10 Makeup Mistakes That Will Age You

Using makeup is a double-edged sword. Apply it correctly, and it can make you look youthful and fresh: Witness our well-made-up models, both in their forties. But use too heavy a hand or dated techniques, and it can just as easily add years to your face. See the 10 errors makeup pros singled out for us, plus the easy fixes to make.

Mistake #1Skipping Foundation

You may think that the older you get the more makeup you need to “youthify” your face, but the opposite is true. Pack on the makeup and you run the risk of looking older than your years. But one makeup item you should never skip in the name of lightening up your routine: foundation.

Mistake #2: Going Too Natural

Even the loveliest skin needs foundation to even out the tone—note the ashy patches when the model goes without—plus smooth the skin and give it a flawless, polished look.

Mistake #3: Applying Blush Incorrectly

A frequent makeup mistake: adhering too literally to that old adage about putting blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Mistake #4: Overdoing Lip Liner

Here’s a trendy look. . .back in the Clinton Administration. Dark, heavily lined lips will date you as fast as a pair of stirrup pants. And then there’s this: Go too far outside your lip’s natural line, and your lip color will get caught in the fine, feathery lines around the mouth and emphasize them.

Continue reading for the solutions that you can do to correct these 10 makeup mistakes that you do that ages you.