The Most Common Makeup Mistakes And How To Fix Them

These makeup artists approved tricks for eyes, foundation, and more will save you time and money

No matter whether you are a complete makeup pro who can successfully create a perfect winged eyeliner with a single attempt or your a total newbie who feels overwhelmed just by the thought of having to do your own makeup for a special occasion, we can all always benefit from a little extra help and tips. Makeup trends change all the time so it's great to keep up to date!

In this blog post, we will address how to fix makeup mistakes that are most commonly created very simply and easily. Keep on reading for all the info that you need...

Applying Your Concealer Before Your Foundation

Do you spend forever concealing blemishes and imperfections and then applying your foundation over the top? You're doing it wrong... Think of your foundation as your base to even out the skin tone and create a great canvas *then* you should apply concealer on the top where you feel like you need it. I promise you will use a lot less product! Plus, your makeup is a whole lot less likely to crease as you have used less makeup. If fine lines are a concern for you then we recommend delilah Farewell Cream Concealer - the Hyaluronic Filling Spheres fill and hydrate wrinkles while creating undetectable but perfect coverage every time.

Foundation first, conceal second.

Layering On Too Much Mascara

Does your mascara smudge onto your eyelids? Or flake onto your cheeks? Chances are either you are applying way too many layers on your eyelashes OR your mascara needs replacing. Remember to change your mascara wand every 3 months to prevent eye infections and prevent using dried-up product! Using a mascara past its 3-month shelf life (once opened) is a huge no-no.

Instead, there are some easy changes you can make. Add an eyelash curler into your morning routine, squeeze right at the lash line to lift the lashes and make them appear longer. If you lightly heat the curlers with a hairdryer too, this will prolong the hold. Next, the ultimate makeup tip... limit yourself to around 2 or 3 coats but between every coat dust a little translucent powder onto the lashes ensuring that you cover the final layer with a little more mascara. The powder will help to bulk out extra volume without all the excess coats. We love RevitaLash Double Ended Mascara for this, a bonus is that it is waterproof too.

Applying Your Makeup Without Skincare

Now, this may be an obvious one to some however, applying makeup without using any (or the right) skincare beforehand is a recipe for disaster. A good skincare routine will always provide you with the best base for your makeup to sit on top of. The basics are cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen in the daytime but adding in products such as Hyaluronic Acid will plump the skin and add a real glow while regular exfoliation will remove dead skin cells, dullness, and unevenness.

We love Eminence Organic Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum for hydration and Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads for instant exfoliation results.

Forgetting To Hydrate The Undereye Area

Does your undereye area look dry after you have applied your concealer? The most likely reason for this is that you are not hydrating the area properly with an eye cream. Also, dry under eyes can create dark circles to look more prominent. Ensure that you use a good quality eye cream prior to any makeup application.

We recommend PCA Skin Ideal Complex Restorative Eye Cream for its deeply hydrating properties which can be used around the entire eye - both the eye contour and eyelid. Bonus tip: use eye cream as your lip balm and along the upper lip too!

If you have already applied your eye cream and your undereye still looks dull or dry then try mixing a little eye cream into your concealer then apply or buff the eye cream directly over the top with a makeup brush. Alternatively, you may be using a matte concealer that isn't suitable for your skin. We recommend switching to a hydrating and luminous formula instead like Jane Iredale Enlighten Plus SPF 30.

Applying Your Makeup In The Wrong Lighting

Does your makeup routine take place in a dark room or with artificial lighting?

Doing this increases the chances of your makeup ending up not how you would have liked once you step outside. You are likely to apply too much foundation, end up with clumpy mascara, overlining the cupid's bow to create fuller lips just a little too much, or a smoky eye that was supposed to be a cat eye! For best results, apply your makeup in natural lighting so ideally by a window or underneath a skylight during daylight hours. The soft, clear light will help you to create a perfectly made-up complexion while spotting any flaws in your makeup that you may not otherwise notice and ensure everything is blended perfectly.

Of course, many of us spend many mornings getting ready before sunrise so in that case, we would recommend instead changing to a soft white bulb (just at the start of turning cool) to mimic that natural daylight that we are lacking. Avoid anything too warm, yellow, or fluorescent such as Hollywood mirrors.

Did We Solve Your Makeup Mistake?

If you need some more help or maybe we haven't addressed your mistake mishaps, feel free to ask us!

All of the products recommended above are available to shop directly at Dermacare Direct and we are always on hand to help you with our expert advice and top tips making online makeup shopping stress-free. You can contact us by live chat, email via [email protected], or pick up the phone right now and call us on phone number 0116 251 4848 to speak directly with a friendly advisor.