13 makeup mistakes women still make regularly… are you guilty?

Time for a quick fix...

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Let’s talk about the last Facebook memory that appeared on your timeline… and how you might have cringed at the way you looked. From overly-tweezed eyebrows to blusher that took up some serious real estate on your cheek, we’ve all been guilty of some pretty terrible makeup mistakes (thank god for ‘hide from timeline’). While we can overlook the obvious, you-were-too-young-to-know-better mistakes, there are some that you might not be aware you’re still making. Read on to find out if you’re guilty of these 10 common mistakes, and how to fix them.

 

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Wearing the wrong shade of foundation

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We’ve all done it, so there’s no shame if you’ve only just realised this. Without stating the obvious, the wrong foundation shade will make you look as though you are wearing a face mask, especially if you didn’t blend it into your neck. To pick the right shade, choose 2 shades that are closest to your skin tone and apply both to your jawline. Stand near a source of natural light and pick the one that looks the most natural.

Photo: Fenty Beauty / Facebook

 

ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG

Applying make up to dry skin

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This is a big no-no, especially if you have drier skin. If your skin isn’t sufficiently moisturised prior to application, your makeup will just sit on top of your face and flake, instead of blending in naturally – which was probably not the look you were going for. You should be exfoliating once a week to ensure dead skin doesn’t pill upon application, and use a moisturiser suitable for your skin type to ensure your skin is properly hydrated.

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Tugging on your eyes when applying eyeliner

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The perfect cat-eye is notoriously hard to achieve, but that’s no excuse to be tugging at the delicate skin around your eyes! Not only are you breaking down the elasticity around your eye (hello crow’s feet), you might actually end up with an uneven line as your eye isn’t relaxed. Practice makes perfect, but if you don’t have the patience, use stencils or winged eyeliner stamps to help you achieve on fleek eyeliner. Tip: use a fine tip brush as it allows for precise application while being gentle on your skin.

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ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG

Using too much under eye concealer

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The delicate skin under your eyes gets thinner as you age, which can make heavy concealers look cakey and actually accentuate your eye bags. When it comes to hiding those panda eyes, opt for a lighter concealer and apply with a brush, focusing on only the darker areas and not the entire under eye area. If your eye bags are especially dark, colour-correct them with a peach-hued primer before applying your concealer.

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Going crazy on the mascara

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Thick, full lashes can accentuate your eyes, but when it comes to mascara application, it is almost too easy to cross over into clumpy territory, which is so not a good look. To avoid the dreaded spider lashes, first curl your lashes with an eyelash curler that has been gently heated with your hair dryer. Apply your first coat by wiggling the wand horizontally at the base of your lashes to inject some volume. Then, apply your second (and last) coat by sweeping upwards to build length. Finally, use a brush to comb out any clumps.

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ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG

Applying matte lip formulas onto dry lips

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Matte formulas already tend to be quite drying, so you definitely aren’t helping the situation if your lips are chapped and cracked. Before applying a matte formula, always exfoliate your lips as any dead skin shows up super easily. You can use a dedicated lip scrub or just your toothbrush, in a pinch. Follow up with a hydrating lip balm before applying your lip colour.

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Over-exaggerating your brows

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The bold brow look might be in, but that doesn’t mean everyone can pull it off. If you have naturally thin eyebrows and you try to fill it in with pencil or pomade, it can look harsh instead of fierce. Consider getting Korean eyebrow embroidery done if you are really coveting that Cara Delevinge look. Otherwise, brush your eyebrow hairs up with a clear brow gel before applying colour.

Photo: Unsplash

 

ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG

Wearing dark eyeliner on your lower lashes

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Unless you’ve been blessed with really big eyes, all this does is make your eyes look smaller and draw attention to dark circles. If your eyeliner isn’t smudge proof, you can also be sure your dark circles will look even darker by midday. Instead, use a light cream or white (fairer skin types), nude (medium-tone) or gold (olive/darker skin tones) liner on your lower lash line to make your eyes appear brighter and larger – this is especially useful for when you’ve pulled an all-nighter and need to look fresh and peppy.

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Applying too much blush

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It has happened to the best of us, especially when we’re using a particularly pigmented formula for the first time. Too much blush makes you look clownish, and the wrong shades can make you appear gaunt – blush is supposed to give you a healthy glow and liven up your complexion. If you are fair, avoid darker shades as it will look unnatural, and darker skin tones should avoid overly pink hues. When applying, use a proper brush, smile and focus the colours on the apples of your cheek, then blending upwards toward your temples.

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ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG

Being heavy handed with the powder

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Just because a powder is supposed to be translucent doesn’t mean it’s invisible. Over-powdering your face can look cakey, and make you appear older than you actually are. If you are powdering throughout the day to fight the shine, stop right now and pick up some oil blotters instead. Also, you should only be powdering where needed, which is typically the T-zone for most of us. Use a brush, tap away any excess product then gently press onto your face.

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Not testing your make up

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Just because a certain shade of foundation looks right doesn’t mean it’ll actually be right, as liquid products tend to oxidise on the skin and in the air. Like wise for lipstick – that shade of red might look great in the tube, but maybe it won’t actually look good on you. When it comes to makeup, it’s crucial to test it before purchasing to see if it actually suits your skin tone. After all, make up is supposed to look natural and accentuate what you already have, not make you look clownish. To test foundation, apply on your jawline and not the back of your hand, as the skin tends to be redder there. For lip colours, the best way is to actually try it on your lips, as your natural lip tone will affect how it looks.

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ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG

Contouring wrong

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Even with all the online guides and Youtube tutorials, contouring is an art form that not all of us can master, especially at the beginning! Most beginners tend to not blend their shades enough, or get the placement wrong, which ends up looking unnatural. If you’re new to the contouring game, just use 2 shades of foundation (your natural shade and another that’s one shade darker) and start with that first.

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ALSO READ: THE BEAUTY SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A JAPANESE MAKEUP ARTIST

Not using the right eyeliner shape

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How you draw your eyeliner can dramatically change the appearance of your eyes. If your eyes are closer set, the thickest and boldest part of the line should be at the outer corners of your eyes to help widen them, while eyes that are spaced further apart should have the thickest part of the line concentrated at the inner corner. Opt for an eyeliner that allows you to control the thickness of the line, like finer-tipped brush instead of a pen.  

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ALSO READ: 4 TIPS TO DO A MAKEUP TOUCH-UP SO YOU LOOK RADIANT ALL DAY LONG