5 Makeup Mistakes You May Be Making

Hi lovelies! I spend a lot of time raving about the amazing things makeup can do on this blog. If used correctly, makeup can do wonders for enhancing features you love and concealing all the things you're not so crazy about. However, when products are used incorrectly they can actually become counter-intuitive and make things worse. And who wants that?


So I've made a quick little list of all the mistakes I've found to be the most common with women today. I have been guilty of every single one of these at one point or another, and even to this day I am far from perfect when it comes to applying makeup. Nevertheless, I'd like to think that I've learned from some of my mistakes over time and picked up a few helpful tricks as well! Please keep in mind that everything said here is simply my opinion, and there are always exceptions.

With all that out of the way, let's jump into it!

1. Caked On Foundation
When your skin is acting up, it's tempting to just slather on full-coverage foundation like it's a mask. The problem is, you're covering up all the good along with the bad! Think of foundation as nothing more than a way to even out your skin tone. Concealer should be doing all the heavy-duty covering on blemishes and other areas that need it. To ensure your foundation doesn't go on too thick or cakey, try mixing it with moisturizer before applying for a more sheer finish (or just buy a sheer coverage formula to begin with).

I Recommend: Olay Fresh Effects Flawless Finish BB Cream*

2. Harsh Eyeliner
When applied correctly, eyeliner is a great way to define your eyes and really make them pop. However, overdoing it can actually make your eyes look smaller and just way too harsh. To avoid making this mistake,  stay away from black liner (especially during the day) and opt for shades of brown, gray, or even a muted purple instead. Another great way to keep eyeliner from looking too harsh is to use eyeshadow applied with an angled liner brush to your lower lash line instead. A lot of makeup artists use this trick because it creates much softer definition. 

I Recommend: L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe

3. Overdrawn (Or Ignored!) Eyebrows
Eyebrows make a huge difference in the look of your whole face. Don't believe me? Google "celebrities without eyebrows"...it will change your life. The best way to bring natural definition to your brows is to fill them in with a matching brow powder or eyeshadow and an angled liner brush. Eyebrow pencils typically come out looking way too harsh if they are not wielded by a pro.

I Recommend: NYC Browser Brush-On Brow Kit

4. Mismatched Foundation Shade
Another foundation sin made it to the list! We've all seen it and we've all been that girl at least once- the one that has a clear line of foundation that makes her look like a floating head. Finding an exact shade match is not easy by any means, but it can definitely be done. I'd recommend going into your local department store or Sephora and getting shade-matched by a professional. Even if you're not interested in a high-end product, you can ask to take home a sample and then bring it with you to the drugstore to find a dupe.

I Recommend: Sephora has a really cool new device in certain store locations that detects your exact skin color and shade matches you automatically. It's definitely worth checking out! More info here.

5. Skipping Skincare
If you ignore everything else I've said, please, please, please listen to this. Before you even pick up that primer or go near foundation, make sure you've taken care of your skin. Typically, that means cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. This ensures you start your makeup routine with a smooth canvas, and keeps products from sticking to dry, flaky skin. I used to avoid moisturizer like the plague because I had oily skin and I thought any added moisture would just make it worse. However, all skin needs hydration and there are plenty of oil-free formulas out there!

I Recommend: Trader Joe's Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer 

I'd love to hear about all of your past beauty blunders in the comments below!

For more style recommendations, click the video link below! I share all the goodies I've recently purchased from Rebecca Minkoff, Ted Baker London, J.Crew, and more! Plus, I share my new favorite site for scoring amazing deals!

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