5 Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look Sloppy

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You apply makeup with your fingers

“No matter how clean your hands are, you’ll have natural oils on your fingers,” says Elena Creazzo, a San Diego-based makeup artist. When these oils get on your cheeks, your makeup could end up looking streaky. She recommends using a blush or sponge-like applicator to blend your primer and foundation.

You don’t wipe off your mascara brush

Your lower lashes could get unsightly clumps if you don’t wipe the brush before applying mascara, says Lindsay Gonzales, San Diego-based makeup artist. “If you do get clumps on your lower lashes, you can take your pointer finger and thumb, and pinch before they’re dry to take away the clump,” she says. Here’s an awesome trick to squeeze more mascara from a nearly empty tube.

You slab on face products

“The prep is almost as important as the actual makeup,” Creazzo says. Overdoing moisturizer or serums you apply before your makeup could give your face a melty appearance after a couple hours, she says. Just a little bit of product is all you need, and your makeup will stay in place better. These are the morning skin-care routines of people with great skin.

You don’t exfoliate your lips

If your lips are dry, a coat of lipstick will just call attention to how flaky they are. Mix brown sugar with just enough honey or olive oil to make a paste, and use it to gently exfoliate your lips before putting on lip balm or lipstick, Gonzales says. Gently scraping your lips with a dry toothbrush can also get rid of flakes, Creazzo says. “It usually takes a lot of those dead skin cells off and circulates blood for a natural plumping effect,” she says.

You don’t blend to your neck

Many women blend their makeup only on their face. Pick a color that matches your skin tone, then blend it into your neck for a more natural looking result, Creazzo says. “It takes an extra 10 seconds, but it’s so worth it,” she says. These makeup mistakes make your face look older.