We develop habits for our morning rituals from the moment we start applying makeup as teens. But remember that blue eyeliner you used in middle school? It’s probably not as trendy nowadays. How is your foundation? Have you used the same one since you were in your twenties?
When it comes to our beauty routine, women have good intuition and a desire for change. The only difficulty is that we don’t always know what that change should be. When it comes down to it, the solution may just be small changes to your daily makeup routine that make a big difference.
Makeup is a true art form that takes a great deal of experimentation. Practice makes perfect, and there is almost always a makeup fail or two on the way to trying to better your makeup skills. Sometimes your brows seem like distant cousins rather than sisters, or your body looks like it’s spent a week in the sun, and your face looks five shades lighter — it happens to everyone!
Please make sure your routines are healthy, age-appropriate, and leave you feeling beautiful in order to achieve a polished, radiant look. Here we discuss the most common makeup mistakes to avoid—and how to fix them.
6 Common Makeup Mistakes to Avoid
1. Create the perfect wing by stretching the area around your eye
Why it’s wrong: When applying eyeliner, pulling your eye back destroys the delicate skin and flexibility around your eye. Also, according to beauty expert Toby Fleischman, if your eye isn’t relaxed when applying makeup, you might end up with a severely uneven line. In short, it’s a no-win situation.
Quick Fix: There are lots of internet D.I.Y. methods available. But, most of them result in huge failures unless you are a serious beauty genius. Don’t worry, celebrity makeup artist Kristee Liu says using Post-its for stencils usually works well for creating a wing that is exactly the perfect size for everyday use. Moreover, you will save the skin around your eyes and avoid a dragged-down appearance while applying eyeliner. Isn’t that brilliant?
2. Throwing out your mascara too soon
Why it’s wrong: We’ve all heard about the awful things that may develop in your mascara tube if you leave it around for more than four months. But that doesn’t mean you should throw it when the formula becomes too thick. If it’s less than four months old, your mascara is probably drying from daily pumping.
Quick Fix: If your mascara becomes too clumpy, Dean recommends putting two or three drops of saline solution in the tube and stirring with your wand. Because the added moisture refreshes the product, you’ll get a lot more use out of it, and your lashes will be smoother and less clumpy.
3. Using way too many products for contouring
Why it’s wrong: Okay, okay, we get it: Kim Kardashian’s face is usually flawless, and you want to have one that is just as thin and defined. That is why you spend so much time in the morning staring at yourself in the mirror. But the reality is that you don’t have to, and if you don’t do it correctly, your appearance can often result in some unpleasant orange streaks in natural light conditions.
Quick Fix: Begin with your matte bronzer at the top of your forehead and work your way down your hairline, connecting your brow bone to the top of your cheekbone and jawline. Just a little blending and you’re ready to go. Kim K, beware!
4. Apply lipstick to naked lips
Why it’s wrong: It’s tempting to freshen your look with a few swipes after lunch or during your coffee break. But, according to beauty expert Stella Kae, this is a piece of major makeup mistake to avoid if you want your lipstick to stay and apply evenly without spreading or drying out your lips.
Quick Fix: While dabbing a touch of primer or foundation on your lips is a well-known internet tip, Kae says that these products can actually make your lips more crusty and less luscious-looking. Instead, apply papaw ointment or a mild face moisturizer to your lips and leave it to absorb while you complete your makeup. Apply your lipstick after a few minutes. The additional moisture will keep your lipstick from wearing off too quickly and will allow it to glide on much more smoothly and evenly.
5. Testing your foundations in the wrong spots
Why it’s wrong: When looking for the perfect foundation match, many people smear a bit on their hands or wrists for a fast test before purchasing. Most of the time, however, doing so will result in you purchasing a shade that is too dark for your face and/or does not match your pigment.
Quick Fix: Apply a little amount to your neck and the outside of your cheeks. Because your neck color is often lighter, you’ll be less likely to purchase a formula that’s too dark for your face. Remember that applying a little extra bronzer to your face is simpler than trying to lighten a darker product. Strozzi also suggests testing a small amount on your décolletage for more accurate results. Examine the color of the three spots and select the formula that blends with your skin.
6. Storing your cosmetics in the bathroom
Why it’s wrong: It may sound weird, but many of our cosmetic products include natural oils and waxes that can be damaged by changing temperatures in the summer (or after a hot shower). While many items are tested to tolerate room temperature, the consistency of some natural products, eye creams, fragrances, nail polish, face masks, and eyeliners fare much better at colder temperatures.
Quick Fix: Move over, milk! Refrigerate items containing natural or organic ingredients to prolong shelf life and keep your makeup from being exposed to harmful temperatures.
Moreover, cool eye cream will help close up your pores and feel even better on your skin when it’s hot outside. Never mind the confused looks your husband and children will most certainly give you—all it’s in the name of beauty.
The Bottom Line
Every woman wants perfect makeup. They spend hours trying to get their makeup just right in front of the mirror. The only difficulty is that they don’t always know what that change should be. Makeup products aren’t the most dependable tools on the planet.
There are no top-secret secrets. All you have to do is avoid the most common makeup mistakes to avoid. Most of the time, they are easily recoverable. Actually, having lovely, outstanding makeup is not so complicated.
