Don’t fall foul of the seven sins of makeup. Correct your mistakes and brush up on your skills with these simple tips.
The vast majority of us wear makeup on a day-to-day basis, spending an average of $15,000 on lip-gloss, foundation, eye shadow and more during our lifetime. Yet we’re all guilty of committing some common sins when it comes to applying the products that spill from our cosmetics bags – forgetting to blend, making poor colour choices and combining the wrong products.
Here, we run down the seven most common makeup mishaps, and give you some expert tips to help ensure none of us sin again.
1. Thou shalt not forget to blend your foundation beyond the jaw line
The first and most important step in avoiding this sin is to select the right colour foundation. When choosing a foundation, you should always go for your natural match, so your skin looks like skin. Swatch three shades of foundation on the cheek starting from the side of the mouth and blend – the colour that disappears is the best fit.
Most cosmetics counters offer colour-matching services, so pay them a visit if still unsure. For discreet blending along the jaw, use a makeup sponge or foundation brush, adding a dab of moisturiser.
2. Thou shalt not wear too much makeup
Never is the saying ‘less is more’ more true than when it comes to makeup, with heavy layers of product only accentuating fine lines, wrinkles and pores.
Heavy makeup doesn’t necessarily make you look better, and quite often it enhances the wrong things. We recommend investing in a few staple products such as a concealer, a natural-look foundation, a cream rouge for the cheeks and lips, and a long-wear eye pencil and mascara.
3. Thou shalt not overload on blush
Summer weather may be upon us, but that’s no excuse to overdose on bronze and blush. Blush should always give the appearance of a healthy natural flush on the cheek, not a circle or a stripe. And too much bronzer can look unnatural and actually flatten and dull the face.
To apply correctly,sweep bronzer on the highest point of the face – cheekbones, forehead and chin – where the sun naturally hits. Then add a pop of colour to the apples with a touch of bright blush to lift the look.
4. Thou shalt not combine a strong eye with a strong lip
Eye and lip makeup can be worn together, but it’s important to do so subtly to avoid a makeup catastrophe. It is best to choose one feature to accentuate in order to create a fresh, clean and modern look. For standout eyes, team a smokey eye with a nude lip. Or, for gorgeous lips, create a soft classic eye with a strong bold lip colour.
5. Thou shalt not over pluck the brows
Well-groomed brows can add structure to the face, framing the eyes. Yet many of us overpluck in an effort to shape and trim wayward brows. Always go with a shape that works with your style and features. If you’ve overplucked or have naturally thinner brows, a powder is a great way to softly fill them in.
6. Thou shalt not apply heavy concealer
Heavy concealer under the eyes will only magnify any fine lines or crepey skin, bringing unwanted attention to the area. Always use an eye cream first to soften and smooth delicate skin under the eyes. Follow with a creamy concealer to brighten up circles, then set with a powder to keep it bright and in place all day. The aim is to lighten the under-eye area and diminish the depth that dark circles create, so choose a concealer that’s one to two shades lighter than your foundation.
7. Thou shalt avoid clumps of mascara
Mascara is a makeup must-have for widening the eyes, but apply it in clumps and it can leave spidery lashes that cluster together. To get the best clump-free application, look down, lift your eyelids from the brow bone and grab lashes deep into the wand as close to the base of the lash as possible and wiggle as you coat to the end of the lash. Another common mistake that leads to clumps on your lashes is pumping the wand in and out of your mascara – which dries it out. Instead, try winding the wand in the tube to load up the brush.
