We all want to look our best, but sometimes what we see when we’re getting ready in the mirror isn’t what others see when they look at us. So how can you know for sure that you’re making the most out of your makeup routine each day?
Well, if you’re like us, you’re probably want to make sure you’re following the best beauty tips available for the makeup style you want to create. So, without further ado, below are the top makeup mistakes you could be making right now – and great tips for how to fix them!
It All Starts With a Good Foundation
First of all, let’s be very clear: foundation has one specific purpose. It is meant to smooth out your skin and provide a good, stable foundation (hence the name) for the rest of your makeup. It’s ill-advised to use it in place of other things, because it’s all too easy to make beauty mistakes that can compromise your look.
- Mistake #1: Using foundation that is too light/dark because you’re unhappy with your complexion. Applying foundation which is darker (or lighter) than your natural shade won’t give you the color you wish you had – it’ll just make sure everyone who looks at your face knows that you’re wearing makeup.
- Instead: Match your foundation to your jawline for the most accurate match. Your facial skin will likely be a different color than any other part of your body, so trying to match it on your hand, neck, or collar bone is not very reliable.
- Mistake #2: Assuming that a liquid foundation will cover up dry, flaky skin. Dry skin generally has a rough texture to it, which foundation can exaggerate – not cover up!
- Instead: For long-term beauty improvement, make sure you’re exfoliating 2-3 times per week, followed by a daily (or twice-daily) moisturizer. If you wake up in the morning with dry skin and need a quick fix, try a light, non-greasy moisturizer before you apply your foundation.
Eye Makeup Do’s and Don’ts
Eyes are our most prominent facial feature, what with being the windows to our souls and all. Most face-to-face communication depends on direct eye contact. Some scientists even believe that staring deeply into someone’s eyes can help two people fall in love. So don’t make the mistake of ruining your look with these beauty blunders:
- Mistake #3: Miss-matching your eye shadow palate with your natural eye color. For example, women with brown eyes should never go heavy with blue hues!
- Instead: Look for earth tones if you’re blessed with brown eyes. Blue-eyed beauties should stick with subtle blue shades, pinks, or lavender hues. And for green eyes, metallic greys and beige will set your eyes apart from the rest of your face.
- Mistake #4: Caring too much – or too little – about your eyebrows. Don’t neglect them completely, but don’t over-tweeze or over-draw them either. And if you have to fill in your brows, try to avoid using pencils – more often than not, they make you look like a surprised cartoon.
- Instead: If you can’t seem to find the right shape, consider getting them professionally threaded. And switch to loose powders instead of pencils – they give your eyebrows a more natural look.
- Mistake #5: Black eyeliner, all day, every day. Rimming your entire eye with a thick line of jet-black liquid might create a bold, dramatic statement at night (or in poorly-lit areas), but it can make your eyes look small, tired, or downright scary in the light of day.
- Instead: A brown eyeliner pencil is a good switch for a more natural, inviting appearance during the day. Also, consider leaving your bottom lid bare to really open up your peepers.
The Finishing Touches
- Mistake #6: Misadventures in contouring. Unless you’re an established makeup artist getting your face ready for a professional photo shoot, attempting to “sculpt” your face with highlights and bronzers can easily look like you visited the face painting station at a child’s birthday party.
- Instead: Leave these fancy makeup illusions up to the professionals. Focus on subtly playing up your better features with just a touch of bronzer or a little blush – and embrace your own, natural beauty.
Whether we’re too proud to admit it or not, it’s likely that every woman has been guilty of performing the 6 makeup mistakes mentioned above at one time or another. But with a little helpful advice, you can create a natural, beautiful, stunning style all your own. And when you aren’t sporting such glaring makeup mistakes, it’s easier for people to see the real you.
