Your makeup should enhance your natural beauty and make you feel confident. But sometimes, well-intentioned habits can actually accentuate fine lines, dull your complexion, and add years to your appearance.
The good news? These common mistakes are incredibly easy to fix. Let’s break down the top five makeup mishaps that age you and how to correct them for a fresher, more youthful look.
1. Skipping Primer & Using Heavy, Matte Foundation
The Mistake: Applying a thick, full-coverage matte foundation directly onto skin. This settles into fine lines and wrinkles, creating a cakey, mask-like effect that emphasizes texture and dryness.
The Fix: Hydration is key. Start with a moisturizing primer to create a smooth, plump canvas. Then, opt for a lightweight, hydrating foundation or tinted moisturizer. Apply it only where you need coverage (like the center of your face) and blend outwards for a natural, skin-like finish.
2. Applying Powder Incorrectly
The Mistake: Baking or heavily powdering the entire face, especially under the eyes. While aiming to set makeup, this can make skin look flat, dry, and highlight creases you want to minimize.
The Fix: Less is more. Use a finely-milled, translucent powder sparingly. Only press powder into areas that get oily (typically the T-zone) and avoid dragging it under the eyes. A damp beauty sponge helps press powder in without excess.
3. Dark, Harsh Lip Liner
The Mistake: Using a lip liner that is drastically darker than your natural lip color or lipstick. This harsh contrast is aging and can make lips look thinner and drawn.
The Fix: Define, don’t outline. Choose a lip liner that matches your natural lip color or your lipstick shade. Use it to softly define the border of your lips and prevent feathering, then blend it inwards. Finish with a hydrating lipstick or gloss to add fullness.
4. Neglecting Your Brows
The Mistake: Over-plucking brows into thin, harsh lines or drawing them on with a dark, solid hand. Sparse, severe brows can drag down your entire face.
The Fix: Embrace fullness. Well-defined, fuller brows frame the face and create a youthful lift. Use fine, hair-like strokes with a pencil or powder to fill in sparse areas. Set them with a clear brow gel for a natural, feathered look.
5. Thick, Lower Lash Line Mascara & Liner
The Mistake: Applying heavy black liner or clumpy mascara only on the lower lash line. This draws attention downward, making eyes look droopy and tired.
The Fix: Focus on the top. For a bright, lifted effect, concentrate your darkest shades on the upper lash line. If you use liner on the bottom, smudge a softer brown shade close to the lash line and always pair it with mascara on the top lashes.
Pro Tip: The golden rule for youthful makeup is blend, blend, blend! Harsh lines age you, while soft, diffused edges create a soft-focus, youthful glow.
By making these simple swaps, you can ensure your makeup enhances your best features and helps you look as vibrant as you feel.
