Adjust your makeup to the light in which you wear it. - Helena Rubinstein
Makeup is supposed to be fun. It's an artistic medium for a lot of women (and men!) and that means that many of the rules are made to be broken. However, if you are looking for a makeup look you can wear everyday and not just for a photoshoot, there are some guidelines that are beneficial to follow. Check out these common mistakes and some suggestions on avoiding them!
1. Not Blending
This is probably one of the most common mistakes women make! You really want to blend everything! Harsh lines make your makeup look obvious and, frankly, a little lazy and amateur.
When applying foundation, make sure you blend your foundation down your neck to avoid the dreaded "mask." Brushes can also be a huge help when it comes blending. Try a nice blending brush or crease brush for your eyes and a round, fluffy blush brush when applying your blush.
2. Overdrawn Eyebrows
Eyebrows are perhaps one of the most important facial features. The brows frame your entire face! But don't mistake a dark or heavy brow for a good brow. Color-wise you should match the natural color of the brow, don't go too dark! For a natural look, use small, hairlike strokes with a sharp brow pencil or an angled liner brush with powder. Using thick or heavy lines will give a fake appearance and you're goal should always be to look natural!
3. Improper Eyeliner Techniques
This mistake applies to liner on both the top or the bottom lid. Unless you're going for a Goth look, save your heavy black liner for the top lid, especially if you have very small eyes. Dark liner on the bottom lash line will close off your eye making them look even smaller. Instead, try a white liner or lighter shadow to make your eyes pop and look larger.
If you have hooded eyes, you may want to pass on top liner altogether. A thick line will cause any eye shadow you have applied to disappear as soon as you open your eyes. Opt for a thin line, or blend into your existing shadow.
Also, make sure you follow your natural eye shape when applying liner to your top lash line, this will help you ensure both of your eyes get the same liner shape!
4. Clumpy Mascara
This mistake usually occurs simply because too much product is being used. If you need to use more than 1-2 coats of mascara, you may need to try a different formula to get your desired look. If clumps are occurring with just one coat, your mascara may be old or the wand is gunked up. Try wiping the wand off on a tissue to remove excess product. If that doesn't help, invest in a new tube. A lash comb is also a great investment to remove clumps.
5. Wrong Foundation Shade
This is a BIG one. A incorrect foundation can make you look like you're wearing a mask. Foundation is designed to even out your existing skin tone, not create a new one, so if you go too light or too dark, it isn't fulfilling its purpose.
When shopping for a new foundation, don't hesitate to ask a sales person for help! That is why they are there! Many makeup departments will allow you to test a product before you purchase it. When testing a foundation, it's best to pick the shade you think you are, and the 2 adjacent shades (1 lighter, 1 darker). And the best location to test your foundation? Not where you might think! Many women tend to test on the back of the hand or on the wrist, but the best place is along your jawline.
6. Too Much Blush
Blush is meant to give you a beautiful natural glow. If you have a thick stripe of blush on each side of your face, there are a few ways to fix it:
1) BLEND!: See #1
2) Try a new shade: the blush you're using may be too dark for your skin tone
3) Use less product: A light dusting is all you need!
7. Improper Lip Liner Techniques
Thanks to Kylie Jenner, so many women are overdrawing their lips to achieve a fuller look. In case you haven't heard, Kylie's look is mostly from lip fillers, not lip liner! Now, don't get me wrong, this can be done in a way that looks nice. This is done by only just slightly over-lining your lips; follow your natural lip, don't try to create a new one. If you still can't achieve a fuller look, try using a white liner or a highlighter to accentuate your cupid's bow and give you the appearance of a fuller lip.
Another liner mistake is matching your liner to your lipstick instead of your natural lip color. When your lipstick comes off and your liner remains, it is not a good look! If you do want to match your liner to your lipstick, make sure you are blending the liner down onto the lip, or fill in your whole lip! That way when your lipstick fades, your liner won't stand out so much.
8. Not Using Primer
Face primer is a must for any makeup wearer! When you don't use a primer, your makeup settles into any fine lines or pores you have. We spend so much time putting our makeup on, why not try to make it last all day! Primer also helps you get the best color payoff from your products!
Try Younique's Glorious primer for a silky smooth finish. Check out this comparison of an orange's dimples, with and without Glorious Primer:
9. Not Cleaning Your Brushes
10. Too Much Shimmer
Anytime you apply a shimmer you are accentuating that feature. The light refracts off the glittery particles and make these features appear larger and more prominent. A subtle highlight can give you a nice healthy glow, but when you go overboard it can look like you just came down from the Mothership.
When applying shadow to the eye crease, you are trying to create depth, so try to use matte in the crease and keep shimmery shadow on the lid. For a more natural look try using a matte skin tone shade on the brow bone as opposed to a silver or gold. You can highlight your face with matte colors, as well. Just choose a powder/concealer/foundation a shade or two lighter than your skin tone.
