Top Beauty Errors

Beauty blunders are easy to make and even easier to make a habit. Here are some expert tips to help you with those little how-tos that make all of the difference.

Scrimping on Your Routine

“Some women don’t want to take the time to do their whole make-up routines. They try to overcompensate, picking a couple items—usually base, blush, and dark or bright lipstick. That’s a time-saver, but it doesn’t make it,” says Valerie Sarnelle, a celebrity make-up artist and proprietress of Valerie Beverly Hills. “You have to take time to do everything, like filling in the brows where they are too sparse and using concealer. Completely do your make-up for good results.”

Forgetting the Basecoat

“Use a basecoat and then clear polish as opposed to just a clear polish on its own. Basecoats nourish the nails and offer a barrier that protects against staining and helps the polish adhere and last longer,” explains Meredith Foster, director of marketing for GBS Beauty. Clear polishes that dry to a matte finish are great for men who want a manicured look without the shine, she says, adding that if you don’t wear color, use a buffer to achieve natural shine. Your nails will look freshly manicured, and you won’t have to worry about polish maintenance.

Skipping the Sunscreen

You can check the soft skin on the inside of your arm for a clue as to the glory that might have been, says Rebecca L. Euwer, MD, a Dallas-based dermatologist. “That skin hasn’t been exposed to the sun. You can imagine how much softer and rich in collagen your face would be without the intermittent exposure you get just running errands in the car. Use sunscreen all of the time to stop the accumulative effects.”

Getting a Cookie-Cutter Cut

“Your haircut should match the shape of your face and complement your body type. Jennifer Aniston’s long, straight hair parted in the middle started a huge craze, but it’s a hard one to pull off. Ask your stylist to help you evaluate the ‘whole picture,’” says Foster.

Making Color Faux Pas

“Wear your absolute best colors all the time, and you’ll glow. For a stunning combination, try wearing your eye color [make up] paired with the color of your hair. Find your best red, whether it’s rosy pink or a russet red, by matching the pink in your cheeks and intensifying it slightly. Rich teal is beautiful on almost everyone. If all else fails, have your colors professionally analyzed,” says Ginger Burr, a personal image coach based in Boston and president of Total Image Consultants.

Rushing the Sale

“When it comes to new clothes, try on, try on, try on! The truth is, you don’t really know how something fits or looks on you until you try it,” cautions Madeleine, owner of C. Madeleine’s, the largest vintage fashion showroom in the United States.

Forgetting That Size Does Count

“Clothing that is too big makes you look bigger, and clothing that is too small also makes you look bigger. If it doesn’t fit properly, either do not buy it or take it to a tailor,” insists Burr.

Lacking Diet Smarts

“Growing up, I tried about every diet you could possibly imagine, from drinking cod liver oil to an all-liquid diet to the macrobiotic diet,” says Bobbi Brown, a celebrity make-up artist. Each time, she would lose weight and gain it right back. Finally, she changed her definition of the word diet. “Instead of trying to attain the impossible and be ‘perfect,’ I decided I was going to eat healthy and be healthy. Now, I eat wholesome fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.”

Procrastinating

“Never wait until the last minute to shop for that special dress. This is less stressful and allows time for any alterations that may be needed,” says Madeleine.

Choosing the Wrong Foundation

“Women often wear the wrong color foundation, one that’s either too light or too dark for their complexions. The easiest way to test your foundation color is to go into natural light and swatch the foundation on the side of your face. If the color blends in seamlessly or disappears, it’s the right color for you,” says Brown.

Settling for a Terrible T

“T-shirts can be terribly unflattering,” insists Burr. “Most of them have banded crew necklines that make your neck look short and sleeves that stick out making you look wider. And they are often long and shapeless, ending at the widest part of your hips. Choose Ts with a little shape, a different neckline, and make sure they aren’t too long.”

Failing to Go the Distance

“A mistake I often see is lining the eyes only halfway. By lining either the innermost or outermost part of your eye, you essentially make your eyes look smaller and more receded. Whether you line just the top lash line or the top and bottom, the trick is to trace the entire length of the eye, from inner to outer corner,” says Brown, adding that “the top and bottom liner should meet at the outer corner of the eye.” Finally, she says, make sure the liner is thick enough to be visible when your eyes are open.

Overlining Your Lips

“It looks really dated when women line their lips with a liner that’s darker than their lipstick,” observes Brown. “Plus, it doesn’t make your lips look fuller; it just makes them look unnatural.” Instead, choose a lip liner that’s either the same tone as your lips or that complements your lipstick. For natural looking definition and to avoid harsh lines, line lips after applying lipstick.

Underdressing

“So many women settle for wearing uninspired, super-casual clothing everyday because that’s what’s clean when they get dressed, and that’s what they’ve always done. My advice,” says Burr, “is step it up a notch and wear something that expresses your personality and shows that you care about yourself.”

Wasting Your Money

“Good skincare doesn’t have to be costly. Choose Aveeno, Neutrogena, Purpose, or Oil of Olay with an SPF of 30, and you’ll get a top quality, elegant moisturizer for half the cost of a department store brand,” says Euwer.

Playing the (Fashion) Victim

“Don’t wear a style that’s not suitable for your body type simply because it’s the current trend. You want to look good, right? Then wear what is flattering on you,” Madeleine advises.

Neglecting Your Lips

“With age, lips may thin out due to a decrease of collagen. Make lips look fuller with a neutral lip color and then layer it with a complementary gloss,” says Brown. To finish, she adds, line the lips to keep lip color from feathering.

Sitting It Out

“Makeover your attitude by breaking a sweat. People who work out are more relaxed,” observes Brown. “When I miss one day of exercise, I immediately see a difference in my mood and how I react to situations.”

Getting Too Matchy-Matchy

“Nothing looks tackier than matching your make-up to your outfit,” says Sarnelle. Instead, she says, “enhance your eyes, and stay with the ‘tone’ of your coloring.” For example, black eyes look best with black eyeliner and deep colors; brown eyes look great with brown, apricot, and plum; and for blue eyes, try taupe, light gray, violets and blues.

— Michele Deppe