Although many believe that makeup is only there to hide flaws, it is truly an art form that every woman should master. If you’ve been wondering how to look amazing every day, watch out for these ten common makeup mistakes!
10 common makeup mistakes
1. Using expired makeup
No matter how much you love your favorite makeup, don’t forget to go through it from time to time and get rid of unused products. Expired makeup can cause side effects like redness or irritation, not to mention it may not perform well. At the very least, all the bacteria that has accumulated on the products can cause ugly pimples.
2. You forget to prepare your face
Whether you have oily or dry skin, proper skin preparation is essential if you want your makeup to look good and last all day. Oily skin is particularly effective at absorbing concealer and foundation, so using the right skin care products and primer is essential every time you apply makeup.
In contrast, dry skin can hold makeup longer, but unfortunately, it also needs to be moisturized before applying any products. If you apply powder or concealer on dry skin, your face will look dull, cracked and old!
3. Using the wrong shades
There are some rules when it comes to using different eyeshadows on your eyes — some shades will complement them, while others can make them look rather unflattering. But no eyeshadow mistake compares to using the wrong shade of foundation.
When choosing shades, don’t forget that the purpose of makeup is to look like yourself BUT BETTER. The idea is to perfect your complexion without creating a mask — something that too light a foundation would definitely do.
But you should not change the color of your skin with powder by using a darker shade. Even if you blend it well (which many people don’t really do), the neck will give you away!
When it comes to concealers, you should always go a little lighter. Get a concealer one shade lighter than your foundation to brighten your dark circles. Too dark or too light a concealer would seriously ruin your look; it would appear as if there were a clear shadow under your eyes—either quite dark or eerily pale.
4. Clumping of powder or concealer
You might think that layering on liquid makeup would give you the perfect complexion. In front of the camera or in the cinema, it can work well. In real life, however, it often looks terrible!
If you have fine lines or wrinkles, all the makeup will sink into them and make them more prominent. Furthermore, stick-on makeup can make you look like a clown, which is not the point of applying it anyway. The goal is to look like the best version of yourself!
Plus, there’s no need for that much makeup on a daily basis to begin with. All you have to do is start with a light layer of foundation and blend it well. If you notice any areas where you need more coverage, add more foundation ONLY there.
Concealer is the best product to use under the eyes. Applying it in a V shape would help conceal and highlight that part of your face.
On the other hand, you don’t want to apply too much concealer to blemishes (it might look cakey). Instead, use a small brush to apply just a little product and dab until the stain is gone.
5. Forgoing Eyeshadow Primer
Beauty influencers celebrated Urban Decay when they started using the company’s magical Primer Potion. And they were absolutely right to rave about it!
Eye shadow primers are often overlooked by people who just want to do their makeup properly. But they make a huge difference because they help the eyeshadow blend better and last longer.
As a last resort, you can get away with a little concealer on your lids and then set it with powder. However, keep in mind that eyeshadow primers are meant to absorb excess oil, while concealers can contain various moisturizing ingredients that can contribute to wrinkles.
6. Applying eyeshadow without blending
Unblended eye shadow is one of the worst offenses, as it makes you look quite comical. However, no one taught you how to blend eyeshadow, so it’s no wonder you just packed it on and left it at that!
Makeup artists often like to start with a transition shade in the crease, which then helps blend the other shadows they apply. It may not be necessary to do this every time you put on makeup, but it’s a great trick to know when you want to create an even more sultry smoky look.
In any case, even if you want to apply just a little eyeshadow on the lid, you need to blend it into the crease to avoid harsh lines.
Depending on how much you want to “blow out” the eyeshadow, use a small or large blending brush. You’ll know what they are when you see them.
These brushes usually come with soft bristles and are not compacted, so you can move the eyeshadow around effortlessly. Use a windshield wiper motion and small circular motions to achieve a professional looking blend!
7. Curling of eyelashes after applying mascara
Those who struggle with straight lashes might consider curling them after applying mascara. Make-up artists and beauty consultants do not recommend this at all, because the eyelashes can stick, and the mascara can also rub off on the curler.
Worst of all, you would have to be very careful not to tear your lashes while trying to peel them off the curler. And don’t forget that eyelashes with mascara are more brittle and dry — so they can break easily!
8. Exaggeration with contour, bronzer and blush
There are many mistakes you can make when applying contour, bronzer and blush. Ideally, they should blend in well but still stand out enough to make a real difference.
If you like to contour your face, know that the contouring powder or stick must go into the shadier areas of the cheeks. Touch the face and outline the cheekbone. The contour goes just below it, but never too far towards the mouth.
Some say you can also use bronzer for contouring, but it’s best to avoid it if it’s not matte or if it’s too orange. The main task of bronzer is to give your face some warmth. Therefore, sweep it over parts of the face that would naturally receive more light from the sun, such as the cheekbones and upper outer corners of the forehead.
The cherry on top of your beautiful complexion should be the right shade of blush. But even there you can make mistakes, like applying too low or too high on the cheeks.
If you go too low, blush can drag down the whole look, making you look older and more saggy. Conversely, if you apply it too high and even close to the eyes, you’ll give a doll-like look — when you wanted a natural blush.
Applying blush depends on the shape of your face and the look you want. But if you just need to know how to apply it every day, aim for the apples of your cheeks. Just pick up some with a brush, apply to the apples and then blend upwards for a lifted look!
9. Using dirty makeup brushes
The easiest way to ruin your makeup – and possibly succumb to acne – is to use dirty makeup brushes. Every used makeup brush contains more than just old makeup. It’s full of bacteria and dirt!
Any part of your face can easily be triggered by all the dirt that has built up in the bristles, causing you to avoid makeup to heal your face. Even worse, your makeup may not look right if you use dirty applicators. All the colors and oils will mix and leave you with a patchy complexion and smeared eyeshadow.
Ideally, try to clean your makeup brushes (especially facial ones!) after each use. There are special soaps and cleansers you can use for this. Alternatively, shampoo will do!
10. Going to bed before removing your makeup
Finally, just like you shouldn’t use dirty makeup brushes, you should avoid sleeping with your makeup on. No matter how tired you are, it’s important to get it all off before all the oils and other ingredients (not to mention bacteria) are baked into your skin!
Remember that your nighttime routine should be simple enough that you can do it even after a night out. For example, use a strong oil-based cleanser that can quickly dissolve makeup, allowing you to quickly remove the entire mess with a tissue.
However, don’t forget to double cleanse your face. Double cleansing your skin is often the best way to relieve acne and keep acne and blemishes at bay!