We all want to glam up and be on point, no matter what the occasion. The problem is most of us are not doing makeup right. We are doing it in a way that will make us look much older than we are. But some of the newer makeup trends are either not done correctly or should be done differently. This article explores fifteen beauty mistakes and how to avoid them.
The 15 beauty mistakes you should avoid
1. Applying blush incorrectly
Traditionally, women have been taught to apply blush on the apples of their cheeks. This is meant to give a flushed, youthful look to your face and is applied in circles with a blush. However, most people don’t know this technique creates circles on your face that doesn’t look natural at all. Not only that, your wrinkles can be accentuated by applying blush in circles. The best way is to apply blush gently to the tops of your cheekbones for a natural-looking flush.
2. Thick Eyeliner
Nothing glams quite as well as a bold, black eyeliner. But you should shy away from applying too much. Eyeliner on your top lid can make your eyes pop, but too much can make your eyes look heavy-lidded and droopy. To keep your eyes looking quirky and lively, apply relatively thinner lines in dark brown or grey. This accentuates your eyes without appearing heavy-handed.
3. Excessive shimmery eyeshadow
A little shimmery eyeshadow can be a great look for a romantic date in a dimly lit restaurant, or a club can look great. But other than that, shimmery eyeshadow has limited applications. It will only draw attention to your wrinkles and lines. Try subtly dark matte shades that define your eyes without appearing over the board and divert attention from fine lines.
4. Lipstick that dries your lips
Among all the lipsticks out there, there are bound to be some that dry out your lips. Dry lips crack and make you look much older than your actual age. There are two things you can do here. The first is that you spend money on a new lipstick that keeps your pout moisturized. The second is to apply a coat of lip balm before the lipstick to keep your lips hydrated.
5. Over contouring
This popular trend makes you look more youthful by defining the contours of your facial structure. However, if done incorrectly, you can end up looking more older than young. While it enhances face structure, over-application can end up highlighting lines and wrinkles instead of concealing them.
6. Not washing your face
It is essential to remove makeup before going to sleep. Makeup residue from the night before is far from sexy; it makes you look unclean and unhygienic. And as your skin ages, leftover makeup will only highlight your wrinkles more. Always make sure you wash up as part of your nightly routine.
7. Clumped mascara
Applying mascara on your eyelashes evenly can be quite a chore. It has to be done just right, or it might ruin all your overall look. Clumped mascara makes your eyes look unnatural and draws attention to fine lines and wrinkles near the eyes. Additionally, clumped mascara might be a sign of bacterial growth in your mascara tube. WebMD suggests changing your mascara tube every three months.
8. Harshly shaded lipstick
Lipsticks with harsh shades are thought to give you a fuller pout, but in fact, the opposite is true. Lips thin out as you age, and harsher shades will only make them look thinner. This includes both darker goth-like shades as well as vibrant pinks and reds. You can avoid this mistake by using softer shades that complement your skin tone.
9. Neglecting your eyebrows
Eyebrows become more and more sparse as we grow older. This is especially true with people with a history of over-plucking. Paying attention to your eyes but not your eyebrows can make you look much older. The good news is you don’t have to make too much effort when it comes to your eyebrows. Brow pencils slightly lighter than your hair colour should be enough to make you look good.
10. Applying green concealer on dark circles
Green concealer became very popular because of its ability to hide blemishes and dark spots. However, using it to camouflage your dark circles is a terrible idea. It doesn’t hide dark circles. Instead, it accentuates them. Instead, you should opt for less concealer in a shade that matches appropriately with your skin tone.
11. Wrong coloured concealer
While we are on the subject of concealers, it is essential to choose the right colour. The right shade and application can mean the difference between concealing wrinkles and lines or accentuating them. You should always go for a light concealer that suits your skin tone. But don’t make it too light, or your dark circles will pop.
12. Cream-based products
Unless you want to look like a rodeo clown, don’t cake on too many creamy products. But there’s also one more reason to lay off. Cream-based products make your skin age faster and make your wrinkles more visible as you get older. Using powder-based products is more advisable, but if you prefer creamy ones, use them sparingly.
13. Going overboard
One thing I see a lot of women doing is applying all of their products every day. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to try out new trends or techniques. But putting together all your trendy products will only make you come across as uncomfortably insecure and older. Too many products will make you look unnatural. Be creative without appearing you’re trying too hard.
14. Powder foundations
Powder foundations work well in the teens and twenties when your skin produces more oil. But skin becomes less oily with age so that you won’t be needing as much powder. Try switching powder with blotting tissues that don’t make wrinkles prominent as powder-based products do.
15. Glittery Nail Polish
Take it from me; glittery nail polish is a bad idea at any stage. It looks childish on young adults. On adults, it draws unwelcome attention to imperfections in the hands. This includes wrinkles and swollen finger joints. The relatively simple solution is to avoid always glitter nail polish to prevent your hands from looking old and imperfect.
There are tons of beauty tutorials and influencers everywhere these days. The idea is to find the style that suits you best without making any of the beauty mistakes listed above. For everything else, be creatively wild. Also, remember to know what works for your face shape, skin type, and features to avoid committing beauty mistakes that can ruin your look.
