How Many Times Have You Wondered If You Are Applying Your Makeup Correctly?

Are You Making Mistakes? Are You Confused About How You Should Be Applying Your Makeup?

Mistake #1: Not Having A Skincare Routine

The first thing I like to discuss with clients during a makeup lesson is their current skincare routine. 

Why?

Because this is the absolute foundation of all makeup applications. Makeup will only look as good as your skin underneath; your makeup will only apply well if you have prepped your skin correctly; and your makeup will only last if you have put the steps into creating the optimal base.

You do not have to follow an elaborate skincare routine to keep it simple: cleanse morning and night; double cleanse at night if you have been wearing makeup during the day. Invest in a hydrating serum to help feed those skin cells that have not yet come to the skin's surface. The benefit is that your skin will look and feel softer and appear plumper. Then apply a moisturiser, ensuring you are massaging this into the skin well.

Bonus products would include exfoliating your skin twice a week to help remove old skin cells and eye cream to keep the undereye hydrated and nourished.

Mistake #2: Overapplying Foundation

It is easy to think that using more foundation will achieve a better result if it covers more. But what if all you are doing is drawing attention to areas you are trying to avoid? Textured skin, bumpy skin, dry patches, lines, and wrinkles are some of the things foundation highlights and draws the eye to when you put on too much product.

The mistake we all make is pumping two lots of foundation and using every last bit so as not to waste any product left on the back of our hands. One of the lightbulb moments in my makeup lessons happens when I show clients how to use a lot less foundation to achieve the desired result and coverage. using just 1 to 1.5 pumps of foundation and building it up on the skin in thin layers.

Trust me, try less foundation next time and see how much of a difference this makes.

Mistake #3: Not Taking The Time To Blend

When applying your foundation, you need to avoid being slap-dash with it. You may want to get your makeup completed in the quickest time possible, but spending that extra minute or two blending your foundation will make all the difference. The key to getting your foundation to look amazing is to build it up on the skin in 2-3 thin layers and blend each layer into the skin.

The more you blend, the better the finish will be. This is the ultimate tip to achieving a skin-like finish over the foundation being visible sitting on top of the skin.

Mistake #4: Using The Wrong Foundation Brush

If you are using your fingers, then please continue to do so, but I want you to get it out of your head that applying foundation is like a moisturiser. Fingers are an effective way to apply foundation, as the warmth in your hands can help blend the product into your skin; however, you need to focus on blending and pushing it into the skin to really massage it.

For makeup brush lovers, I would encourage you to use a brush that buffs the product into the skin. A brush that has a flat or slated head to it—if you are using a pointed flat foundation brush, then this will result in far heavier coverage than perhaps you were anticipating.

Flat brushes are designed to give fuller coverage and could actually be playing a part in why your makeup looks heavy and sometimes cakey. Switch your brush out and use smaller amounts of products, and you will absolutely see a positive result.

Mistake #5: You're Using The Wrong Shades

The shade selection of makeup is quite tricky when you do not know what you are looking for. For foundation, you want to colour match your body. Most of the time, our face and body are different shades, so it is better to match the body so it looks more seamless. For very pale skin, you will want to select one shade darker than what you think so it breathes some life into the skin.

For concealer, select as close to the foundation shade as possible; avoid selecting a lighter shade, as this will draw attention to dark and tired eyes. 

When it comes to eyeshadow, there are certain colours that look better against your eye colour. Here is some guidance for you:

BROWN EYES:

If you have brown eyes you are very lucky as you can pull off most shades. If you really want your eyes to pop try Copper, Gold shades, Deep Mauves, Pinks, Purples and Dark Browns. If your brown eyes have gold flecks try using a shadow with Gold Shimmer to compliment this.

BLUE/GREY EYES:

To make blue/grey eyes pop opt for Browns, Earth Tones, Greys/Silver, Lilac, Soft Peaches, Rose-coloured shades and Burnt Orange along with Coppers and Deep Golds.

GREEN/HAZEL EYES:

Dusky Pinks, Deep Plums, Burgundy, Grey, and Mauves work very well with this eye colour. If you would prefer a more natural effect try Warm Brown shades (with Orange undertones) i.e. a Mocha Brown would work nicely for this. Other shades for this eye colour include Earthy tones with hints of Gold, Browns and Copper. Most people with this eye colour tend to have flecks of other colours in the eye so this is a great positive as you are able to experiment with different shades.

The blush you select should be in harmony with your skin tone, it should not be over-empowering but more flattering to your overall look. Here is a guide for you;

Fair Skin - Baby Pink, Peach, Plum (blue, purple undertone), Light Coral

Medium Skin - Apricot, peach, Berry, rich pink

Olive Skin - Warm peach, Rose, Bronze, copper

Dark Skin - Brick Red, Berry, Plum, Tangerine

Mistake #6: Using Black Eyeliner

Gone are the days when black was the go-to eyeliner of choice; after 40, it can start to look too strong and harsh on your eyes, especially if you have smaller eyes. The most flattering shade you can use is brown or grey. Give it a try and see how much of a difference it makes to your makeup; it is certainly more flattering and harmonises with your overall look better.

Mistake #7: Using An Eyebrow Pencil Too Dark

When it comes to brows, I believe that matching the brow hair is a far better choice than your hair colour. If you have light to medium brown brow hair, I would recommend that you use a blonde brow pencil. It may not make sense, but using a blonde, which has a slight grey tone to it, is incredibly flattering.

If you naturally have dark brows, my advice would be to select one shade lighter than what you would normally do; this way, you will avoid brows looking too dark and heavy.

Mistake #8: Not Using Blush

I meet so many women who do not wear blush, some because they are not quite sure how to wear it, and others because they have a natural red flush to the skin and do not want to use a blush to recreate the same redness. 

Please do not put off using a blush. First,  if you do have red areas on the skin, foundation and concealer will be able to cover them up and create a fresh canvas. Secondly, blush is a completely different tone from the redness we see on the skin, so you will not end up with the same effect and finish. 

Blush is a beautiful product that brings life and a flush of healthy colour back to the skin. When you apply your foundation, you can sometimes look a little one-dimensional. Using a blush will not only bring some shape back to the face but also give it a healthy finish, which can actually help you appear more youthful and fresh-looking

Mistake #9: Using Highlighter In The Wrong Areas

Highlighter is fine to use in your routine as long as you are choosing a liquid or cream product. Powder highlighter can be terribly unflattering on our skin from 40 and beyond if we place it in the wrong areas.

You certainly do not want to be using a powder highlighter on cheekbones that have noticeable pores or texture; this will just draw attention. You also want to avoid placing a powder highlighter where you are getting or have crow’s feet, as again, this will draw attention to the area. Remember, highlighter is bringing light to the area; it is creating a reflective area on the skin.

Mistake #10: Using Too Much Face Powder

For me, face powder is reserved only for setting the concealer under the eyes and down the t-zone to remove any shine or bounce of light on the skin. Anything more than this will result in a heavy-looking finish, verging on cakey and ageing. You want to be mindful of how much powder you use as your skin ages and changes in texture. 

If you have lines, wrinkles, texture, dry patches, flaky skin, and noticeable pores, then a powder is just going to empathise with these areas, creating a very unflattering finish. I would recommend moving away from powder foundations right away and starting to use a cream or liquid-based product.

Be more mindful of where and how much face powder you apply in areas that need setting to help with the longevity of the makeup. Using a face powder to fully moisturise the skin can be one of the worst things you do as you age; it will appear dull on your skin and will create a lifeless finish. Having a dewy finish to the skin will appear more refreshing and will look healthy.

Let me introduce myself!

I am Nicola! I started my business with one goal in mind: to help other women feel good about themselves and confident in their skin.

I have always been a firm believer in the idea that you should not hide your natural beauty. Makeup should be used to enhance what you have and the features you love. You will find me creating beautiful looks for brides-to-be and providing one-on-one makeup lessons.

My signature style is natural, healthy-looking skin.

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