4 Unflattering And Aging Lipstick Shades That Make Your Lips Look ‘Thinner’ Than They Are: Dark Red, More

1. Deep Burgundy

Darker lip colors like deep burgundy shades can “draw attention to the lines around the mouth and on the lips,” Dennis says, as we “naturally lose color in our face and lips as we age.” Instead, she recommends opting for “rose, peach, terracotta, soft reds, watermelon, berry, and raspberry colors,” as they can “convey a youthful pout.”

2. Dark Red

The trend of dark lipstick "comes and goes with much regularity these days," Jackson says, but she adds that "this fad will never help anyone look younger." This, she notes, is due to "simple principles of light. Black or dark red shades "absorb more light than lighter and brighter shades," she continues.

What that means is "on your lips, these lipstick shades actually make your lips appear thinner" than they are and "that, in turn, results in aging your face." The best way to avoid this "aging illusion," Jackson recommends, is by "avoiding dark lipstick shades altogether."

3. Cool-Toned Deep Red

It's essential to match your lipstick to your skin tone and undertones, Spadaro notes. One common mistake is opting for cooler-toned deep red lipsticks that might not be as flattering as warmer ones. "I think the most important thing is to be using the correct color for their skin tone," Spadaro says.

"Depending on the undertones of your skin, the shade of red would change; that would be the determining factor for the correct shade for you," she adds. Regardless of your age, she explains that "this should be the way of picking a shade of red, or any shade really."

4. Deep Plum

Deep plum shades can "make your teeth look more yellow," Dennis warns, adding that "blue-toned lip colors can make the teeth look whiter. "When it comes to deep plum lipsticks, the color combined with a matte formula "can emphasize wrinkles and dryness," she notes. "As we get older, we lose the rosiness in our skin and lips, and a drab lip color like this will draw attention to it," she goes on.

Dennis also points out that "moisturizing and balm lipsticks in shades that emulate a youthful flush" will be more flattering. "A clear lip liner or one that matches the lip color will keep the color from feathering and look more natural," she also says.