Common Make-Up Mistakes

Make-up application has inherent tendencies toward error based on the make-up type. Because of this, there are a wide range of common make-up mistakes. These mistakes can usually be addressed by explaining some basic principles and by understanding the purpose behind the cosmetics. So let’s have a look at the various make-up types, the common mistakes made with these make-up types, and the way to correct these mistakes:

Foundation:

      Foundation make-up is designed to give the user a smooth, even canvas for the rest of the cosmetics to be used. Foundation is meant to even discrepancies in skin tone and minimize the appearance of minor flaws, providing an even, clear complexion.

COMMON MISTAKE: A common mistake women make when using foundation is in choosing the wrong shade for their actual skin tone. This leads to the foundation looking artificial, because it contrasts with the skin’s actual color.

Solution: Foundation should blend smoothly with the overall tone of the skin. Once applied, the foundation should be near-invisible. This is true whether you use a cream, liquid or powder formula foundation. Foundation is never intended to provide you with “color”. You don’t want a foundation to make you look like you’ve been in the sun. There are many other products designed for this purpose which are intended to provide a more natural-looking result.

COMMON MISTAKE: Another common mistake women make with foundation is in application. Many women apply their foundation to the face only, stopping along the curve of the chin and at the edge of the jaw line. This often leads to obvious demarcation between the areas with and without make-up. If the proper shade is us chosen, the effect is less pronounced, but can still be seen by the shift in the texture of the skin.

Solution: Blend your foundation to all the parts of the face that are exposed. Pay particular attention to the neck area since the neck is often slightly lighter in complexion than the face and the discrepancy can be made more pronounced without the blending effect. It is also not out of the question to extend the blending of some foundation into the cleavage if you are wearing a low-cut garment.

      Furthermore, if you are planning to wear your hair in an up-style, you should also pay attention to the ears and consider blending the foundation onto them as well. Nothing is quite as distracting – or detracting from a look – as having the ears shining too pale, in comparison with the rest of the face.

Blush and Contouring:

      Cheek color – commonly called blush – and contouring make-up are used to enhance the shape, contours and planes of the face. The blush is used to give the cheeks a colored-glow to mimic the natural blush response. (This is where it gets its name.) Since blushing is indicative of innocence and youth, women whose cheeks were pinked by blushing were considered to be youthful and more desirable.

      Contouring make-up differs from blush in that the colors used are neutral and intended to create shading effects to manipulate the planes and contours of the face.
 COMMON MISTAKES: The most common mistake made when using blush or contouring make-up is over-use. Too often, women over-apply their cheek color or try to affect too-much change using a contouring make-up. The end result is a look that can be characterized as “unnaturally overdone” at best, and “clownish” in the worst cases.

Solution: “Less is more.” This is never truer than when considering the use of blush and contouring make-up. The key is to use subtle application in either case. A light shading will always appear more natural and be less heavy on the skin.

Lips:

      Lip color is perhaps the most commonly used cosmetic, and while in many senses it is idiot-proof, there are still mistakes that are made. One purpose for lip color is to mimic the look of arousal. When excited, the increased blood flow causes the soft tissues of the lips to darken. The look is instinctively perceived as appealing to the opposite sex, and therefore is sought after. Another purpose for lip make-up comes from the desire to mimic the smooth, plumped look of youthful lips. To this end, lip color has been infused with moisturizers and given high-gloss finishes. (And that doesn’t even take into account the number of lip gloss products marketed only for the purpose of giving shine to the lips.)

COMMON MISTAKES: With lip color, one common mistake is choosing the wrong shade for the situation or the individual wearing the color. This can mean that the color is too bold or dark for a setting – such as wearing dark, wine colored lipstick to an afternoon garden party – or simply too dark for an individual – causing the skin to appear pale as a result.

Solution: It’s important to remember that we each have colors that suit our skin tones and coloring. When choosing lip color, we want to select colors that will flatter and create the desired illusion of arousal, but not one so dark as to make the face appear pallid.

      In general, you should always choose softer, paler colors for daytime wear, and reserve the dramatic looks for evening. Furthermore, always use caution when wearing blue-toned shades as these can lend a cyanotic appearance to the skin.

Eye Make-Up:

      Because there are a minimum of three separate cosmetics commonly used to adorn the eye (not counting the eyebrow pencil) there is often room for error in many ways. The goal of eye make-up – in the case of eye color – is to enhance the color of the eye itself and its shape – and in the case of mascara and eyeliner – to define the shape of the eye and make the eye appear more open and brighter.

COMMON MISTAKE (eye color): All too often, women get sucked into make-up trends and apply their eye color using techniques that are wholly unsuited to their needs. The result is a look that is neither flattering nor functional.
 Solution: Avoid trends and ignore the looks you see in most fashion magazines and on runway models. These are looks that are rarely intended for wear in the real world. Learn basic application techniques that flatter your eyes and build on them. Always remember that it’s much easier to add more than to take it away.

COMMON MISTAKE (eyeliner): With eyeliner, the most common mistake is in over-use. Some women get so accustomed to wearing eyeliner that they slowly add more and more until they develop the dreaded “raccoon eye” look. Unfortunately, the way this tends to develop means that the women who have the problem cannot recognize it.

Solution: The best way to prevent overuse of eyeliner is to find a dependable friend to give you a “reality check”. This is particularly true if you feel you are unable to make the judgment on your own. Of course, it also necessitates that the friend not suffer from eyeliner addiction as well. Daytime application should always be lighter than evening wear, including the use of softer shades of eyeliner when possible. Evening application should be moderate.

COMMON MISTAKE (mascara): With mascara, the most common mistake is failing to recognize that there are different shades for different circumstances. Many women simply choose a favored brand of mascara in black and think that is sufficient. The result is that often the look is too severe for more casual settings.

Solution: You should choose at least two mascara shades for your make-up kit. One should be a lighter shade – either clear gel mascara or a soft brown – for daytime wear. The other can be a darker color for evening use and more