How To Avoid 7 Common Makeup Mistakes

Written by: Olivia Frescura, Staff Writer

Let’s face it, we all make mistakes, even in our beauty routines. From misusing products, to rushing during application – these beauty blunders can happen to anyone! Here are a few common makeup mistakes that are easily preventable – and we’ll show you how.

Make Up Mistake: Over-Blushing –  Bold blush can be a fresh, adorable look for the warm summer months. However, there are times when bold blush can cross a fine line, leaving an unsuspecting woman looking just plain BAD.

Solution – In order to prevent  that horrible moment when you’ve realized no one told you your blush is taking up half your face, try this tip. Smile while applying blush and only apply it to the round apples of your cheeks. Use your powder brush instead of your blush brush to blend in the color. Avoid applying your blush too close to your nose, undereye area, and temples.

Make Up Mistake: The Mask – When foundation is the wrong color, it can lead to that embarrassing beauty blunder called “the mask.”  It often creates a visible line of demarcation from the jawline to the neck giving the impression that your face is a different color than the rest of your body.

Solution: Finding the right shade of foundation is an area that many women struggle with while shopping for makeup. Get matched by a professional at a makeup counter or take a friend and have someone give you a second opinion while you shop for the right shade. Be sure to test your foundation color in natural sunlight as well, because department store fluorescent lighting can alter the way a foundation looks.

Here’s a trick. If you dab a tiny bit of foundation on your neck and can no longer see it once it dries, it’s most likely the right shade for you. Don’t forget that you can also gently blend in bronzer if a shade is just a tad bit too light. Just don’t overdo the bronzer or you’ll end up making another beauty mistake!

Make Up Mistake: Eyeshadow Creasing – Now this can happen to the best of us and living in a warm climate will only exacerbate the problem. Eyeshadow creasing can be caused by the following reasons: not using a primer, using a low quality primer, or simply living in a hot or humid climate. I also find that people mistake eye bases as primers. Bases are usually a tinted cream product that you use to brighten up your eyeshadow. Primers are usually clear or colorless formulas that are used to prolong eyeshadow.

Solution: Invest in a high quality primer. A primer is necessary to keep your eyelids’ natural oils at bay which can cause eyeshadow creasing. If you’re using an eyeshadow base, keep it underneath the crease of your eye in order to prevent excessive creasing. I like to apply colored bases with a fluffy blending brush so that it goes on lightly.

Make Up Mistake: Messy Mascara – Over-applying mascara can lead to a clumpy mess known endearingly as “spider lashes.” Unfortunately, it is not the full lash effect that we all strive for. Spider lashes are caused by over-applying mascara or just using a cheap brand of mascara altogether.

Solution: Skip the second coat of mascara, switch mascaras altogether, or use a spoolie brush or lash comb to separate your lashes. Sometimes I like to spray a spoolie with water to re-dampen my lashes so they’re easier to move around. But don’t spray water into your mascara tube or brush- that’ll cause contamination. If you get mascara on your skin and not on your eyelashes, don’t remove it right away! Wait for it to dry completely (I usually just move on to the next step in my beauty routine) and use a cotton swab to flake it off. If you try to remove it wet, it will smudge and stain!

Make Up Mistake: Bad Brows – Eyebrows frame the face, so either neglecting them or over-enhancing them is a no-no! I’m all for a bold brow but please do not sharpie those suckers on! Filling in your eyebrows is very important as it can complete your look in one simple step. Just be wary of what colors suit your brows. For fair for light-haired ladies, opt for a couple shades darker than your hair. But, for us brunette beauties, go a couple shades lighter than your hair.

Solution: Keep your brows in tip top shape in line with your choice of hair removal to get a more feminine look. Fill them in with a pencil or powder of your choice, but always with a light hand. And whatever you do, please don’t over-pluck.

Make Up Mistake: Lip Liner Snafus – While lip lining was created to help make the lips appear larger, the wrong application technique can force you to commit these lip liner sins. First off, make sure you do not apply your lip liner as an outline. Doing this ends up looking clownish and can actually make your lips appear smaller.

Solution: Skip lining the outside of your lips and opt for a clear gloss dabbed in the middle of your bottom lip for a more natural pout. If you’re only applying lip liner to the outline of your lip, simply fill in the entirety of your lips for better staying power! You can also try applying clear lip liner, which is my favorite type of liner to use on my lips.

Make Up Mistake: Lipstick on Teeth –  This beauty sin is an oldie but a goodie. A gorgeous lipstick shade can go from gorgeous to tacky in a matter of moments. Thankfully, there’s an easy fix!

Solution: Blotting is nice, but doesn’t always work. A great trick is to stick a finger in your mouth (clean we hope…), put your lips around it and pull your finger out. The excess lipstick will stick to your finger, while the rest of it will stay on your lips. Simple!