Droopy lids change how eyeliner looks. A wing that points neatly upwards on a straight lid can sit flat, bend or even point downwards when the lid folds over it, and a thick line along the whole lash line can make the eyes look smaller and heavier. Liner that looked sharp when you applied it…
Enlarged pores are one of the most common reasons people reach for more foundation, and one of the most common reasons makeup ends up looking worse. Thick layers sink into pores, collect around the nose and cheeks and make them look more obvious by midday. Oil then breaks the base down further, leaving small dots…
Waterproof mascara, liner and long-wear foundation are made to survive tears, sweat and rain, which is exactly why they are so hard to take off at night. Many people end up rubbing their eyes with a cotton pad over and over, pulling at the lashes and leaving the skin red and sore. Some give up…
A smoky eye, a graphic liner or a deep, shimmery lid instantly makes a look feel dramatic. The usual advice is to pair it with a light lip so the face does not look overdone. That advice is sound, but it is also where many looks go wrong. A lip that is too pale can…
Concealer that looks smooth when you apply it can settle into fine lines under the eyes within an hour. By midday, the thin lines where your skin folds when you smile or squint have filled with product, and the area can look drier and older than it did before you started. It is one of…
Makeup that looks perfect in the mirror can look very different in photos, and it is often not obvious until you see the pictures afterwards. Cameras pick up shine, uneven patches and flashback, and long events such as weddings, parties or professional shoots give makeup plenty of time to fade or slide. To keep makeup…
Dry, flaky skin can make even the best foundation look patchy. Product clings to flakes around the nose, mouth and eyebrows, powder turns chalky and by midday the skin feels tight and looks dull. Makeup on dry, flaky skin looks best when you focus on hydration and gentle exfoliation first, then use creamy, flexible products…
Your skin tone can change noticeably between seasons, whether from sun exposure, self-tanner or simply less time indoors. Suddenly your usual foundation looks too light, a little grey or ashy, and there is a visible line at the jaw. You can adjust your makeup to match a tan without buying a whole new foundation. The…
Textured skin, such as enlarged pores, small bumps, rough patches, acne scars or fine lines, can make makeup look uneven. Foundation catches in dips and on raised areas, powder emphasises every bump and shimmer highlights exactly what you want to soften. Makeup on textured skin looks smoothest when you focus on prep and thin layers…
Skin changes with age. It usually becomes drier, thinner and less elastic, fine lines appear and colouring can become more uneven. The makeup habits that worked years ago may start to sit differently, and small changes in technique can make a surprisingly big difference to how fresh your face looks. The makeup mistakes most likely…
You start the day with a crisp line and by lunchtime there are grey shadows under your eyes or the liner has printed onto your upper lid. Smudged eyeliner is one of the most common midday makeup problems, especially for people with oily lids, hooded eyes or watery eyes. To fix smudged eyeliner midday, first…
Pressed powder is one of the most convenient makeup products, but it can be frustrating in two ways. In the compact, it can crack, develop a hard, shiny surface or run out faster than expected. On the face, it can fade, turn patchy or disappear by midday on oily skin. To make pressed powder last…
Cream blushes, bronzers, contours and highlighters give a natural, skin-like finish, while powders set makeup and help it last. Using both can give the best of each, but only if they are layered in the right order. Get it wrong and cream products drag, lift foundation or turn patchy. The basic rule is cream before…
A round face has soft curves, full cheeks and a similar width and length, which many people find youthful and approachable. Blush placement can either enhance that softness or add a little lift and definition, depending on the look you want. To apply blush on a round face, place it slightly above the apples of…
Dark eyeshadows such as black, deep brown, navy and plum create dramatic smoky eyes, but they are also the worst for fallout. Tiny particles drop onto the under-eyes and cheeks, leaving grey smudges that are hard to remove without ruining your concealer and foundation. You can avoid fallout from dark eyeshadow by giving the powder…
The T-zone, the forehead, nose and chin, has more oil glands than the rest of the face. For many people that means foundation that looks perfect in the morning is shiny, patchy or sliding off the nose by lunchtime, while the cheeks still look fine. The key to makeup on an oily T-zone is to…
Most people keep makeup in the bathroom, a bag or a car without thinking about temperature. Yet heat, cold and humidity can change how products look and feel, shorten their life and in some cases make them less safe to use. Makeup keeps best at a steady room temperature, roughly 15 to 25 degrees Celsius…
Look closely at almost any face and you will notice that the two sides are not identical. One brow sits a little higher, one eye looks slightly larger, the lips tilt a touch to one side or one cheekbone is more prominent. This is completely normal, and it is part of what makes a face…
Open a lipstick, a foundation or a setting spray and there is often a faint scent: vanilla, roses, fruit or just something clean. Makeup is not perfume, so why do so many products smell of anything at all? Fragrance is added to makeup for a few main reasons. Many raw ingredients such as oils, waxes,…
You smooth on moisturiser, then sunscreen, and as you rub it in, tiny flakes or balls start rolling across your skin. Or your foundation goes on patchy and crumbles into little specks. This is pilling, and it is one of the most annoying problems in any routine because it wastes product and makes makeup look…
Contour is meant to look like a soft, natural shadow. When it goes wrong, it looks like a muddy stripe, a blotchy patch or a streak that sits on top of the foundation rather than melting into it. Patchy contour is one of the most common makeup frustrations, and it can happen with both cream…