8 Makeup Mistakes To Avoid

I t's no secret that women are overly self-conscious about how they portray themselves to the rest of the world. Makeup is a way to enhance your looks, giving you the appearance you want for any occasion. But alas, with makeup comes mistakes. So how do you achieve the perfect makeup look? Here are eight makeup mistakes to avoid, and you'll be on your way!

1. Unprepared Skin

People see a cosmetics wall and think the first step is to apply foundation. But prepped skin is key to an even application, long-lasting makeup, and bright, youthful-looking skin. If you've felt heavy makeup looks cakey and flakey, it's because your skin wasn't adequately prepared to receive foundation and other products.

Prepare your skin correctly with the proper regimen, including cleansing, toning, using a facial oil if appropriate, and finally, moisturizing. This will smooth skin texture and create a gorgeous base for your favorite products.

2. Wrong Tone Foundation

Makeup is an essential part of every woman's life. It adds color, definition, and life to your skin. But did you know that the wrong shade of foundation on your face can make your skin appear blotchy, aged, or just plain horrible?

The first thing you need to do is truly understand your skin tone (both the shade of your skin and how it changes based on seasons) and match the foundation accordingly. Picking a lighter foundation than your skin tone is a sure-fire way to accentuate all of your skin's flaws.

3. Bad Lightning

Good lighting can make or break your look. Choose makeup that looks best by making sure you see it in the most natural light possible. If you’re indoors, turn on a warm white LED light, which will give you an idea of the colors and tones that look best together and how your makeup will look under “real world” conditions.

4. Wrong Blending

Blended makeup looks natural and effortless, which means you are wearing no makeup at all. However, applying makeup properly, especially blending different shades, is an art. If you try to swish on some blush or highlight and leave it at that, you will end up with a clown-like makeup look.

For natural-looking makeup, you need to know how to blend properly. Makeup videos and tutorials can be a great way to learn blending techniques.

5. Unmatched Lipstick And Lip Liner

Lip Liners are often misunderstood. It can either make your pucker look defined or dated and tacky. Unfortunately, we've all fallen victim to using a lip liner that didn't quite match our lipstick, with unfortunate results.

It's a classic makeup mistake that seems obvious in hindsight. Don't fall prey to the mistake again—adopt a lip liner with your lipstick color and apply it directly to your pout before painting on the rest of your lips.

6. Stay Away From Extra Shimmer

Shimmery makeup is quite popular, but it can be applied over-zealously and look very tacky. Shimmery makeup products are attractive, but they have to be handled with care.

Using shimmery eyeshadows over your lids, the brow bone, and even in the inner corners of your eyes can give you a disco ball-like appearance. An easy makeup mistake to avoid is using shimmery makeup on the entire eyelid; instead, opt for matte eyeshadows that will warm up your complexion and give you a natural-looking glow without any sparkle.

7. Overdrawn Brows

Eyebrows are one of the first things you notice on other people. Plucked to perfection, they can be a source of pride and confidence, while overdrawn arches can make you look like you're wearing theatrical makeup.

It's best to apply eyebrow powder or pencil shades lighter than your hair color on top and underneath with short, feathery strokes.

8. Misusing Highlighter

Highlighter has become a staple in many women's makeup bags; it is almost guaranteed to make the eyes pop with the proper lighting. However, to avoid looking like a disco ball, use a highlighter in moderation.

Highlighters can be used in different ways to bring out a different look, according to your skin tone and the light in the room. When applying a highlighter for a more intense look, you should focus on the bridge of your nose and cheekbones.

Conclusion

Makeup is supposed to enhance your natural, beautiful look. By being thoughtful about the products you choose and considering the potential makeup mistakes to avoid, you can be sure to create a look that everyone will enjoy.