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You might be stuck in doing what's comfortable for you, so you keep doing it over and over again, thinking you're improving your makeup application skills. But it's not going to happen – that's if you're guilty of any of these four mistakes below.
Faux pas 1: Wearing the wrong colour foundation
Matching the right shade to suit your complexion can be tricky, says Razana Omar, the makeup artist behind Zar Brides and Top Vendor's Elite Wedding Makeup Artist of 2017. Especially if you're purchasing a drugstore brand and you don’t have a consultant to assist you.
"In this case, my best tip is to test them out first by wearing it and going outside into natural light. There shouldn’t be a difference between your face and neck/shoulders.
"Make sure to adjust your foundation colours according to the seasons. If you soak up the sun in summer, get a darker shade."
PRO TIP: If the foundation looks orange then it’s too dark for you, and if it looks ashy or grey, it’s too light for you, advises Razana.
Razana also adds that if your aim is to make yourself look lighter or darker, then you should be sure to match up your face and neck, or use products like a bronzer to make you look darker naturally.
READ MORE: Does wearing makeup to the gym really damage your skin?
Faux pas 2: Using the wrong foundation for your skin type
Most people don’t know their skin type, says Razana, and she can't stress enough how important it is to know this when it comes to purchasing foundation.
"If your skin type was dry last year it may not be dry anymore," she explains.
"Skin types change according to seasons, stress, lifestyle, new medication, etc, so before you go along to purchase a new foundation, be triple sure about your skin type.
"Trust me – it will ensure longevity on your makeup application and will most likely be a more flawless application."
Faux pas 3: Not blending in your foundation correctly
Guilty ones, raise your hands.
Razana notes that many ladies use their fingers when applying and blending foundation, and while there might not be anything wrong with that, she says there's a way to do it correctly.
"Don’t forget to blend around the sides of your face and down into your neck.
"This is why a brush or a beauty blender type of sponge would be ideal – because it’s easier to avoid streaks or miss spots."
If you don’t have acne-prone skin, Razana suggests a stippling brush.
Real Techniques stippling brush, R200 at Clicks.
READ MORE: We tried 4 beauty products we were scared to put on our faces
"If you do have acne prone skin, though, I would suggest blending with a sponge or buffing brush so as not to create microdermabrasion on the skin," she says.
BYS precision sponge, R115 at Zando.
"Foundation brushes are also an amazing invention. These are flat and I use them to apply the foundation onto the face before I blend in with a sponge," says Razana.
Faux pas 4: Not setting your foundation with a setting powder
"People are afraid of powders because they believe it will make them look 'cakey'", says Razana.
"But the truth is that a good setting powder that is applied well will set your foundation for the rest of the day, ensuring longevity."
If you often wonder why your foundation comes off at work around midday, Razana explains that it could be due to A) the wrong foundation for your skintype and/or B) you haven’t set it with a powder.
"I recommend MAC Prep and Prime or any translucent powder from a high-end brand (my experience with drugstore brand powders are that they tend to look a bit ashy on the skin.)
"A small-medium sized powder brush will ensure that the application of the powder is perfect (I don’t use those large powder brushes in my kit as they are too big to go underneath the eyes," she explains.
And don't forget a good setting spray or a hydrating spray on top of the powder that will prevent that 'cakey' look, she adds.
Prep + prime fix, 30ml, R180 at MAC.
Foundation is not going to cover everything
Although this is not a faux pas, Razana wants you to know that you can actually choose your coverage according to what you want the foundation to do.
"While some foundations give you light coverage – and this is for people with clearer skin, other foundations gives you heavier coverage and are mainly for those who need to cover acne and dark marks, scarring or pigmentation, etc."
"Estee Lauder Double Wear is a really good full coverage foundation. MAC Face and Body is a good light-to-medium coverage foundation. And whatever your foundation doesn’t cover, I would suggest using concealer. The whole aim of concealer is to cover what your foundation cannot," she adds.
Estee Lauder Double Wear, R585 at Edgars.
WATCH: Razana Omar: Make-up Artist, Mela on SABC
Image credit: ZaraZoo Photography
Follow Zar Brides on Instagram and Facebook and visit the website here.
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