Honestly, doing makeup is not for the faint of heart. So, we asked professional makeup artists in the BuzzFeed Community to share the biggest mistakes they see people make, and their responses are lifesavers. Here are some of our fave pieces of advice:
1."Not making sure your primer and foundation will work together. You have to be sure both your primer and foundation are either silicone or water-based. Oil and water don't mix, so your foundation will end up patchy and wonky if you make this mistake."
2."If you have a daily beauty regimen, try to incorporate multi-tasking products with SPF in them year-round. If you don’t have one, it will never hurt to get a cheap and dependable sunscreen. Please trust that you will be thankful in the future."
3."I’m a theater/SFX makeup artist for musicals. One of the worst things you can do — or rather, not do — on and off stage is not blending your makeup properly! Nothing says 'amateur' more than unblended eyes and contour."
4."I've been a MUA for about 10 years, and the biggest mistake I’ve seen people make is neglecting skincare. Your makeup will not look right without a good base to work on. Skincare will help your makeup go on so much more smoothly."
5."Blend your eyeshadow. Even if you just use one shade, take a fluffy brush through the crease to soften up the edges a bit."
6."Know your skin type. And if you're not sure, go have a skin consultation at any skincare counter and find out. That way, you can make sure you're using the right products to help your skin and make everything look so much better."
7."Drawing your eyebrows softly and with a lighter color will give you more precision. The nearer you are to the center of your face, the lighter your pressure should be when applying it."
8."Skipping primer! Not only does it make your makeup smooth and last longer, but it also creates a barrier between your skin and makeup."
9."Sucking in your face when you contour. When you suck in your cheeks, you end up placing the contour in the wrong area because your skin moves up. Instead, look straight ahead in the mirror and imagine a line going from the top of your ears to the corner of your mouth. Perfect placement every time."
10."If you're short on time, always do your brows, lashes, and lips because they frame your face. This has changed my makeup game."
11."Bottom liner (if you're going to use it) needs to be placed ON your waterline. Not below it. That's why it always smears and looks like you wore it overnight and just woke up."
12."There is no such thing as completely erasing pores, lines, or texture, and a lot of the times when you see that happen it’s by the use of good lighting or FaceTune. A common mistake is packing on too many products to try to create a flawless look that’s unachievable. Less product usually makes a bigger impact."
13."For the love of God, match your foundation to the color of your jawline and drag it down your neck."
14."Clean your tools! I often hear people say, 'I’m breaking out on my cheeks, or suffer from constantly congested skin when I wear makeup.' When I ask, 'How often are you cleaning your brushes/beauty blender?' I hear wayyyy too much, 'Oh. I’m supposed to clean it?' Please save your skin!"
15."There are no rules, do whatever makes you feel beautiful. Does a full beat do it for you? Great! Just lip gloss and mascara? Awesome. If it makes you feel confident, that’s all that matters. The point of makeup is to accentuate your already existing beautiful features, not just hide your 'flaws'!"
