Lining Your Waterline
When you first started playing around with eyeliner, there’s a good chance you placed it straight on your bottom waterline — this look has been popular, on and off, for decades. But applying a dark liner to your bottom waterline actually makes your eyes look closed up, smaller, and far more intense than you might be hoping they’d look. This placement can actually age you, as well, since it does nothing to draw the eye upward and give it a lift to defy the natural push downward that gravity
gifts to all of us with age.
Instead of placing eyeliner on your bottom waterline, try placing it on your upper waterline. This automatically gives the eye an appearance of a lift. You can also swipe liner over the top lid, as close to your lash line as possible, to make the lashes look more lush.
Using the Same Concealer You’ve Always Used
Did you know that your skin tone can change over time? If you’re using the same exact concealer you’ve always used, including in the same shade, you may not be matching your skin tone where it is right at this very moment. Access your skin every few years so that you can match your makeup perfectly. A concealer that’s too dark for your skin can make it look muddy, while a too-light concealer can stand out and look ghostly.
Using Too Much Or Not Enough Foundation
There’s a sweet spot when it comes to foundation — and wearing too little or too much can mess with your look. But you’ll only get a true handle on how much foundation works for you after making some mistakes along the way. Instead of covering your entire face and neck with foundation, try only applying it to certain areas of your face that show signs of discoloration or need a little more of a pick-me-up. Remember to blend very well and set your makeup with translucent powder and a setting spray to keep it from streaking.
Not Using a Color Corrector
Foundation and concealer can only do so much — if you’re applying a boatload of both, trying to cover red spots or discoloration, the problem may not be that you aren’t putting enough on, but that you’re expecting these products to do the work of a color corrector. A color corrector is a completely unique product that comes in colors like green, peach, and purple, and can each correct a different skin issue you may be experiencing, such as redness, blue/purple veins, and sallow tones in the skin. Apply a primer first, followed by color corrector, foundation (if you choose), and concealer. Set your makeup with powder to seal the deal.
Wearing a Too-Dark Lipstick
Wearing a really dark lipstick can look dramatic and sexy when you’re 20. But at 40, 50, and beyond, it can still look sexy, while also making your lips look a lot smaller and less defined. If that’s all well and good with you and the benefits outweigh all else, rock the darkest color you can find. But if you would like your lips to look fuller and more pouty, try swapping dark lip colors with lighter, neutral shades — a pinky peach or sheer light red can look gorgeous. Line the middle of your bottom lip and your Cupid’s bow with a nude lipliner and follow up with a light sweep of lipstick and a gloss, if you’re feeling adventurous.