The Ultimate Beauty Guide

When you're used to doing your makeup a certain way, it's pretty hard to break out of your routine. That is until you catch a glimpse of your reflection in a store window and notice things aren't as they appeared in your bathroom mirror.

Whether you got too heavy-handed with the blush or your face powder has given you "clown face," celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal and Simple advisory board makeup artist Gita Bass explain the eight makeup mistakes you're probably making.


1. Over-powdering. Many women think translucent powder is their best friend and it is not, according to Roncal. Not only will so-called translucent powder leave you looking dry, white and cakey, but it will also settle in all of your fine lines and wrinkles. Bass adds, "By over-powdering, you create a flat mask-like look and destroy your natural radiance."

Choose a light powder and use it only where needed. Never powder over excessively oily skin without using blotting papers first; you will end up with a chalky appearance. Control your oil with the right oil-free skincare and makeup products. We like the Evercolor Poreless Face Defender because it sets makeup, reduces shine and creates a satiny-matte finish.


2. Drawing on exaggerated eyebrows. Not every girl is born with a naturally thick set of brows like Cara Delevingne. However, that doesn't mean you should pick up the darkest brow pencil you can find and fill away. You'll just end up looking really awkward.

Instead, take a spooly brush, direct your brow hairs upward at a 45-degree angle and set with brow gel. Brunettes should use an eyebrow pencil that is one shade lighter than their hair color, while blondes should fill in sparseness with pencil that's one shade darker. Be sure to focus on the outer half of your brows (from arch to tail).


3. Choosing the wrong under-eye concealer shade (or illuminator). This common makeup mistake can actually end up bringing unwanted attention to what you're trying to camouflage. Test the concealer on the back of your hand. If it's too light there, chances are it's too light for your face. Generally, orange concealer works best on most skin tones to conceal darkness.

Gently dab the concealer to the under-eye area, working from the outside to the inner corners. Then even out your complexion with foundation and set with a yellow-based powder.


4. Practicing bad bronzer application techniques. Roncal recommends concentrating on the perimeter of your face when applying bronzer -- starting behind the ear and working down along the jawline. Lightly sweep across the forehead (along the hairline), bridge of the nose, cheeks and tip of the chin. To prevent your face from looking "muddy" or "dirty," make sure that you also apply a great pink blush on the apples of the cheeks and a sweep of highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones.


5. Putting on too much blush. "Nothing will make you look crazier than too much or poorly applied blush," says Bass. Always keep in mind your skin tone -- olive skin looks best with warmer tones, fair skin with pink or rosy tones and dark skin with plum or berry.

For perfect placement, use the old smile technique and swirl the blush directly on apples of your cheeks blending back towards the temples. Make sure the blush is well blended and that it almost melts into your skin. When applied correctly, blush can brighten any complexion and make you look years younger.


6. Skipping primer. To bring down the shine on oily skin when wearing makeup, smooth on a mattifying face primer before applying foundation. Always have touch-up products in your purse like the Simple Radiance Cleansing Wipes to ensure you stay polished throughout the day. Or you can grab a toilet seat cover from the ladies restroom and blot.


7. Wearing mismatched foundation. Bass believes that your foundation should look invisible and leave people wondering if your skin is really that perfect. Pro tip: Always test your foundation on your jaw line in the day light. If it disappears, it's the right shade. "Don't try and bronze your skin using a darker shade, save that for bronzers themselves and always make sure you bring the color down to your neck to blend," she says.


8. Applying foundation on top of dry, flaky skin. No matter how creamy your foundation is, it's not going to hide dryness or flakiness. It will only exaggerate it making your skin look old and tired. Bass suggests exfoliating regularly and moisturizing day and night. For extra dry skin, use a moisturizing primer before applying foundation.