From The Straits Times    |

9 common makeup mistakes you need to stop making right now

Image: Showbit

#1 Swatching foundation on your wrist
Not sure about you, but one of the worst bits of advice I received about choosing foundation shades when I was young was being told to try it on my wrist. My wrists are two to three shades lighter than my face, so this is just a huge no no. 

Testing foundation on your face might be inaccurate if you have redness or sallow skin. You want your foundation to match your neck (and the rest of your visible chest area), so you can try swatching it on the side of your neck. Find the shade you think works best that is made for your skin’s undertones. Try one shade lighter and one darker one to see which blends into your skin the best. 
 
#2 Using a lip pencil on just the outer line of your lips
Yes, lip liners are technically for lining your lips, but the fact is, your lipstick will disappear over the course of the day, leaving an obvious ring of liner behind. Stick to softer textured lip liners (some pencils might be too harsh) and fill your lips in more, blending the liner towards the middle of your lips. This also keeps your lipstick in place longer.

#3 Blowing on your brushes to get rid of excess product
Yes, making sure you aren’t picking up too much of an eyeshadow or powder product with your brushes is important, but you shouldn’t be blowing your brushes. That just leads to more bacteria finding its way onto the bristles of your brushes before you use it. Try tapping the brush on the edge of your compact or any other solid surface to shake off the excess.

#4 Not cleaning your brushes regularly
Quite frankly, there are barely enough hours in a day to do all the things we want to do without worrying about cleaning our makeup brushes, right? I myself am guilty of going weeks upon weeks without washing my brushes. 

If you find yourself breaking out more, it’s definitely worth sparing ten minutes to get them washed. Make sure you dry your brushes at an angle with the fibres pointing downward (the bottom should be elevated slightly) so that water doesn’t end up in the base of your brush which can breed bacteria. You can put a tube of something under your towel to rest the brushes on.

#5 Using a concealer that is too light under your eyes
Finding the perfect concealer shade can take some of us years. It might be natural to want a lighter shade under your eyes, but if you have very dark circles, a too-light concealer is only going to accentuate those dark circles and look unnatural in pictures. You should apply some colour-correcting concealer to the area or find a concealer that matches your skin tone better. Trust us, it’ll make a world of a difference.

#6 Pumping your mascara to get more product
Be gentle with pushing the mascara wand back into the tube. The more you “pump” it, the more air gets into the tube, and the faster the product dries out. Your mascaras have a short enough shelf life as it is.

#7 Forgetting to blend foundation towards your neck
Unless your foundation is a sheer to light coverage one, chances are it’s going to make your face a different shade from your neck, especially if you’re going for a more heavy-duty full coverage look. It’s easy to forget to do, but the mistake will leave your face looking completely unnatural, almost like a mask. Make sure your face matches your neck.

#8 Not setting your concealer
We live in a hot and humid environment which easily melts makeup off your face. Concealer is probably the most unfortunate victim of this, quickly settling into creases and fine lines within minutes of application. Even the best concealer in the world that promises it will never crease will find a way to do so in this heat. The easiest way to counter this is setting it with translucent powder. No more sliding or melting and settling into your creases!

#9 Not moisturising your face before you use a primer or foundation
Your face needs hydration before your makeup goes on. Even if you have oily skin, you should be moisturising your face. Depriving your skin of proper moisture will only cause your skin to produce more oil in response. If your skin is oily, look for a moisturiser that is oil-free or one that is made specifically for oily skin. Soft and hydrated skin makes your foundation go on a lot smoother too.

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