Look, none of us are born knowing how to apply makeup, however, there are just some of us who know precisely how to apply mascara! Rest assured that some mistakes have turned into full-on trends while others, well, let’s just say we’ve learned our lesson! But makeup is quite fun, mistakes and all. As you experiment, you will find that what works for you might not work for others and vice versa, AND some makeup mistakes might even work for you, who knows? Therefore, we’ve put together some of the more common makeup mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Not using primer
Many people skip this step in their routines and for the most part, it is okay to do so. It does of course depend on your skin type as well, but primer is recommended by makeup professionals, and here’s why. A good primer acts as a base for the rest of your makeup. It allows your foundation, bronzer, concealer, and blush to go onto your face smoothly. Another benefit of using a primer is that it keeps your makeup in place. Think about it this way, you are at the office for eight hours and you want your makeup to last without looking like you’ve outworn your makeup. Remember, primer is especially great if you have oily skin.
Forgetting to clean your makeup brushes
This is a faux pas. Not only is this frowned upon, but it can damage your skin as well as lead to infections and no one wants that. Now, all of us have been guilty of this at one time or the other, especially if we are in a hurry. The rule here is noticeably clear, never use a dirty makeup brush! Dirty makeup brushes gather dust, germs, dead skin cells, and bacteria, all of which can lead to infections. To avoid this, wipe your brushes regularly with a cleaning solution. At least once every two weeks, depending on how often you use your brushes, submerge them in some water to wash them. There are also so many different ways to clean your makeup brushes, look out for them online.
Wearing the wrong foundation shade
We are not recreating the White Chicks movie, so you need to ensure you are wearing the correct shade of foundation. The wonderful thing is that all of us have been here at one time in our lives so no judgment, we live, and we learn. The trick here is to take your undertones into account when buying foundation. This is often missed, especially if you are just starting in makeup. You can identify your undertones by checking the color of your veins. The go-to would be green = warm undertones, blue or purple = cooler undertones. Once you have this down you can pick the correct foundation shade.
Not applying anything to your neck
Another faux pas. Whatever you apply to your face you must apply to your neck AND blend it properly. Consider the fact that your neck is an extension of your face, so you need it to look on point as well. All you need to do here is to make sure your face and neck match in color.
Too much lip liner
Look, sometimes we can get overly excited and apply too much lip liner. It happens to the best of us. Lip liner is there so that you can create the illusion of fuller lips. It is that simple. However, it’s just as easy to line your lips and you end up looking like Pennywise – this just won’t do. A trick to remember is to apply lip liner just outside your natural lip line.
Forgetting to blend your eyeshadow
Now, this is one we can overlook… in some cases. To apply eyeshadow, you need to apply it to your eyelid, the crease, and highlight color. Things can look seriously messy if you don’t blend your eyeshadow. Remember to also get a blending brush that’s going to help you with this process.
Sleeping with makeup on
The biggest makeup no-no! Not only can it damage your skin, but it can also ruin your bedding as well. Always remember to remove your makeup, no matter how tired you are. You want your skin to breathe after a long day of makeup wear, as well as ensure your pores are also getting enough time to breathe. A quick splash and wash of the face will do the trick!
