15 Beauty Mistakes That Are Secretly Aging You
Dark Matte Lipstick
There's a right way — and a wrong way — to go about wearing dark lipstick. First of all, be sure to exfoliate before applying color so your pout will look pretty, not parched. And then there's the formula to worry about. "Heavy, opaque coverage with a strong line makes your lips look thin, and can age you by 15 years," explains makeup artist Fiona Stiles. "I like sheerer formulas, patted on with your ring finger."
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Cakey Foundation
You may feel the urge to add multiple foundations to even out your skin, but too much base makeup can go very wrong. "Beware of powder," warns celebrity makeup artist Georgie Eisdell. "Too much can cake and discolor the skin, emphasizing the fine lines around your eyes and lips." Stick to a fluffy brush and fine-milled translucent powder for a more flawless finish.
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Creased Concealer
Makeup operates under the same concepts as any other visual art: Light enhances, dark recedes. When you have a big line of pale concealer bunching up in an under eye crease, it highlights your wrinkles like crazy. Use a little face oil plus powder to ensure your concealer stops creasing once and for all.
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Messy Makeup
"So many women don't maintain their makeup during the day, and runny mascara or liner ends up settling in wrinkles," says celebrity makeup Stephen Sollitto. His recommendation: "Toss a few Q-Tips in your bag, and use it to clean up throughout the day. You'll look fresher and, in turn, younger."
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Long, Penciled-In Brows
It's true that brows frame your face, but if you're overdrawing them, that frame can wind up looking wonky — and a too-far tail makes your eyes look droopy.
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Picking the Wrong Shade of Base Makeup
Concealer that is too light or dark doesn't just fail to cover up your under eye circles, it can actually emphasize them. Experiment with different shades until you find that just right color that perfectly matches your face.
Blunt Lob
Long bobs are always in — and look great, no matter your age! — but the way you snip and style them matters. According to PRIV professional hairstylist Loretta Wollner, blunt bobs tend to highlight harsh angles, making your bone structure look more severe. To soften up your features, opt for a wavier bob with side-swept bangs.
Too-Dark Brows
Heavily made-up brows are flattering on no one (well, with the possible exception of Audrey Hepburn). Skip the dark, overdone filler and keep a lighter hand when doing your eyebrow to get natural, youthful-looking brows.
Using "One Size Fits All" Skincare
If you've been coasting through your skincare routine without thinking about your individual skin type, you're doing it all wrong. Techniques like multi-masking (the layering or pairing of masks to address different parts of your face) help to ensure your skin gets exactly what it needs — and that it looks younger.
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Applying Your Concealer Incorrectly
Simply dotting on your concealer doesn't properly even out under eye circles — you need to apply it in a triangle to ensure you conceal all under eye unevenness.
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Bottom-Heavy Hair
Bottom-heavy hair has a tendency to make your face look droopy and unbalanced. Adding a touch of allover volume is a better way to lift your look and give your face a little youthful fullness.
Over-the-Top Contouring
Going heavy-handed with your contouring brush doesn't automatically make you look sculpted like a supermodel — it just looks like you're wearing way too much makeup. When it doubt, remember the old adage: Less is more.
Glittery Eye Makeup
"Glittery shadows can be very aging," says makeup artist Pati Dubroff. "Glimmer exaggerates wrinkles and minimizes contours." Instead, Pati advises opting for matte shadows to define the lid — and only use a little sparkle at the inner corner of the eye or in the center of the lid. If you do opt to go with a shimmery shadow, pick a finely-milled one.
Stick Straight Hair
Stop worrying about getting 1970s-status straight hair and let your locks stay wavy. Hairstylist Loretta Wollner advises against this style if you want your face to look youthful — super straight hair tends to emphasize every line, particularly if it's long. Skip the straightener and allow your hair to air dry on its own. Any excuse to avoid heat styling is a good excuse, right?
Spidery Mascara
Spidery lashes flatter no one, so keep your lashes full and lush yet separated from one another. Sticking with just a couple coats of mascara plus a couple squeezes of the eyelash curler should do the trick.
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