Commit these beauty sins, and you could be doing more harm than good.
It’s hard enough to look awake in the morning, but it’s even harder if your makeup makes you look more tired. The good news: You can avoid looking like you’re running on no sleep. Steer clear of the makeup mistakes below, and you’ll look much more awake:
Mistake 1: You choose monotone colors
Creating definition between each of your facial features helps to make you look more awake. Instead of going for plain, one-dimensional color all over your face, subtly define your brows, eyes, cheeks, and lips.
Mistake 2: You use the wrong under-eye concealer
Concealer that’s too dark or too light for your face will inevitably make you look tired.
The fix: Apply it in a well-lit room to make sure that it looks natural. And whenever you test a new product, use a hand mirror to see how it looks in different rooms with varied lighting.
Mistake 3: You skip eye-makeup primer
This one’s especially dangerous if you use a dark eyeliner underneath your eyes. See, primer prevents dark color from smudging and drooping beneath your eyes so you don’t get that raccoon look. (If you really want to play it safe, only use waterproof eyeliner on your bottom lash line.)
Mistake 4: You use too much powder
Dry, powdered skin tends to look older and more tired than clean, smooth skin. The takeaway: Don’t overdo it! Go with a translucent powder to eliminate shine, and blend it in well.
Mistake 5: You skip moisturizer
Please, please, please never apply your makeup before you put on a moisturizer. (Bonus points if you use one that contains SPF!) Applying any makeup on dry, flaky skin can make you look incredibly tired and dried out.
Mistake 6: You use the wrong eyeliner color
If you’re cool-toned, bronze or gold eyeliner will make you look tired and sickly. If you have warm-toned skin, silvery liner can make you look just as bad. Avoid your trouble colors to look more awake.
Mistake 7: You wear gray makeup
Makeup with gray undertones brings out the gray coloring in all skin tones to make you look incredibly tired and much older. Stick with a warm-colored palette to look more youthful and refreshed.
BDST: 1839 HRS, SEP-02, 2014
