Is Your Makeup Aging You?

There are so many things we do to take special care of our skin in hopes of stalling the aging process: We’ll happily cake on the sunscreen before any outdoor activity, don the widest brim hats we can find, spend a pretty penny on highly-raved about skin creams and masks, and may even invest in a pricey laser treatment or chemical peel. But what if our biggest skin-aging worries could be fixed simply by changing up our makeup application? News Flash: If you haven’t updated your beauty routine since your teens or early 20s, chances are it’s your makeup that’s aging you more than time itself.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up ten of the most common makeup mistakes that can totally age you, and are recommending the best products to ensure you put your freshest, most radiant face forward.

Mistake #1: Applying too much foundation

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Mistake #1: Applying too much foundation

Thick, heavy foundation tends to settle into fine lines and can give you an overall dull complexion. Aim for a sheer or lightweight foundation, and avoid words like “matte” and “velvet.” The goal is glowing, even and radiant skin!

Chanel

2 / 20

The Fix

Try Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 15 ($54). It’s light consistency will ensure you only apply a fresh, sheer coat.

Mistake #2: Wearing thewrong shade of foundation

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Mistake #2: Wearing thewrong shade of foundation

When choosing a foundation, it’s important to ensure it matches both your natural skin tone on your face as well as your neck. Choosing a foundation that is too light can make your skin appear lifeless and flat. It will look like it’s just sitting on your skin and can add years to your face. If you go too dark, you won’t be able to highlight your features, and can run the risk of “floating head syndrome” where your face doesn’t match the rest of your body. To find the right colour when searching for a foundation, don’t blend too much. Just tap the liquid on your jawline and try to find the closest shade to your natural skin tone. When applying it, think less is more, and be sure to blend it down to your neck.

Bobbi Brown

4 / 20

The Fix

Try Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15 (US $48). It comes in 19 different shades, so you’re bound to find your best match.

Mistake #3: Caking on the finishing powder

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Mistake #3: Caking on the finishing powder

Powders prevent the youthful-looking way skin reflects light that makes you glow. Instead, they tend to magnify lines and wrinkles and dull your complexion. Avoid applying powder to your entire face, and simply dab a little translucent powder exclusively on your oily parts, typically the T-Zone (nose, chin and forehead).

Laura Mercier

6 / 20

The Fix

Try Laura Mercier’s Loose Setting Powder in Translucent ($50). It’s translucent so it can simply be used to absorb any oils–just make sure to tap the powdered brush off to remove excess makeup before swiping it over your face.

Mistake #4: Not filling in and defining your brows

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Mistake #4: Not filling in and defining your brows

As you age, your eyebrows tend to get thinner and may not grow back due to over-plucking. This can leave you looking undefined and washed out. Use a pencil to fill in your brows which will help define your features and create a youthful look.

Anastasia Beverly Hills

8 / 20

The Fix

Try Antastasia Beverly Hills' Brow Wiz ($27). It’s a total winner.

Mistake #5: Using too much concealer under your eyes

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Mistake #5: Using too much concealer under your eyes

Applying a thick concealer under your eyes can draw attention to the fine lines and shallowness of the area. The better option? A brush-on highlighter pen that boasts a light consistency and illuminating particles to camouflage dark circles.

YSL

10 / 20

The Fix

Try YSL’s Touche Éclat ($50). There's a reason this magic wand has been on countless models', editors' and actresses' must-have beauty lists for years.

Mistake #6: Only lining your bottom lashes

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Mistake #6: Only lining your bottom lashes

Many women only line their bottom lashes. Why? Because it’s easier. The problem with this is you’re making your eyes appear smaller, giving you an overall older look. Applying eyeliner to the top should be mandatory. It will open your eyes and thereby brighten your face.

Bobbi Brown

12 / 20

The Fix

Try Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner($29). It’s easy to get close to the lash line with the precision brush for a crisp line that stays all day.

Mistake #7: Wearing the wrong shade of lip liner

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Mistake #7: Wearing the wrong shade of lip liner

Lip liner has a great purpose. It will define your lips and prevent colour from bleeding into lines around the mouth. But, choosing the wrong colour can add years to your look. Your lip liner should match the colour of your lips– not the lipstick itself. For the most flawless look, use the lip liner to fill in your entire lips. This will ensure it wears evenly.

Guerlain

14 / 20

The Fix

Try Guerlain’s Lasting Colour Precision Liner ($43). It comes in natural shades to flatter everyone.

Mistake #8: Wearing lip colour in a shade that’s too dark for you

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Mistake #8: Wearing lip colour in a shade that’s too dark for you

Dark colours are known for making any surface look smaller. Why do you think we tend to wear deep hues on our hips? But, on your lips, a dark colour makes them look less plump and less highlighted. Make your pout look fuller with bright lipsticks and lip glosses in corals, peaches, pinks, and reds.

Dior

16 / 20

The Fix

Try Dior’s Addict Lipstick ($34). They have an array of soft and natural pinks, nudes and corals so you can find the shade that complements you best.

Mistake #9: Applying lipstick straight from the stick

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Mistake #9: Applying lipstick straight from the stick

The border of your lips tend to soften with age, and lipstick can easily get stuck in those areas. Prevent bleeding colour from occurring by using a brush or even your finger to apply the lip colour, so you don’t apply too much.

MAC

18 / 20

The Fix

MAC’s 318 Retractable Lip Brush ($29) will ensure your lipstick looks flawless.

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Mistake #10: Skipping the blush

The easiest way to bring youthfulness to your face? A rosy glow! To find the right shade, pinch your cheeks and try to match your natural flushed colour to a blush. When applying, go for the apple of your cheeks, and blend back.