5 Makeup Mistakes You Are Making and How to Fix Them

Applying makeup perfectly is an art form. Selecting colors that complement your skin tone and applying products with the right technique can mean the difference between a flawless face and a clown face. Makeup should enhance your beauty, not detract from it or cover it up. Are you putting your best face forward when applying your morning makeup, or are you just brushing away your beauty? Here are five makeup mistakes you may be making without even realizing it.

Using the Wrong Shades

This may be biggest makeup crime you can ever commit! Wearing the wrong shade of foundation, lipstick, or even eyeshadow is a disservice to your entire face. Your foundation should look natural, helping to even out your skin tone and cover up blemishes. If you pick a shade that’s too light, too dark, or both, it will look worse than not wearing makeup at all. Here are some tips for choosing the right shade for your complexion:

• Use your jawline as your color match guide. Select a shade that matches it.
• Don’t be afraid of using two different shades or blending them to find one to match your complexion.
• Know your undertones. Whether warm, cool, or neutral, your foundation should match and look as natural as possible.

Applying Too Much Eye Liner

I see this makeup mistake so often. As with most things, less is more when it comes to lining your eyes. Eyeliner should enhance your eyes and make them pop. However, wearing too much can weigh down your eyes and make them look droopy.

• To open and lift your eye, start with a thinner line in the corner and thicken as you draw along your lid.
• Don’t apply too much liner under your eye. This can make your eyes look smaller than they are.
• Extend your liner beyond your eye to give it a wide open look.

Not Blending

A makeup artist once told me that your eyeshadow should look like a sunset, not a parfait. That reference holds true for most makeup. A lot of people apply makeup and don’t devote any extra time to blending. The end result looks like a five-year-old put on your face. Here are some tips for properly blending your makeup:

• Get a blending brush to eliminate lines. Some brushes apply product well, while others make sure it is applied evenly.
• Check your lighting. Bright natural light is best for applying makeup.

Over Contouring and Highlighting

The queen of contour has even committed crimes against it! Contouring and highlighting are ways to add dimension to your face and give it more structure. But you can always have too much of a good thing, and contouring and highlighting are no exceptions. Don’t overdo it with the highlights lest you look like a deer in headlights. Instead, try these tips:

• Add a darker shade under your cheekbones and a lighter shade under your eyes.
• Try a shade one or two shades lighter/darker than your foundation to avoid going too extreme.

Wearing Too Much Blush

Blush is meant to give your cheeks some color, but it shouldn’t be applied to mimic a porcelain doll. I have a round face, so my checks can take a little more blush than most. However, if the apples of your cheeks are well defined, then go easy on the blush and stick to these application tips:

• Always apply blush in an upward motion.
• After you apply the blush to your brush, tap the brush to remove excess powder for a more natural application.
• If your skin is dry, stay away from powders and opt for a creme-based blush.

These tips can help you correct some of the most common makeup mistakes. However, if you’re still concerned that you may be applying your makeup all wrong, don’t fret! Sephora has free makeup classes for members of its free loyalty program. You can learn how to contour, fix your brows, and even do a smokey eye. How cool is that?!

Got a makeup question? Share it in the comments below!

Stay fabulous,