13.
Makeup Mistakes That Actually Make You Look Older
13.
Wearing foundation that doesn’t match your skin- Wearing foundation that doesn’t look
natural to your face and neck is quite noticeable and may give the illusion that you’re just
a floating head!
When you go too dark, you end up dragging your features instead of highlighting them.
Plus, you’re also adding a heaviness and dullness that can age you.
If your foundation is too light, it can make your skin appear lifeless and flat.
Instead of a natural tone, it will look like your makeup is just sitting on your face.
When testing out a new foundation, do no blend it in too much.
Lightly tap it on your face starting from your cheekbone to your jawline.
Be careful not to choose a light or dark color than your skin tone.
If you are already tan on your body and neck, you can incorporate that color on your face
with a light bronzer.
Remember the most important step is to blend everything together to make it look natural.
12.
Selecting a lipstick that is too dark- As you get older, you lose fullness in your lips.
So to keep your lips looking plump, you’ll want to wear a lip shade that adds body.
However, sporting a dark color does the opposite and actually makes your lips look less highlighted
and smaller.
So, choose a color in a pink or nude shade.
You can also opt to add a layer of lipgloss if you like, although many girls feel that
lipstick feels too sticky on the lips, but a shiny coat does add to a youthful look.
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to completely steer away from trying darker
shades since wine and berry hues are a popular choice for fall and winter.
Go for a sheer tone, lip stain or hydrating formula and avoid lipsticks with a matte finish
or a thick texture because a dry finish will stay flat on your lips and make them look
smaller.
11.
Not wearing sunscreen on your hands and chest area- There are many SPF-infused makeup products
on store shelves.
While most of us remember to wear sunscreen on our face, not wearing sunscreen on your
hands and chest can speed up the aging process.
Your chest, neck, and hands are exposed to the sun on an everyday basis, and we tend
to forget about them.
But these are the spots where we see a lot of wrinkles and brown spots.
Despite a youthful appearance on your face, your hands can be a dead giveaway of your
real age.
Back in 2013, an Australian study found that women who applied sunscreen on their hands
every day showed no signs of aging even after four years.
Aside from using regular sunscreen, a moisturizer can also help your skin to look and feel soft.
10.
Only lining the bottom of your eyes with eyeliner- Although it may be easier to line the bottom
of your eyes, don’t forget about the top part too!
Only lining the bottom, pulls your features down which can make your eyes look small and
can make your appearance look older.
Applying eyeliner on your top lid brightens your face and opens up your eyes.
However, avoid creating thick lines because this can make you age as well.
Well wearing eyeliner at the top, get the wand as close to the lash line as you can.
You can start at the outer corners and slowly make your way along the top.
Be sure that the upper and lower lines connect at the corner of your eye and you can also
add a touch of dark eyeshadow to the bottoms of your eyes for a soft look.
9.
Not using the correct moisturizer- As we age, our skin gets drier, so it’s crucial to
keep our skin hydrated to lock in moisture.
However, a lot of people aren’t using the right kind of products for their skin or in
the correct way.
When it comes to moisturizing your face, go for a lightweight formula that won’t clog
up your skin pores.
Don’t forget to apply it immediately after showering for the best results.
Keep your skin moisturized for a youthful appearance and a healthy glow.
Remember that even makeup has its limits and it can even make flaky or dry skin look worse.
8.
Wearing a dark liquid eyeliner- Dark eyeliner is a great way to make your eyes pop and stand
out.
But using too much on your top and lower lash lines can create a harsh look and can make
your eyes seem smaller than they really are.
Dark and dramatic eye makeup should be used sparingly because if done incorrectly, it
brings unwanted attention to wrinkles and lines making your older.
Using a gel or liquid eyeliner is trickier to use because they set much quicker and leaves
you no room to blend.
Plus as we age, we lost the steadiness in our hands so applying it takes more time and
patience.
Opt for a light colored pencil instead and apply slowly and carefully as you go.
Often times, a heavy set handed application can also make you look older.
7.
Skipping makeup primer- Prime, prime, prime!
It is that straightforward and clear.
Makeup primers create a base on your skin by smoothing it out and allowing your foundation
to last much longer.
Wearing a liquid foundation can make your pores visible, but primer seals your pores
and acts as a natural shield against dust and debris that might wear your makeup away.
It reduces redness and won’t irritate your skin.
While many makeup primers don’t contain anti-aging properties, they do include anti-aging
ingredients like vitamins and aids in brightening your skin for a more youthful appearance.
Primer evens out your skin by color correcting.
As we age, we lose elasticity in our skin and our natural glow, so primers are a lifesaver.
For yellowish tones opt for a purple primer and for red tones the green kinds are the
best match.
6.
Wearing shimmery eyeshadow- What girl doesn’t love a metallic eyeshadow?!
It’s playful and colorful which can make a bold statement when going out for the night!
But on the downside, eyeshadow can actually age your if your eyelids aren’t rigid as
they used to be.
Plus once you reach a certain age, it’s more likely to look out of place and inappropriate.
Shimmery shades can bring all the wrong attention to fine lines and wrinkles which settle in
the cracks of the eyes.
The best option is to create a smooth look by using a matte or nude finish instead.
If you want to incorporate a metallic shade, wear it in the center of your eyelids.
Avoid putting them in the corner of your eyes, or else it will result in a harsh appearance.
5.
Wearing the wrong blush too little on your face- Some girls might not wear blush or may
opt for a brown shade because they think they’re adding definition to their face or they might
want to match their contour instead.
However, this leaves your face looking dull and muddy.
Sometimes girls will choose a color that is way too soft in color that leaves your skin
washed out which can contribute to aging.
If you want to find the best shade for your skin tone, pinch your cheeks and match your
natural color that you get when you blush to a similar hue.
Start applying the blush at the top at the apples of your cheek while blending it up
and down.
Most girls might start at the bottom of their cheekbones, but remember to place it a little
bit higher if you want to lift and define your features.
4.
Not defining your brows or adding color- As you age, your eyebrows tend to get thinner
especially after years of overplucking they won’t grow back either!
When you don’t fill in your eyebrows with a brow powder or pencil, it can leave you
looking older, and a bit washed out.
A full brow will not only lift your face, but it defines your eyes as well.
When choosing a brow product, go for a color that matches the color of your hair.
If you have blonde hair, go for a shade that is the color of your roots.
For those that have silver or white hair, pick a soft gray shade instead.
If you have brown or red hair, a sable or mahogany color works best.
If you have fair to medium skin, stay away from products that are red-based.
If you have darker skin, stick with a warmer shade.
Before you apply the product, brush your brows out and lightly start filling them in and
bring the color when making your arch.
3.
Having the wrong hair color or wrong haircut- Getting older also means hair loss.
Our hair gets thinner, and it begins to lose color.
Many women might turn to hair dye to avoid getting white hair.
But choosing a natural hair color that matches your skin color is crucial because choosing
a dark hair shade can actually age you even more, especially if you have light skin.
If you have fair skin, obviously black is not the best shade to choose.
Dark hair colors heighten gray roots when they start growing in so wearing a shade,
or two lighter will help lighten the complexion.
Also using more than one hair color adds dimension and depth as well.
Since our hair tends to go limp and flat, creating volume is another great way to look
younger.
You can do this by purchasing a volume shampoo or getting a layered haircut that will give
you thicker hair by creating height and texture.
2.
Abusing your eyes- We apply eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow and creams on our eyes.
With so much application, we may be doing more harm than good if we aren’t gentle
on your skin.
The skin around our eyes are very sensitive and too much rubbing, poking or prodding can
damage our skin.
We tend to be harsh when we apply our makeup resulting in red or puffy eyes, which isn’t
a good look at any age.
Remember to always wipe off any eye makeup at the end of the day because sleeping in
it can result in infection or irritation.
Use a soft cleanser on your skin and a cotton swab or soft towel.
Try not to use a rough washcloth or scrub too hard on your face.
1.
Wearing a thick concealer- Many girls will cake on their concealer in an attempt to cover
undereye circles or wrinkles around their eyes.
But a thick concealer actually defines your fine lines and wrinkles as it dries.
A better approach is to keep the skin around your eyes moisturized.
This fills in the wrinkles by plumping your skin.
Use a small amount of concealer only on the inner corners of your eyes where the skin
gets naturally darker.
Choosing a makeup product with a sheer light color can brighten your face, making it radiant
and smooth.
Use your finger to melt the concealer beforehand and carefully blend it in lightly.
Go for a concealer that has a lightweight texture and contains SPF to protect your eyes.