Ever since YouTube became the central repository for all of humankind’s knowledge, every guy and girl with a makeup brush has been filming their own how-to tutorial. That’s both a good and bad thing.
It’s good, because we no longer have to go through that ugly trial and error phase to make ourselves look halfway decent. Just buy whatever they’re using, and follow along to the video!
But, if you learn how to apply makeup the wrong way by a beauty guru who doesn’t know any better, then the cycle of makeup mistakes continues to perpetuate, just like the 40 ones listed right here.
1. Putting On Too Much Foundation
Don’t cake on the foundation like the Beauty Gurus of YouTube show you how to do in their makeup tutorials! All that special lighting they use makes their skin and pores look flawless, but that illusion unravels as soon as they walk out the door and out into the real world.
To keep your makeup looking natural, use a light touch and apply it to the areas that you’re most concerned about, such as under your eyes, nose, and cheeks. Blending, not caking, is the key to a flawless face!
2. Using The Wrong Eyeliner
Although black eyeliner looks great on darker complexions, a thick and heavy cat-eye look is not for everyone. If you’re pale as a ghost, it’ll just make you look like you’re wearing theatrical makeup!
Here are some helpful eyeliner tips:
- Lighter complexions should stick with brown liner.
- Pick a lighter, more subtle shade if you line underneath your eyes.
- Use a nude liner on your waterline – black will just make your eyes look smaller.
- For a more natural look, line 3/4 of the upper lid and skip the inner corners.
- Use pencil or kohl liners – they look more natural and you can blend them, unlike liquid liners. Or better yet, just use eyeshadow to line your lids!
3. Unnatural Eyebrows
Remember when pencil-thin eyebrows were all the rage? Now it seems like everyone is penciling in heavy, perfectly shaped caterpillars on their foreheads!
If you want your brows to look fuller, use an angled brush dipped in powder to fill in what you’re lacking – with a light touch, of course!
If you’re lost and clueless as to what your brows are supposed to look like, visit a professional to get the perfect shape that flatters you. And remember, “natural” never goes out of style.
4. When to apply concealer
Are you supposed to apply your concealer before your foundation, or the other way around? All the beauty advice out there can be so confusing, but it all boils down to which type of foundation you’re using.
If you’re using a powder foundation, apply the concealer first. If you apply it after the fact, the concealer will look mottled and clumpy.
Here’s another list of concealer tips to live by:
Don’t slather it directly onto your dark circles – it’ll just make you look older! Instead, put a few drops on top of your cheekbone (just beneath the undereye area) and gently blend upwards.
5. Not Blending Everything
Blending can make the difference between a beautiful makeup job and one that looks like it was done while you were half-asleep and applying it in the dark.
Special brushes and egg-shaped sponges are popular choices for blending away the harsh lines on your face. And don’t forget that you can also use your fingers as a blending tool – just make they’re clean to prevent blemishes.
There are a ton of tutorials out there that can show you how to blend makeup the right way. Watch and learn, ladies!
6. Applying Makeup On Dry Skin
Smooth, moisturized skin is critical to making sure that your makeup looks like a masterpiece every single time! Remember, your face is a canvas, and you don’t want to “paint” over something that’s dull, cracked, and tired looking.
7. Missing the Brow Bone Highlights
Every great eye look starts with eyeshadow on the lids, but don’t stop the magic right there! A single color on the lid is pretty boring, but if you add a golden or silvery highlight on your brow bone, it can make your eyes really pop!
8. Clown Cheeks
Don’t make the mistake of applying blush directly to your cheeks Tap the excess powder off the brush first, or you may end up looking like Ronald McDonald.
Also, don’t apply blush to bare naked skin. Without the smooth canvas that foundation or primer provides, the color may end up looking dry and patchy.
9. Using too much face powder
Face powder is great for giving your makeup a polished look and for blotting excess oil from your nose. But, as you age, the powder can settle into fine lines and emphasize all the things you’re trying to hide. Just use it on your T-zone or use a very light touch with each passing birthday.
10. The Mortician Look
Young people can get away with wearing dark lipstick shades, but it’s only because they’re young and we tend to forgive them when they sport tacky blue, purple, and black hues on their lips. If you want to enhance your beauty and not scare all the little kids in the neighborhood away, avoid dark lipstick trends like the plague.
11. Lip Liner Fail
If you don’t want your lips to look like an unfinished page in a coloring book, don’t make the mistake of lining them in a shade that doesn’t match your lipstick.
Lip liner is meant to give definition to the shape of your lips, and when properly applied no one is supposed to even know it’s there.
12. Applying too much bronzer
If you’re chasing after a beachy sunkissed tan look, don’t make the mistake of brushing bronzer all over your face. Limit its application to places where the sun naturally gives you a glow, like your cheekbone, top of your forehead, and jawline. Anywhere else, and you’ll just end up looking like an Oompa Loompa from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
13. Not Using Eyeshadow Primer
Sure, your eyes may look fantastic right after you apply shadow, but with each passing hour your carefully applied lids will start to slide off or fade away. That’s why everyone needs a good primer for their lids! It can stop the shadow from settling into the eyelid crease and basically make the color last into the wee hours of the night.
14. Not Using Face Primer
If you want your makeup to stay in place all day without fading, smearing, or drowning in an oil spill, then you need to set your face with a good primer before you even think of touching foundation or concealer! Primers fill in pores and smooth out fine lines, which makes it easier for your skin to look flawless.
15. Constantly Touching Up Your Lipstick
Don’t smear your lips with a fresh layer of lipstick every time you go to the bathroom. It’ll just end up looking cakey and messy. Unless you’ve just eaten a greasy burger, a light dab on your lips should be enough for a quick touch up.
16. Trying To Play Up Your Eyes & Lips At The Same Time
You have to choose one or the other! If you try to make both your eyes and your lips the center of attention, your face will just end up looking like a corny circus act. Pick one feature that you want to go bold with, and use subdued hues everywhere else.
17. Treating Glitter Like It’s Makeup
Glitter is not makeup! Sure, it’s fun to sprinkle yourself with a bit of glitter for a summer music festival, but that’s where it should stop. Glitter doesn’t do anything to enhance your looks, and in the worst-case scenario it can actually scratch your cornea and make you go blind!
18. Matching Your Eyes And Lips To Your Clothes
It’s always a good idea to stay within the same (or complementing opposite) color family when it comes to your makeup and outfits. But, there’s no need to make your entire face and body look like it came from the same monotone paint factory!
19. Using The Wrong Foundation Shade
One of the most common mistakes that women make is choosing the wrong foundation shade. Your foundation should match your skin tone exactly, which means you shouldn’t choose something that’s too light or too dark, or use a warm peachy color when your undertone is a cool pink hue.
If you’re unsure if your foundation is a match, a beauty adviser and places like Sephora or Ulta can help you choose the correct shade. And remember, if it’s warmth and color that you’re after, that’s where blushes and bronzers come into play.
20. Not Blending Eyeshadow
There’s nothing wrong with packing on the eyeshadow if you’re going after an intense, smokey eye look. Just don’t forget the number one rule of wearing eyeshadow – blend, blend, and then blend some more for good measure! If you apply a lid, contour and highlight It’s important to blur the lines between all the different shades you use on your eyes.
21. Goopy Lip Gloss
If you slather on gobs of lip gloss, all that dewy, wet shine will only make it seem as if your lips are melting off your face. Use the wand sparingly – you only need a little bit of shine to give your lips the illusion that it’s fuller than it really is.
22. Not exfoliating lips before applying lipstick
Nothing can ruin the look of kissably soft lips than flaky skin that looks like a snake getting ready to shed. Get in the habit of applying lip balm at night to keep your lips moisturized, and if they do become dry and chapped, a gentle sugar scrub can help remove the icky flakes.
23. Contouring Like A YouTuber
You know how self-professed makeup gurus like to brush dark contour colors into the hollows of their cheeks, across their forehead, on the outside of their nose, and right along the jawline? Or what about baking concealer all over their face to help brighten it?
While it may look good on camera, in real life contouring like that ends up looking like a streaky mess. All those celebrity photos with contour jobs gone wrong prove that it’s just better to stick with the basics.
24. Applying Makeup To Bare Lips
If you apply lipstick to bare lips, it won’t have any staying power and will fade away before your lunchtime meal even has a chance to rub it all away. If you want to make your lipstick last, dab some primer onto your lips and keep some in your purse for on-the-go touchups.
25. Using an undereye concealer that’s too light
Applying an undereye concealer that is way lighter than your foundation can end up highlighting your dark circle. A better way to conceal your dark circles is to find a product that matches your undertone. Better yet, use a color corrector first before applying a concealer that matches your skin tone perfectly.
26. Too Much Mascara
If you want eyelashes that look longer, fuller, and downright flirty, then don’t apply more than two coats. Otherwise, you’ll end up with that clumpy, spider lash look.
27. Ditch The Shimmery Shadows!
Shimmery and glittery eyeshadows may look glamorous on Instagram, but in real life it can emphasize wrinkles and crepey eyelids, making you look older than you want to.
You can still add a little bit of glam, just reserve the shiny stuff for the inner corner of your eye and use matte shades on the rest of your lids.
28. Lining the Entire Rim of Your Lash Line
Lining the entire rim will make your eyes look so much smaller. If you really do need to line the bottom and top lash lines, consider lining the only 2/3 only. You can also add a bit of shimmery champagne shadow in the corners to add drama to your eyes.
29. Curling your lashes after applying mascara
This technique will just cause your lashes to flake. Plus, it can make them fall out, too.
As a rule of thumb, consider curling your lashes before you apply any eye product. Make sure to curl and lift your eyelash curler to get the best results.
30. Not dampening your makeup sponge
Dampening your makeup sponge will make blending a breeze. It’s a total game-changer if you ask any beauty junkie.
31. Not brushing your eyebrows
Filling in your brows will make them more defined. Forgetting to brush them after will create an unnatural finish. Seriously, no one wants to see really sharply drawn arches.
32. Using Too Much Eyeshadow
Try to wear the right amount of eyeshadow based on the occasion. If it’s daytime, try not to wear anything too dark. You might want to keep the colors on your eyes at a minimum as well.
33. Thin Eyebrows
Overplucked brows are so updated. If you’re still sporting thin brows, get a matte eyeshadow that’s two shades lighter than your natural eyebrow hair color. Use it to get the proper brow shape and thickness.
34. Choosing the Wrong Blush Color
A blush color that doesn’t match your lip color or cheekbones can look too harsh. Pick something light and you’ll see a huge difference.
35. Using Expired Makeup
Expired makeup products can be less effective. Plus, using them can also cause eye infections and skin irritation. So if you have been keeping products for a long time and you can’t remember when you bought or opened them, just throw them out.
36. Using the Wrong Primer
Using just any primer won’t cut it. If you want your foundation to last, make sure to use a primer that matches the type of your foundation. For example, use a water-based primer for a water-based foundation.
37. Not Setting Makeup
Not setting your makeup will just put all your effort to waste. To ensure that everything stays in place, lightly dust a finishing powder. Using a setting spray helps, too.
38. Using the Wrong Tanning Products
If your tanning lotions and tan creams are making you look orange, something’s not right. Your skin should look tan and not like carrots.
To make sure you get the perfect tan, wear gloves when you use tanning creams. Check and make sure that there are no streaks over your entire body. Plus, check if you are using the right color for your skin. Test on a small area of your legs first before applying on your whole body.
39. Using the wrong color for your brows
For blondes, taupe brow products will work well. You can also use a brow pencil that’s two shades darker than your natural hair color. For redheads, go with medium brown or taupe but never red.
40. Lipstick Stains on Teeth
Wearing bold lipstick can add a bit of confidence but having it on your teeth? Well, that’s a different story. It’s surely not the first thing you’d want others to notice.
41. Applying Too Much Concealer
Contrary to what some people believe, applying too much concealer won’t hide the skin issues they are trying to conceal. Putting on a thick layer can actually highlight wrinkles and make your face look aged. For that healthy and natural glow, pick steer clear from thick formulas and apply only what’s necessary.
42. Putting Too Much Mascara on The Bottom Lashes
Applying too much mascara on your lower lashes can shift people’s attention to the wrinkles around the eye areas. Even if they are small, thick mascaras can make them a lot more noticeable. Plus, thick bottom lashes can also look weird.
43. Picking The Wrong Lipstick Tone
Lipsticks can either make or break your look. With that in mind, avoid using lipsticks with dark tones if you have naturally narrow lips. Dark-colored lipsticks can make your lips look a lot thinner.
44. Putting Dark Shadows All Over the Lids
This will certainly make you look older than you actually are! Consider applying the eyeshadow on the outer corners of your eyes.
45. Not Using Color Correctors
As you age, your blemishes will become a lot more pronounced. And while you think concealers will help you, they can only make the issues worse. To properly hide your skin issues, apply color correctors. Spread them thinly as possible and only use them on dark areas.
46. Applying Thick Eyeliner
If you are in the 50s and 60s, you can probably get away with applying thick liners. These days, however, too much black bold eyeliner can make your eyes look weighed down and heavy. To keep your eyes looking more awake, stick with dark grey or brown liners and go with thinner lines.
47. Wearing Drying Lipstick
Matte lipsticks are great but they can leave your lips dry. And when you have dry lips, you’ll end up looking older than your actual age. To solve this, make sure to apply a sheer coat of moisturizing products on your lips to keep them hydrated and supple.
48. Using Too Many Cream-Based Products
No matter how old or young you are, applying too much cream-based eyeshadows and blushes will make you look like a clown. They can also highlight your wrinkles. The trick here is to use less if possible and stick with powdery products.
49. Using The Wrong Makeup Base
Heavy foundations will just sink into your fine lines and make them look more obvious. As you age, stick with foundations with a lightweight texture. Products with a hint of shine can also help keep your skin young-looking than really matte products.
50. Not Updating Your Look
Using makeup techniques that were trendy 10 years ago will obviously make you look old. Instead of trying to keep yourself looking younger, consider staying away from dated techniques. This means skipping thick lip liners, really thick eyebrows, and heavy black eyeliners.
51. Bleeding Lipstick
Feathering lip color isn’t just a problem for older women. You can also experience it if you’re applying your lipstick with the wrong technique. Applying lip liner that matches the color of your lipstick can prevent this.
52. Uneven Eyeliner
It’s hard to do perfect lines, particularly if you’re just starting out. To avoid getting uneven lines, try to use a liquid liner instead of a pencil to get a precise line. Start thin and slowly work your way to get even lines. remember, don’t pull your lids during application!
53. Doing The Lips First
Makeup beginners often fall victim to this. As a result, they end up messing their lines. As much as possible, do your lips last. It’s also the key to putting your whole look together.
54.Forgetting The Neck
Don’t just apply makeup on your face as you’ll end up looking odd. Always make it a point to blend some foundation on your neck, too. This is particularly important if you have an uneven skin tone.
55. Forgetting to curl your lashes
Applying mascara won’t be enough. You need to curl your lashes to really get that fresh look. For this, you only have to hold your curler for about 15 seconds before putting on mascara.
56. Smearing Foundation All Over
Putting a large amount of product before spreading over your face is never a good idea. It will just make you prone to using more than what you’re supposed to use. Instead, apply foundations in small dots and then spread it out. It will help you create a more natural look.
57. Using The Wrong Applicator
You can’t just use any brush for your products. You have to use the right applicator if you want to achieve the best results. For this, learning the basics of makeup brushes can help.
58. Not Blotting Your Lipstick
Your lipstick, particularly red lipstick, can easily ruin your look. If you don’t blot the middle of your lips or remove the excess with your fingers or makeup brush, you’ll end up with lipstick on your teeth. Feathering and bleeding might happen, too.
59. Not Considering Your Age
Well, let’s be blunt. You can’t wear the same makeup you’ve worn when you were 15 at 50. Your skin will require different products and techniques to make your skin issues less noticeable.
60. Using The Wrong Lash Glue
As much as possible, stick with black glue to match the color of your eyeliner. Also, remember not to apply your fake lashes while the glue is still tacky.
61. Lack of Skincare Routine
Your skincare routine is just as important as the makeup base you’re going to use. Without it, you won’t be able to achieve a flawless result. So wash your face, exfoliate, tone, moisturize, and apply sunscreen before doing your makeup.
62. Using Terrible Lighting
When it comes to looking gorgeous, lighting can have just as much of an effect on your looks as the makeup itself. For example, have you ever noticed how terrible you look under the “cool” fluorescent lights of a public restroom?
Applying your makeup next to a window with natural light is best, but when it’s cloudy outside, a “warm” white light from an LED source is a good substitute. It can mimic the color spectrum of natural sunlight and evenly distribute the “rays” across your entire face.
63. Over-Washing Your Face
Most people have a twice-daily face washing routine, but what you remove all the dirt and makeup with is just as important as how many times a day you wash your face.
Harsh cleansers, soaps, and scrubs that strip away the beneficial oils your skin naturally produce can leave it looking dry and flaky. If you want naturally glowing skin, then treat your face like a baby’s bottom and only use products with gentle ingredients!
64. Going To Sleep With Makeup On
It happens to all of us. After staying out late to party or go on a date, we come home so tired that the only thing we care about is jumping right into bed and nodding off to sleep.
It’s okay to do this on rare occasions, but there’s no excuse for regularly going to bed with a full face of makeup when the bathroom sink is right there! If you don’t want to wake up to an unsightly blemish in the morning, remove all traces of makeup before you hit the hay.
65. Spritzing Too Much Perfume
A quick spritz of perfume on your pulse points, which are behind your ears and on your wrists, is all you really need to smell fresh and pretty. But, don’t go overboard or you may give yourself and everyone else around you a headache with the cloying, overpowering scent.
66. Dry Shampoo Mistakes
Dry shampoo is a godsend for those lazy days when you don’t feel like jumping in the shower and washing your hair. But, there’s a right and a wrong way to use it.
Dry shampoo absorbs the oil in your hair so it doesn’t look so greasy. But, if you use a can of spray shampoo, give it time to do its job and let it dry completely before styling.
Don’t spray it too close to your scalp or hair or you’ll have a wet, over-saturated mess. Keep the nozzle about six inches away from your head to make sure all the dry shampoo particles are evenly distributed on your strands.
Don’t use it indefinitely! Dry shampoo should be used like a bandaid and not an everyday beauty routine. You still need to wash your hair with real shampoo one or two days after you apply it. Otherwise, your hair will build up with chemicals and start to feel and look pretty gross.
67. Forgo Those Flashy Fingernails
Flashy fingernails with gems, glitter, and fancy designs are great for special occasions. But maintaining a subdued, simple manicure is best for making sure that your nails stay healthy.
68. Letting Your Friend Do Your Makeup
Don’t let your friend do your makeup for any important occasion, like your wedding or a blind date. No matter how “good” they are at doing their own makeup, it’s a whole different story when they’re applying it from an entirely different angle.
69. Sleeping On Your Side Or Tummy
You know how sometimes you wake up with pillow marks on your face from sleeping on your side or stomach? Well, if you multiply that by every single night of your life, and you can pretty much predict exactly where your permanent wrinkles are going to be.
It might take some time to get into the habit of sleeping on your back, but your future 60-year-old face will thank you.
70. Waterproof Mascara Woes
Waterproof mascara sounds great in theory, but it’s really hard to remove. You could actually end up losing some lashes or look like a raccoon when you try to wash it off at the end of the day. Stick with regular mascara or invest in a really good waterproof mascara remover.
71. Using Dirty Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes can quickly accumulate things like dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells. If you don’t clean your makeup brushes regularly, these beauty tools can defeat the purpose of helping to make you look pretty. Be sure to wash dirty brushes once a week so they don’t clog your pores and give you blemishes!
72. Swatching Makeup On Your Wrists
Hold up your wrists to your face and see if you can spot the problem. The color of the skin on your arm is very different from your face! That’s why swatching eyeshadow and foundation on your arm is totally useless when it comes to picking the right shade for your face.
If you really want to know what a color will look like, swatch the testers along your jawline and then use a makeup remover wipe to clean your face.
73. Tossing Out Mascara Too Soon
We all know that you’re supposed to throw out your mascara every 2-3 months due to bacterial growth. But, don’t toss it out a month after you opened it just because it’s starting to get thick and clumpy. Add a couple of drops of saline solution into the tube to refresh the formula, and it’ll be good as new!
74. Storing Makeup In The Bathroom
Some products like creams, nail polish, eyeliner, and perfumes contain oils and waxes that don’t fare very well in the fluctuating temperatures and humidity of your bathroom. So, where exactly are you supposed to store it? The fridge, of course! The cooler temps can help prolong their shelf life.
75. Getting Stuck In A Rut
Not only should your makeup change with the seasons, but it should also change with the fashions! We all have our holy grail makeup product that we can’t live without, but we all know what happens when you get stuck in a rut and don’t switch things up. You end up looking like a Throwback Thursday from your high school years!
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