Makeup is art. There’s no right way to go about art, but every artist can tell you there are a few basics to stick to. The same applies to makeup; it’s common knowledge that it’s meant to be blended into your skin. How you go about it’s up to you, and if you’re a new makeup wearer you may be speculating some tips and tricks. Here are some common makeup mistakes you might be making that can happen to the best of us.
Not using the right makeup finish for your skin type
When I started wearing makeup I thought a matte finish was the way to go for me, it was all the rage. Having annoying combination skin with an oily t-zone and dry skin everywhere else, I thought a matte finish would work well for me. What actually happened was that the super drying matte foundation stuck to my dry patches, emphasizing the lines and pores on my face.
If most of your skin is dry like mine and you would still like to use a mattifying foundation (because nobody has the time or funds to discard makeup they spent good money on), mix your foundation with an essential face oil to give it a more radiant finish. Organic Rosehip Seed Oil and Organic Jojoba Oil are popular options.
If you’re ready to ditch the matte, foundations with luminous or dewy finishes are the best for people with dry skin. They’ll leave your skin looking hydrated, fresh and far from parched. Just use setting powder on the places you’d like less shine. On the other hand, matte makeup is the perfect option if you have oily skin. It’ll give you the flawless shineless look you are going for and work well to combat the excess oil on your face.
Not using setting spray and using too much setting powder
Setting spray does more than just make your makeup last. Have you ever found that your makeup was cakey or dry? Even on the worst makeup days setting spray can come to the rescue. I like to put some on my face right before I blend my foundation for extra hydration, and after I’m done applying makeup to my face to make it blend further and all come together.
Setting powder used in moderation can help melt your makeup or concealer into your face for a flawless look as well as set your makeup so that it doesn’t move around your face or crease. Too much setting powder can cause your face to look cakey though, and actually emphasize your lines and pores. When using setting powder, use the less is more mentality.
Your foundation is too light or too dark for you
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought the wrong foundation by incorrectly matching myself. I’ve even been matched wrong professionally. An easy way to tell if your foundation is not your color is if it doesn’t match your neck. If you blend your foundation into your skin and you can’t see it anymore then congrats, you’ve found your color! Sometimes you may not find your exact color in a specific foundation brand, and when this is the case it’s okay to experiment by mixing two foundation colors that you think you might be in between.
Not moisturizing your skin or allowing your makeup or lotion to dry before you move to the next step
The biggest part of makeup application is the base: your skin. You want to make sure your skin is smooth and hydrated. If you have dry problematic skin, take extra care to always moisturize your skin before applying any makeup. Make sure you let your moisturizer settle into your skin and work it’s magic before you reach for your next product.
Give yourself at least 30 minutes for your moisturizer to dry before moving on to the next step. If you’re on a time crunch, invest in a mini fan to get your face dry quicker. Repeat this with other makeup steps. For example, if you’re applying more than one layer of foundation make sure the first coat dries before you apply the next one.
The ins and outs of makeup can be quite intimidating when you’re first getting into the craft, but with these tips you’ll be closer to perfecting your makeup routine in no time!