1. Skipping Skincare Before Makeup
Newbies often overlook the importance of prepping the skin before applying makeup. Without a clean, moisturized base, makeup can look cakey, uneven, or wear off quickly throughout the day. Proper skincare is the foundation for flawless makeup.
Why Skincare Matters
Think of your face like a canvas—if its dry, oily, or dirty, your makeup won’t apply smoothly or last long. Prepping your skin helps with better product absorption and gives you that natural, healthy glow underneath your foundation.
Common Mistakes When Skipping Skincare
| Mistake | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Not washing your face | Oil and dirt interfere with makeup application and can cause breakouts |
| Skipping moisturizer | Foundation clings to dry patches and looks flaky or cracked |
| No primer use | Makeup fades faster and may not stay in place |
How to Fix It
Step-by-Step Pre-Makeup Skincare Routine:
- Cleanse: Use a gentle facial cleanser suited for your skin type to remove dirt and oil.
- Tone (optional): Helps balance your skin’s pH and preps it for hydration.
- Moisturize: Even if you have oily skin, use a lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
- Sunscreen: During the daytime, always apply SPF to protect your skin from sun damage.
- Primer: A good primer smooths out pores and fine lines, helping your makeup last longer.
Pro Tip:
If youre short on time, at least cleanse and moisturize before applying any makeup. Your future self (and your skin) will thank you!
2. Wearing the Wrong Foundation Shade
One of the most common makeup mistakes beginners make is choosing the wrong foundation shade. Picking a color that’s too light or too dark can make your face look mismatched from your neck, giving an unnatural appearance. The key to flawless foundation? Swatching and understanding your undertone.
Why Foundation Shade Matters
Your foundation should seamlessly blend into your natural skin tone. When it doesn’t, it can highlight imperfections or create a mask-like effect. This mistake often happens when people test foundation on their hands or wrists, which usually dont match the skin tone of the face.
How to Find Your Perfect Match
The best way to find your correct shade is to swatch three shades that look closest to your skin tone directly on your jawline. Blend each one out slightly and check them in natural lighting. The shade that disappears into your skin is your perfect match.
Swatching Tips:
- Always test on clean, bare skin
- Use natural light (step outside or near a window)
- Let the swatches sit for a minute to oxidize before judging
Understanding Undertones
Your undertone plays a huge role in choosing the right foundation. Even if you get the depth of color right, ignoring undertone can still make the foundation look off. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure yours out:
| Undertone | Description | Vein Test | Best Foundation Shades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool | Pink, red, or bluish hues | Veins appear blue or purple | Look for foundations labeled “cool” or with pink undertones |
| Warm | Yellow, golden, or peachy hues | Veins appear green | Choose foundations labeled “warm” or with yellow/golden undertones |
| Neutral | A mix of both cool and warm tones | Veins are hard to tell; may look both green and blue | Opt for neutral-labeled shades without strong pink or yellow tones |
Pro Tip:
If youre shopping at a drugstore without testers, bring a few current foundations with you and compare them in-store under good lighting—or use apps that help you find matching shades based on what youve used before.
3. Overdrawing Brows or Making Them Too Harsh
Bold brows are trendy, but going too heavy or using the wrong technique can look unrealistic. Newbies often make the mistake of overdrawing their eyebrows or filling them in with shades that are too dark or harsh. This can create a cartoonish effect and draw attention away from your natural beauty.
Why This Happens
Many beginners try to mimic Instagram or TikTok brow trends without considering their own face shape or natural brow color. They may also use products not suited for their skin tone or hair color, leading to brows that look drawn-on rather than naturally defined.
How to Fix It
The key is to enhance, not erase, your natural brows. Here’s how you can achieve a softer, more flattering look:
| Common Mistake | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Using a pencil that’s too dark | Choose a shade one or two tones lighter than your hair if youre brunette, or slightly darker if youre blonde |
| Drawing one thick line | Use light, feathery strokes to mimic natural hairs |
| Overfilling the inner corners | Keep the inner part of the brows lighter and gradually build up color toward the arch and tail |
| Ignoring your face shape | Follow your natural brow shape and bone structure for the most flattering results |
Pro Tip:
If you’re unsure where to start, consider using a brow stencil or visiting a professional for initial shaping. Once you know what works for your face, maintaining it at home becomes much easier.
Recommended Products:
- Brow powder for a softer finish
- Brow gel with fibers for a fuller, natural look
- Duo-ended pencils with spoolies for blending
Understanding your face shape and using the right tools will help you create brows that frame your features beautifully without overpowering them.
4. Applying Too Much Product at Once
One of the most common mistakes makeup beginners make is applying too much product all at once. Whether its foundation, blush, or eyeshadow, piling it on in a single go can lead to a cakey finish and make blending nearly impossible. The key to a smooth, natural look is layering gradually.
Why This Happens
When youre new to makeup, its easy to think more product means better coverage or color payoff. But in reality, starting with too much can quickly overwhelm your features and make your makeup look heavy or uneven.
The Fix: Build It Up Slowly
Use the “less is more” approach. Start with a small amount of product, blend it well, then add more if needed. This not only gives you more control but also creates a more natural and polished finish.
Recommended Product Amounts to Start With:
| Product | Suggested Starting Amount |
|---|---|
| Foundation | A pea-sized amount for the entire face |
| Blush | A light tap of the brush into the product |
| Eyeshadow | A small amount on the tip of the brush—build intensity as needed |
Pro Tip:
If youre unsure how much to use, apply less than you think you need—you can always add more. It’s much easier to build up than to tone down excess product once it’s on your face.
5. Neglecting Blending and Setting Techniques
One of the most common mistakes makeup beginners make is skipping or rushing through blending and setting. Blending is what makes your makeup look natural and flawless, while setting helps it last all day without smudging or fading.
Why Blending Matters
Harsh lines between contour, blush, and foundation can make your makeup look patchy or overly dramatic. The goal is to create a seamless transition between products so everything melts into the skin naturally.
Common Blending Issues:
| Mistake | How It Shows Up | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Visible contour lines | Sharp, unnatural shadows on cheeks or jawline | Use a clean brush or sponge to soften edges in circular motions |
| Blush not blended with foundation | Blush looks like its just sitting on top of the skin | Apply blush after foundation and blend where the two meet |
| Poor eyeshadow blending | Harsh color blocks on eyelids | Use a fluffy brush to blend colors into each other for a smooth gradient |
The Importance of Setting Your Makeup
If you don’t set your makeup properly, it can fade fast, transfer onto clothes, or slide off your face—especially in heat or humidity. Setting helps lock everything in place for a longer-lasting finish.
Main Ways to Set Makeup:
- Setting Powder: Great for oily skin or when you want a matte finish. Lightly dust it over your T-zone and under-eye area.
- Setting Spray: Ideal for all skin types. A few spritzes help melt powders together and give a more natural, skin-like finish.
Pro Tip:
You can use both powder and spray! Powder first to control oil, then mist with setting spray to lock everything in without looking cakey.
With good blending and proper setting, your makeup will not only look better but also last much longer throughout the day.
