are designed to be a soft-focus blurring formula that enhances the lip shape while also delivering skincare benefits. They are meant to give the lips definition and dimension without any harsh lines. It gives the lips a more contoured appearance and enhances the shape of the lip in a soft and subtle way. I’ve truly never tried something like this before so I didn’t even realize what I was missing! The blurred finish of these lip liners is so flattering without looking messy. I also can use them a bit outside my natural lip line without looking like I’ve over lined my lips. Hands down my holy grail lip liner formula and the one that I recommend to everyone.

Versed Lip Frame in Dash

More brands are launching these contour style lip liners which thrills me to no end. I struggle with using a traditional lip pencil and drawing a straight line. With a thicker contour liner, you get a smudged soft look from the first application. No harsh lip liner lines with this. This color Dash is a soft neutral pink that adds just a hint of color to the lips.

Lip Gloss and Lip Balms

Sarah Creal Beauty No Further Questions High Glide Peptide Lip Gloss in Deal With It

I love almost everything I’ve tried from Sarah Creal Beauty but these glosses may be one of my top picks. The formula is creamy and intensely nourishing while the pigment is just opaque enough to give the perfect amount of color. They are designed to be slightly plumping but with no tingling or stinging. The finish is very glossy and reflective. But it doesn’t move around throughout the day settling into lines or bleeding past my lip line.

Make Up For Ever Super Boost Plumping Lip Gloss in Daring Candy

Usually plumping glosses are hit or miss with me – these were a definite hit. There is no burning or irritation with them and the plumping is very slight. The formula is what I fell in love with however. It’s smooth and nicely pigmented without feeling sticky or tacky. A true must try for all my mature ladies!

Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Line Smoothing Gloss in Cherry Vanilla

Another plumping gloss that I loved though this does have a slight tingling sensation to it. The colors are very sheer and transparent and the line smoothing claim is pretty spot on. The texture is very glassy and smooth leaving the lips looking blurred and shiny but not an ounce of tackiness! Sadly I forgot to take a picture of this on the lips but I have a video of me trying it on here!

Westman Atelier HydroBalm Tinted Lipstick in English Rose

If you don’t love a full coverage lipstick and prefer something with just a hint of color, these new Westman Atelier HydroBalm lipsticks are definitely worth trying. They give a sheer wash of color (but still enough to show up) and feel incredibly nourishing on the lips. It was actually this particular color, English Rose, that made it a favorite. This manages to be the perfect shade of cool toned rose without being too pink.

OneSkin OS-01 Lip Shield SPF 15 in Bare Blush (discount code: MAREE15)

I love everything OneSkin does so I knew I would adore this new lip launch. And I was right! But I didn’t just adore it – it immediately became a favorite. The color is the perfect neutral everyday pink that I can wear with any makeup look. It feels nourishing with no tackiness (and no weird sunscreen scent).

Violette_FR Lip Nectar Hydrating Lip Stain in Pois de Senteur

This was a purchase made during the recent Sephora sale. It’s the first product I’ve tried from Violette_FR but it definitely won’t be the last! This is a gorgeous hydrating lip stain as the name suggests that hydrates and leaves a gorgeous subtle shine to the lips. The color I chose is a bright raspberry that looks great alone or layered under another gloss.

Hung Vanngo Glossy Lip Hue in Behind the Scenes

Another purchase made during the Sephora sale from a brand I have not tried before. These are an intensely pigmented glossy lip lacquer that looked too good to pass up. LOL I ordered a bright pink (no surprise there) and immediately fell in love with it. The formula can be a bit messy so only apply a small amount because it can get too thick and goopy if you apply too much. I’ve been wearing it over the Violette_FR lip stain and it’s become my new favorite lip combo!