Cosmetics and make up are, perhaps, an integral part of the life of every woman. Not only do these products hide our flaws, they also help us look absolutely stunning. However, it is important to know that makeup can go terribly wrong. Surely, none of us would want to look like the woman in the picture! There are some disastrous and yet, surprisingly common mistakes women make while applying makeup. After reading this article, you’ll learn how to apply makeup in a tasteful, fashionable way, without making any of these fashion faux pas.
1. Expensive makeup is good!
Estimated cost of a basic makeup kit: $25-50
How to avoid mistakes:
These days, there are many expensive products available in the market. It is, however, a complete myth that only expensive products can make you look good. Always opt for a product which is of a reasonably high quality and suits your skin and requirements. The most important thing to remember is that your makeup should complement your skin and hair color. So, always choose shades which are compatible with your complexion.
2. More makeup looks better!
How to avoid mistakes:
The basic thing which people forget about makeup is that it is supposed to make you look naturally beautiful. It is a terrible idea to pile on a lot of makeup on your face as this is only going to make you look unnatural. The evergreen makeup mantra is: Keep it simple!
3. Mismatching foundations
Estimated cost of a tube of foundation: $10-15
How to avoid mistakes:
A mismatched foundation color is the perfect recipe for disaster! Always ask for samples which you can test on yourself before purchasing any foundation. You can also apply a bit of it on you jawline to check whether it is the right shade for you. Contrary to a popular misconception, your foundation is not supposed to give a tan or a bronzed look! It is supposed to make your natural complexion look flawless. In case you have a tendency to get tanned, keep two shades of foundation in your makeup closet, preferably a dark shade and a lighter shade, so that you can mix and match to create the prefect hue for yourself.
4. Moisturizing blues
Estimated cost of a good moisturizing cream: $5-12
How to avoid mistakes:
Applying foundation on dry or flaking skin is a very bad idea, because in this case your foundation is going to produce the reverse of the intended effect. It is simply going to highlight your flaws. Before applying makeup, always ensure that your skin is smooth, so that the foundation glides on to your skin without friction and gives you that perfect finish. To avoid dry skin, you should keep your face well moisturized and hydrated by drinking lots of water and using a good moisturizing cream. If you have the problem of flaking dead skin cells, get rid of these by regular exfoliation. You can use scrubs available in the market or even simple homemade scrubs like sugar granules and oatmeal to exfoliate your skin.
5. Glam lips
Estimated cost of a combination pack of lipstick and lip liner: $10-15
How to avoid mistakes:
Plump lips are in, but you must know that overemphasizing your lips can make you look really bad. Never draw your lips beyond the natural contours of your lips! The best way to apply lip makeup is to fill in your lips with the color of your choice and then subtly outlining them with a lip pencil of the same color. But as mentioned earlier, do not stretch the outline too far, because this will only make you look gaudy.
6. Doing it yourself!
Estimated cost of getting your eyebrows shaped by a beautician: $10-20
How to avoid mistakes:
Your eyebrows frame your face, so the shape and size of your eyebrows will alter the way you look in a major way. It’s not a good idea to try and shape your eyebrows yourself as you may end up looking bad for a long time since it takes a while for them to grow back and resume their natural shape. Always seek professional help in getting your eyebrows shaped. Try not to get this done too frequently as this may make your eyebrows look thin and unattractive. If you want to elongate or thicken your eyebrows, try not to use too much color as this will look quite obviously artificial.
7. Mascara mess!
Estimated cost of a tube of mascara: $12-25
How to avoid mistakes:
Eyelashes are a beautiful and a delicate part of your face. Using the right amount of mascara can make them look long and dramatic, but an excess of mascara will cause the lashes to appear clumpy, thereby reducing them in volume rather than enhancing them.
8. Blush-tinted cheeks
Estimated cost of a kit of blush and rouge: $15-25
How to avoid mistakes:
If you are fond of highlighting your cheeks, then you should probably keep your lip makeup at a bare minimum. If you highlight both your cheeks and your lips, this might give your face quite a lurid appearance.
9. Skin problems
Estimated cost of a make-up removing kit: $20-30
How to avoid mistakes:
Never ever sleep with your makeup on. Your skin needs to breathe at night, and a layer of makeup is only going to clog the pores of your skin and give you a whole range of skin problems, like rashes and acne.
10. Retouching in public!
How to avoid mistakes:
Last, but certainly not the least, avoid re-touching your make-up in public. It actually makes one look quite tacky! Try to wear makeup which stays fresh for a long time to avoid doing this.
