We hate to admit it but we often include different makeup mistakes that make us look old. This usually happens when we follow sample routines or tutorials that don’t cater to our age or skin type.
We start wearing makeup because we want to hide tiny imperfections and enhance our natural beauty. Later on, makeup serves yet another purpose – it becomes a tool we use to look younger. One thing I learned is that it takes a lot of experimenting to find a winning formula that, indeed, makes you look younger.
Until then, we repeat the same mistakes that only add years to our appearance. Before you start feeling bad and questioning your makeup skills, bear in mind that these things happen to everyone.
I dealt with the same problems as well, but once you identify these mistakes and solve them, you can restore your youthful appearance. That’s why I’m bringing you 7 makeup mistakes that make you look older.
7 Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look Older
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When a person shows interest in makeup, they often wonder, “Does makeup make you look older or younger?” The answer to both is yes.
Throughout time, makeup provided great use to not just women but also artists. Before the advancement of CGI, filmmakers relied on the skills of makeup artists.
In turn, this answers the question, “Does makeup make you age faster or slower?” Special effects makeup artists make this possible nowadays.
As we go on, we also want to introduce makeup that makes you look younger. With this, you know the mistakes to avoid and the tips to keep in mind.
Wearing Matte and Dark Lipstick
We all know of the ongoing trend of matte lipsticks. Its fame highlighted other lip products like lip tints or stains.
Despite this, we encourage you to keep creamy lip alternatives in your makeup bag at all times. The reason is simple, matte lipsticks dry out your lips and emphasise lines and creases.
This also applies to non-transferrable tints and stains. They may provide all-day colour to your lips but they also dry them out.
Furthermore, the darker the shade, the older you look. The lip wrinkles and creases also look more defined because of the bold colours.
As you age and your lips start losing their definition, you should use lipsticks that create fullness. Darker shades induce the opposite effect, thus making your lips seem smaller and less hydrated.
WHAT TO DO: Opt for creamy lipsticks and lighter, softer shades. You don’t need to fully get rid of matte lipsticks or lip tints. Instead, we encourage you to use lighter shades or clear lip gloss for added moisture.
Heavy Under-Eye Concealer
The main purpose of concealer is to hide or conceal our imperfections. We usually use them to hide freckles or dark circles under our eyes.
A lot of makeup users swear by their concealers but we often don’t realise when we apply too much of them. Most of us are unaware that this delicate area needs special hydration and nourishment.
In truth, the skin around your eyes doesn’t have sebaceous glands. This causes the unavoidable or constant appearance of wrinkles or eyebags.
Applying too much concealer creates the opposite effect, instead of brightening your eyes; it accentuates the fine lines and makes you look older.
WHAT TO DO: Using a makeup brush, apply a thin layer of concealer on the actual darker areas that you need to conceal. Avoid applying the product all over the place or in areas where there’s no visible discolouration.
As an alternative, we urge you to invest in concealers in different colours like purple, green, and red. These shades provide a better colour correction that helps hide dark circles and acne spots.
Improper Use of Mascara
One of the most common makeup application steps that users do includes mascara. While you may or may not skip some other product (depending on the outfit, time, and mood), mascara is the item that you use all the time. It gives volume and length to your eyelashes and makes them sensual and sexy.
However, when you don’t use mascara properly, it can only be bad news for your eyelashes and appearance. Here are some common mascara-related mistakes:
- Too much mascara – clumpy and globby eyelashes
- Not applying from the root to tip – lashes don’t look uniform
- Starting with bottom lashes first – deposits too much product and makes lower eyelashes too dark
- Too dark or too light mascara – eyelashes don’t look natural
- Not removing mascara – brittle eyelashes that fall off, they may even scratch your cornea while sleeping
WHAT TO DO: Apply mascara properly from the root to the tip, don’t wear too many coats, and always remove mascara before bedtime.
Additionally, we also discourage you from only using waterproof mascara. This often causes your eyes to dry out. Instead, use different types of mascara that fit the occasion.
Wearing Too Much Foundation + Powder
The right foundation is your best friend; The makeup that makes you look younger starts with using the right foundation or powder.
However, applying too much foundation is counterproductive. A thick layer of foundation isn’t only unappealing (makes it seem like you’re wearing a mask), but this makeup makes you look over 40 years old.
Too much foundation settles into fine lines and takes away luminosity from your skin. Additionally, excessive use of powder or foundation clogs your pores.
In turn, this makeup mistake leads to a dull complexion. All these, seemingly minor things, can make you look way older than your true age.
Let’s not forget that powders accentuate fine lines and wrinkles on your face. They also give you that cakey appearance and does makeup make you age faster than you think.
WHAT TO DO: First, ditch powders and use liquid foundations. Opt for a perfect shade and avoid over-applying. If you want to keep powders in your routine, we suggest you add the step at the end of your routine.
Before bedtime, always remove your foundation and makeup. Additionally, use cleansers that completely eliminate impurities and clean your skin.
If you use oil-based cleansers, we advise you to wash your face with face soap afterwards. This prevents the oil from clogging your pores.
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Too Much Eyeshadow + Rubbing Your Eyes
The way you choose and use eyeshadow can also make or break your appearance. For example, lighter, more natural colours make your eyes appear bigger.
On the other hand, darker eyeshadows make your eyes seem smaller. Moreover, using too much eyeshadow takes away the natural look, and it can harm your eyelids.
How? Too much of the product can make your delicate eyelids dry and itchy. That’s why you’re more inclined to rub your eyes; which isn’t a good thing either.
Rubbing your eyes causes tiny blood vessels to break. This also leads to a bloodshot appearance and dark circles.
WHAT TO DO: Use bright, creamier, or more natural eyeshadows and avoid applying too much. Remember, the emphasis should be on your eyes, not the makeup.
To avoid rubbing your eyes, use eye drops that keep them hydrated. Alternatively, we suggest you use brushes or sponge-type applicators when applying eyeshadow.
Overdoing Lip Liner
A lip liner defines your lips and prevents colour from feathering into lines around your mouth. However, we advise you to carefully choose the shades to apply along your lip line.
The wrong choice of lip liner can accentuate the fine lines around your mouth. Also, if you use a colour that is too dark, your lips may seem tight and pursed.
The purpose of this makeup product centres on accentuating the shape of your lips. Some makeup users over-line their lips to create a full-lip look.
With that said, we encourage you to remember our advice in our earlier entry about matte lipstick. Avoid using dark shades of makeup that age you.
WHAT TO DO: Don’t draw the lip line to make your lips seem bigger. Use the colour that matches your lips, not lipstick.
If you want to achieve a full-lip look, we suggest you use two lip liners. The shades need to match your lips and the lipstick you plan to use.
Lack of Skincare Routine, Not Removing Makeup Before Bedtime
This isn’t, exactly, a makeup mistake but it is of huge importance. A vast majority of women confess they don’t have the habit to remove makeup before bedtime.
As a result, impurities start building up in your skin. This often leads to a dull complexion and an oily appearance.
WHAT TO DO: If you want makeup to look great on you, you need healthy and nourished skin. Implement a regular skincare regimen containing a cleanser, toner (optional), and serum to enrich your skin with potent, active ingredients, and finish off with a rich cream.
There are numerous makeup mistakes that we accidentally make and they only add years to our appearance. Correcting those tiny mistakes and implementing healthier techniques and habits can make you look younger instantly.
7 Makeup Tips to Help You Look Younger
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Looking back on our last makeup mistakes entry, we continue to encourage you to incorporate your skincare routine with your makeup steps.
To further help your routine, we compiled 7 makeup tips focusing on skincare and additional steps. These suggestions focus on making your makeup look younger.
Avoid Using Eyeliner All the Time
When it comes to lining your eyes, you need to know at what age should you stop wearing eyeliner. The product aims to make older makeup users look younger.
Moreover, women over 40 or 60 use pencil eyeliner to subtly hide eye wrinkles. This also makes their eyes look bigger.
Because eyeliner is more helpful to older women, we encourage you to skip this makeup step. Teens with fully-lined eyes often end up looking like people who fall under the goth stereotype.
On the other hand, you can still follow the cat-eye trend and look youthful. To maintain a youthful look, match the best cat-eye liner type with your eye shape.
Use Sunscreen
We cannot stress this enough but you NEED to use sunscreen all the time. Even if you won’t be spending the day under the sun, you still need sunscreen.
You can use it as your base or as an additional step after applying moisturizer. Sunscreen provides protection from not just the sun by also the UV rays from your gadgets.
Meanwhile, when choosing sunscreen for your face, you need to mind the protection offered. We advise you not to go beyond SPF 50 to avoid unexpected skin irritation.
Remember to Apply Lip Balm
We connect this makeup tip with our makeup mistake entry about matte lipstick. You won’t have to worry about drying your lips if you applied lip balm beforehand.
Much like prepping your face, you need to moisturize your lips before putting other lip products. Additionally, lip balm adds moisture to avoid chapped or cracked lips.
Furthermore, we encourage you to use lip balm that offers SPF protection. With this, you protect your lips as much as you protect your face from the sun and UV rays.
Wash Your Makeup off With More Than 1 Cleanser
With the advancement of makeup routines, we urge you to use more than one cleanser. This especially applies to those who use waterproof makeup.
To fully get rid of any makeup residue, you need to use cleansers with oil. Afterwards, you need to clean your face again with a facial wash and water.
This step may seem over-the-top but you just need to trust the process. With this, you can fully get rid of any unwanted makeup residue left behind by long-lasting products.
Dab Your Concealer With Your Fingers
Concealers best work when you use your fingertips to dab the product on your skin. With this, you get the coverage you need to conceal any imperfections.
Earlier, we mentioned encouraging you to try out different coloured concealers. These makeup products provide the proper coverage you need to hide redness, pimple marks, etc.
Aim for a Flushed or Demure Blush Look
To achieve a youthful makeup look, we discourage you from using bold blush. Instead, use muted or peach blush shades or highlighter.
This makeup tip helps lessen the products you apply to your face. It also maintains the blush coverage you need to avoid looking pale.
Try BB Cream Instead of Foundation for Your Daily Use
For daily makeup use, prolonged use of foundation may cause unexpected acne and skin problems. To avoid this, you can use BB cream or tinted sunscreen as an alternative.
Using these foundation alternatives goes well with makeup users on the go. You also don’t need to spend a lot of time applying these creams
Furthermore, most BB creams and tinted sunscreens can work as your makeup base or on themselves. They also work best for makeup users with sensitive skin.
This article was updated by Kaira De la Rosa.