Makeup mistakes we all make
Have there been times when you have looked at a photo and cringed at the way your eyeliner had been applied, or how you had concealed those dark circles? While putting on makeup is a matter of personal taste and there are no hard and fast rules, there are certain things you just shouldn’t do. The Week lists out some common makeup mistakes with easy hacks to fix them.
Applying makeup in the wrong lighting
It doesn’t matter how many YouTube tutorials you watch to master the art of contouring or creating evenly winged eyes, if your lighting is off, you more than likely won’t get camera-ready results. In order to create a flawless finish, apply your makeup in a room with the most natural lighting. Doing your makeup in unnatural light (like bathroom lighting) is a huge mistake because it creates harsh lighting that either makes you put on way too much bronzer or not enough foundation.
Storing makeup in the bathroom
Most people store their makeup in the bathroom because this is where most get ready. But storing makeup in the bathroom where you take showers will dry your products and ruin them. It can also make it more prone to collecting bacteria, as a humid environment is favorable for bacterial growth. You should always store your makeup and makeup brushes in a cool, dry area to prevent it from getting ruined as well as accumulating bacteria. The best place to store it would be in your bedroom away from sunlight, preferably in a bag or a box.
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Wearing too much foundation
Foundation is supposed to even out your skin tone and not completely mask your skin. Wearing too much foundation will make your face look cake-y and make you look older too. When you put too much foundation, it will set into fine lines, wrinkles, and pores and make these areas stand out even more. To avoid this, use foundation only on places where you really need to even out your skin tone and then conceal blemishes and dark circles.
Also, your foundation needs to be switched up during the summer months. Just like you have a summer wardrobe and winter wardrobe, the same applies to your face. Nine out of 10 people have a complexion that is one to four shades darker in the summer time.
Powdering too much
If you are partial to the powdery-fresh look and feel, make sure you aren’t swirling it onto your whole face – just use where needed. And just because the powder says translucent doesn’t mean it is invisible either. Many are guilty of using translucent powder on the entire face, making their face too matt and dry. This way, your face will lose its glow. Apply powder only where needed, which is usually in the T-zone. It’s best to use a brush, tapping away excess product and gently pressing into your face.
Over lining eyes
Eyeliner is mainly used to define the eye and give the illusion of fuller lashes. Applying liner to both the top and bottom lash line creates depth and makes your eyes look bigger. However, over lining eyes too thick is a huge mistake. Not only does it create an unnatural looking black ring around the eyes, it also will make your eyes appear smaller. Instead, try using an eye shadow and a smudge brush on the bottom lash line to lightly define your lashes.
Skipping mascara or wearing waterproof mascara daily
Mascara does wonders for the eyes. Not only does it define the eyes without using eyeliner, it also opens up the eyes to give the appearance of larger, more youthful eyes. Skipping mascara will give the appearance of an unfinished makeup look, especially when you are wearing beautiful shadow. Some mascara is formulated to curl the lashes so you can even skip using a lash curler, but make sure you don’t over apply mascara. This will create the “spidery” effect, which will weigh down your lashes and give a tired look to the eyes.
Waterproof mascara is amazing for those times when you don’t want your mascara running down your face. However, wearing waterproof mascara every single day will dry out your lashes and make them brittle. Use waterproof mascara only for special occasions.
Applying blush too low on your face
A rosy hue on your cheeks is supposed to add a nice finishing touch to your face, if it’s done right. Many people are guilty of putting blush on the lower part of their cheeks and what this does is drag the face down and makes you look overdone. To fix this makeup issue, try using a contouring brush and applying color only to the apples of your cheeks, as opposed to the entire sides of your face. This way, your face will be lifted up naturally when you blend and you can avoid a major makeup fiasco.
Putting lipstick on bare lips
Most of us tend to carry a lipstick or two in our bags to quickly swipe over our lips post lunch but this is one makeup mistake you should definitely avoid. Layering lipstick will make your lips look dull and flaky. If you want your color to last, and not make the lipstick seem crusty, smear on some moisturizer on your lips while you are prepping the rest of your face and let it soak in. After a few minutes, apply lipstick. The added moisture will make sure the lipstick glides on smoothly and stays on for longer. You could also try exfoliating your lips with a toothbrush to rid it of the dead cells to make your lipstick look smooth and perfect.
