The Gist
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Even the best makeup products can fall flat without the right technique—but the good news is that small tweaks in your makeup routine can instantly elevate your look.
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InStyle spoke with top makeup artists about the most common mistakes they see people make with makeup and how to fix them.
We’ve all spent time blending out a viral hack only to realize what looks flawless behind a ring light may look slightly terrifying on a rooftop at golden hour. In the age of rapid-fire TikTok tutorials, it’s easier than ever to adopt makeup habits that don’t actually work for your face.
The truth is, the fundamentals of great makeup remain surprisingly consistent, with small missteps making the difference between a polished finish and a look that feels slightly off. “Often, it isn’t the product that’s the problem, it’s how, where, and how much product is applied,” says celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, founder of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty . To help pinpoint the pitfalls worth avoiding, we asked top makeup artists to flag the mistakes they see most often—along with the subtle, expert-approved fixes that can instantly elevate any look.
1. Skipping Proper Skin Prep
“Makeup can only look as good as what’s underneath it,” says Laura Geller, a makeup artist and founder of Laura Geller Beauty . “When you skip skin prep, foundation has nothing to grip onto and can settle into fine lines and texture.” Geller suggests always starting with a good moisturizer and following up with a primer to create a smoothing barrier so makeup sits on top of the skin and lasts longer.
Tilbury agrees that priming is essential for a flawless finish. “If your skin doesn’t look hydrated, smooth, and plumped, foundation can crease, fade, or become patchy,” she shares.
2. Applying the Wrong Foundation Shade
“Matching foundation to your face instead of the neck and chest can give a mask-like effect or leave you looking gray or orange,” warns celebrity makeup artist Christian Briceno . He recommends using your neck and chest as a guide and testing three swatches on the jaw in natural daylight. “Owning two shades, one for winter and one for summer, and mixing them helps maintain a seamless match year-round,” he notes.
3. Using Too Much Powder
It's never a good idea to go overboard with powder. "Applying multiple layers of loose powder on top of a full face of makeup increases the visibility of fine lines and looks less like skin," says makeup artist Amanda Gabbard . “It can instantly age your complexion, so you need to use it sparingly.”
Tilbury also cautions against applying powder all over the face. “When you apply too much everywhere, you lose the natural light and dimension that make skin look fresh,” she explains. For the optimal application, Tilbury recommends pressing a light layer only through the center of the face or wherever shine appears to keep skin looking balanced and luminous.
4. Relying on Foundation As a Coverup
When it comes to foundation, less is almost always more. The goal isn’t to mask your skin, but to even out tone and enhance what’s already there. “Foundation is only meant to even out skin tone,” explains Dancing With the Stars makeup artist contributor Alison Gladieux , who recommends relying on concealer to target specific concerns rather than layering product all over the face.
Taking a lighter hand with foundation helps deliver the most natural results. Overapplying foundation can cause it to sit heavily on the skin and break down more quickly, rather than creating that coveted second-skin finish. Starting with a small amount and building coverage only where needed results in a more seamless, natural look. Formula choice matters, too. Heavy matte foundations can exaggerate dryness, texture, and fine lines, making skin appear flat instead of fresh. Gabbard advises, “Look for hydrating foundations and concealers with descriptive words like dewy, radiant, and luminous instead."
5. Choosing the Wrong Concealer Shade
Restraint is key when it comes to concealer. Applying too much can lead to creasing, a cakey finish, and makeup that breaks down quickly. Briceno suggests minimal placement and thin, flexible formulas set with a small amount of powder only where creasing occurs. “Press, don’t sweep,” he advises, emphasizing a more controlled, skin-like application.
Shade selection is just as important as technique. Concealer should be only slightly lighter than your foundation—about half a shade, according to celebrity makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy. Anything brighter can have the opposite effect, drawing attention to the very areas you’re trying to disguise.
6. Contouring Too Low on the Face
“Keep blush high and slightly back toward the temple, and place contour higher on the cheek rather than as a dark stripe underneath, as low placement pulls the face down and can visually widen features,” says Briceno. “A quick check is to avoid placing color below the smile line.”
Tilbury agrees that placement can make or break a sculpted look: “Applying contour slightly higher along the cheekbone helps create definition and a more lifted effect.”
7. Picking the Wrong Bronzer and Blush Formulas
“Powder formulas can cling to dry patches and create a chalky finish that doesn’t mimic the way skin naturally reflects light,” says makeup artist Amanda Gabbard, who recommends cream-based blushes and bronzers that melt into the skin for a dewy glow. Hussainy adds that if a bronzer is too dark or packed with shimmer, it can look muddy or overly sparkly. “The goal is a soft, sun-kissed glow—not a disco-ball effect,” she says.
Avoiding and skipping blush is another common mistake, says celebrity makeup artist Sage. “A rosy cheek will always appear fresher and more flattering than a flat, monochromatic face,” she notes. Keeping tools clean is essential for ensuring a smooth, streak-free application as dirty brushes can interfere with this.
8. Wearing Aging Lip Colors and Liners
“Dark matte lipsticks can make lips look thinner while enhancing fine lines around the mouth,” says Gabbard, who suggests feathering a nude peach-mauve liner around the lips and gently filling it in with a light lipstick or gloss to create fullness. Hussainy notes that your liner should never be significantly darker than your lipstick. “The goal is seamless definition, not a noticeable outline,” she says.
9. Going Too Heavy with Eye Makeup
“A deep or charcoal smoky eye can overwhelm the face,” says Gabbard. She prefers soft neutrals like caramel, bronze, and terracotta that give definition and enhance the look while keeping the eyes open, soft, and natural. Unblended eyeliner under the eyes can make eyes appear smaller. “Heavy, dark lines on the bottom lash line tend to ‘close in’ the eye,” says Wiles. “Instead, use a softer powder and blend for a diffused, smoky effect that keeps the eyes looking wide open and fresh.” Very dark and overdone brows are a common mistake, adds Sage. She recommends soft, feathery strokes in a shade close to your natural hair color. Finally, Gladieux adds that mascara isn’t one-size-fits-all. “You need to know your lash type and eye shape to choose the right formula, whether it's volumizing or lengthening, so it enhances and balances your features.”
10. Getting Ready in Poor Lighting
Take note: Lighting changes everything. Geller advises, “If you’re applying makeup in dim or harsh lighting, you’re not seeing your skin the way others will. Apply your makeup in natural daylight near a window, and use a magnifying mirror so you can see exactly what you’re doing.”
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