MISTAKES

Even the very best products, used incorrectly, can become your worst enemy.

CONCEALER

Trying to fake perfect skin with concealer never works. Piling it on is like directing a sign to the imperfection that you’re trying to hide.

A small dab goes a long way. More impor­tant is the color you use. Using a concealer that’s too light gives off a ghostly glow. Using a concealer that’s too dark makes you look like a dressed up raccoon.

LIP PENCIL

Here’s a product that can look really good or just plain awful. Its purpose is to give the lips definition and keep lipstick from bleeding. Using it to outline your lips is a big no-no. It leaves a big ring around the mouth when lip­stick fades. Always use a lipliner close to your lipstick shade. If you really want to save money, buy one lipliner in a neutral shade that matches your lips. In this way when lipstick eventually wears off, it will leave your lips with a slight def­inition and no unsightly lines.

If you are NOT COMFORTABLE

with your smile, you may not feel comfortable with a very dark lipstick because it will bring too much ATTENTION to your mouth. Stay with LIPGLOSS.

BRONZER

This wonderful product is the ultimate case of too much of anything is just too much. Its pur­pose is to give the illusion of a healthy tan with­out the dangerous sun. But the problem is that it’s not a tan, and it shouldn’t be used as a sub­stitute.

Use your bronzer only on the spots where the sun would hit your face naturally. That would be lightly on the cheeks, lightly on the nose and forehead, and ever so lightly on the chin.

BLUSH

So many well-intended beauties attempt to sculpt their faces with blush. It never looks right. Neither can you create high cheekbones with blush. Its sole purpose is to add color to the cheeks. That’s only to the cheeks. Smile. The two rounded areas on your face are the apples, the only place that blush belongs. It should be applied after foundation and powder.

FOUNDATION

Don’t wear a foundation that’s too light in an attempt to even out a fading tan. Don’t use a foundation that’s too dark to create a tan. Get the color that literally disappears into the area right above your jaw. That’s your shade.

If you really love BRIGHT COL­ORS, keep them to one area of your face. In this way you’ll be able to wear a bright color without look­ing like a clown.

Updated: June 30, 2015 — 9:11 am