Beauty Blunders

  • 17 Oct - 23 Oct, 2020
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Beauty

13 makeup mistakes you didn’t know you were making

It usually takes a woman a whole lot of experimentation and most of her 20s to get her makeup right. All those hours of struggling in front of the mirror, and you are still not satisfied. The internet is bustling with inspiration, whether it is JLo’s bronzed cheeks or Rihanna’s mulberry obsession. But, not everything is meant for you. While you are busy experimenting, here are 29 makeup faux pas that must be avoided at all costs. So, what are you waiting for? Read on to get your makeup right, every time!

Over-washing your face

Cleansing or washing your face is the first and the most important step in makeup. Every woman has a different skin type, and with age, our skin undergoes many changes. But once you apply foundation and notice dry, flaky skin, it is a sign that you have to stop over-washing your face.

It is ideal to wash your face twice daily – once in the morning, and once at night, before you go to sleep. It is best to use a mild, gentle cleanser. The natural skin oils work wonders on your skin and do their job without the interference of soap.

Applying makeup on dry skin

Applying makeup on dry skin is one of the biggest makeup mistakes, which can make the face look dull, cracked, old, and tired. Everything good is built on a solid foundation, and in this case, a properly moisturised face. So, ensure that your face is properly hydrated before you apply makeup.

Makeup application in the wrong lighting

When you need to decide what works for you and what doesn’t with regard to makeup, you need to test it on your skin in natural lighting. When you try on makeup in unnatural lighting, you will notice that it doesn’t look as flattering as you hoped. Pick what suits you best in the best lighting possible.

Wrong blending techniques

Makeup is much more than dabbing on a blush or eyeshadow. Even if you apply a neutral shade, it is going to look unnatural and out of place, unless you blend it properly. The key to natural looking makeup lies in mastering the art of blending. Makeup that isn’t blended well can look quite comical. Watch some makeup videos and tutorials online and invest in a few good brushes to get started.

Incorrect application of concealer

There’s always a conflict when it comes to deciding whether the foundation goes first or the concealer. It does make more sense to cover the flaws once the foundation is set, which means it’s better to use the foundation before the concealer. But when you do so, here are two things you must keep in mind.

· Never use too much product at once on the targeted area. Too much concealer on your dark circles will make you look older. The correct way to cover dark circles is to dot a few drops of concealer on the bone below your eyes and blend it up. Do not apply it directly to the dark circles. You can also use the layering technique. Apply a little over a blemish, and allow it to dry, and then apply another layer. You can also use a setting powder between the layers.

· You can’t use one concealer for everything. Concealers are available in many colours, each having different uses. A peach-toned concealer cancels out the blue and is best to combat dark circles. Green cancels out red, therefore a green-toned concealer must be used to hide pimples and blemishes. Yellow-toned concealers are best to even out large areas of your skin. Once you use these tinted concealers as the first layer, you need to follow it up with a concealer that matches your skin tone.

Too much foundation

Too much foundation will do no good to your face, and your makeup will end up looking cakey. Ensure that you pick the right shade of foundation that matches perfectly with your skin tone. Don’t use a foundation lighter than your skin tone. This will only accentuate the blemishes, fine lines and all that is bad about your skin. Using a shade that matches your skin, is the only way you are going to get that flawless face. And never forget to blend properly. Make sure to apply it on your neck and ears as well. Otherwise, with a different face and neck colour, everyone can figure out that you are wearing excessive makeup.

Eyebrow disaster

Eyebrows frame those beautiful eyes that are, as they say, the windows to the soul. Neatly shaped eyebrows can highlight the eyes beautifully. Bushy eyebrows look untidy and unkempt. Thin or tadpole-shaped eyebrows don’t flatter your eyes either and will change your look entirely. It is essential to go to a professional and get proper advice on how your eyebrows must be shaped.

Over the years, it is normal for your eyebrows to diminish, and then you start filling them up. However, the last thing you want is that they look drawn and unnatural. A brow pencil works best to give you that natural look. You must avoid harsh lines at all costs.

A dark shadow applied with an angled brush works better than the pencil. You can also use eyebrow cake powders that have everything you require for perfect brows in one little package.

Using the wrong eyeliner

It is advisable to use black eyeliner only if you have a darker skin tone, else it ends up looking quite harsh. If you have a lighter skin tone, it is best you stick to brown liners. Black is a no-no if you have blond hair and blue eyes.

Here are a few tips on how to use your eyeliner:

· Always pick a lighter or a more subtle colour for your bottom lids.

· Using a liner on your waterline is not a good idea. Instead, use a nude pencil on your waterline as it will help open up your eyes, and make them look wider.

· For a more natural look, it is best to apply it only to three-fourths of the upper eyelid.

· It makes no sense to draw harsh, marker-like lines. For a natural look, use pencil liners instead of liquid liners.

Mascara mistakes

First things first, you must use a mascara that is two shades darker than your eyebrow colour. Never apply more than two coats of mascara, or your eyelashes will end up looking extremely clumpy. Mascara that is three to four months old also ends up looking extremely clumpy on your lashes.

Don’t use mascara on your lower lashes the same way you apply on your upper lashes. It will clump up and give your spider leg lashes. Instead, hold the wand vertically and apply.

Playing up both the eyes and the lips

You either let your eyes dazzle or glam up your lips. It has to be one or the other, and not both. If you are going gung-ho with your eye makeup, keep your lips nude or neutral, and if your lips are stealing the thunder, keep your eye makeup natural. Or else, you will be summoning disaster.

Matching your makeup with your clothes

Matching is old-school, and in no way classic vintage. When your clothes are bright and so is your makeup, it only spells tacky. Makeup artists believe that if your clothes are vibrant, it is best you go for a neutral palette makeup-wise. If you pick a metallic wardrobe to dazzle through the holidays, make sure you avoid glossy cosmetics and stick to the ever-so-classic smokey eye.

Clown cheeks

Without proper application, blush can make you look like a clown. Whenever putting on blush, use foundation. Otherwise, the colour becomes too hard on your cheeks. And make sure to swirl the brush in the product, tap off excess and then apply on your face. Otherwise, you will pick up too much product and end up looking overdone.

Lip line woes

Harsh lip lines while doing your makeup is the worst thing you can do to yourself. Do not draw a thin sharp line on your lips to outline them. It is one of the biggest peeves. Also, your lips can end up looking weird if you’ve chosen a dark liner with a lighter lipstick shade. They are meant to define your lips and not to create border line around them.

You wear a lip liner to keep your lipstick from bleeding. If you draw a harsh outline, it will tend to fade away, making your lips look terrible. The idea is to blend well. Draw a smudged outline, almost like you are shading your lips with the pencil, for best results. Another correct technique is to draw the outline and then fill in your entire lips with a lip liner that suits your lipstick shade and then go over it with the lipstick.

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