By Renee Jacques, Allure
(Photo: Talaya Centeno/WWD)
You probably have a trusted makeup routine you do every single day of your life. But guess what? It might include something that would make a pro cringe. We asked nine top makeup artists to get real with us about the one thing they wish their clients would stop doing. How many are you guilty of?
Using too much makeup. "I see more and more women wearing more and more makeup. Though I'm a huge supporter of wanting to look the way you want to look, I'm concerned that a number of women are simply following an Instagram trend. To me, that much makeup doesn't even look good in pictures with professional lighting, let alone in full daylight or under fluorescent office lights." --Beau Nelson, who works with Nicole Richie and Christina Hendricks
OD'ing on brow pencil. "One trend I've been seeing that is bad is what I call the stencil brow. It has hard, square edges and an unbelievable arch. The brows are a vast mountain of little hairs. The best way to draw them on or fill them in is to use a lighter color than your hair and use featherlight strokes in the direction your hairs naturally grow. And it doesn't need to be the same opacity everywhere--usually the brows are more transparent on the inner edges." --Quinn Murphy, who works with Gigi Hadid, Lily Aldridge, and Olivia Palermo
Using way too much foundation. "One thing that I've noticed lately is women using foundation that's too heavy for their skin. In my opinion, the beauty of a makeup look is showcasing your radiant skin. I like to use a lightweight tinted moisturizer and spot-check with a fuller-coverage concealer. If you get shiny, carry oil-blotting papers to keep the skin fresh and radiant." --Vincent Oquendo, who works with Ciara and Uma Thurman
Matching your foundation to the wrong part of your face. "One common mistake is matching your foundation to your cheeks and jawline. This often makes the face and neck two different colors. Instead, test foundation on your neck or collarbone to find the perfect match." --Mally Roncal, who works with Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez
Trying to look exactly like the illustration in a makeup chart. "My biggest beauty pet peeve at the moment is the heavily applied Instagram makeup: brows with sharp definition and faces made up so heavily that they look like a makeup-chart illustration. I'm all for playing with makeup and trying new things, but the overapplication that's so popular these days makes my heart hurt. I like a little breathing room on a face, with a little skin and sheen." --Fiona Stiles, who works with Gabrielle Union and Rachel McAdams
Using makeup charts at all. "I'm completely against makeup charts. I forbid it at all my makeup classes because all my clients think that those face charts are for everyone. But that's not how it really works. People have different faces and features, so how could everyone follow one face chart?" --Hrush Achemyan, who works with Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner
Making a mess of mascara. "I constantly see women who apply so much mascara but then don't clean up the eye area properly. You're then left with mascara smudged all over the lid. After applying mascara, I like to wait for it to dry before taking a dry Q-Tip to wipe away excess product that may have transferred onto the eyelid and underneath the eye. It only takes a few seconds, and it makes such a difference." --Carissa Ferreri, who works with Gina Rodriguez and Bailee Madison
Wearing boring lipstick. "I wish women would choose brighter colors for their lips. Too many woman think they're playing it safe by choosing nude colors or shades with a berry undertone. The result oftentimes makes women look drab. Don't be afraid to pop some color on the lips. Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Lipstick in Sheer Pink 501 gives a bright veil of fuchsia and L'Oréal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain Coral Tattoo gives a hot-persimmon sheen to the lips that lasts." --Molly Stern, who works with Cara Delevingne and Reese Witherspoon
Taking makeup trends too seriously. "I miss a certain individuality when it comes to makeup. Beauty trends get picked up so widely now on social media, and you see more and more people with a similar makeup flow. Overlined lips, contouring, and strobing are techniques that have been around for years. Trust me, I'm a huge fan of soft and pretty and having all of the essentials down, but when it's all said and done, don't be too much of a serious Sally when it comes to makeup. Remember to have fun with it and do unexpected things. You never know who'll be watching or who you'll inspire to take their own makeup risk." --Mary Phillips, who works with Chrissy Teigen and Jennifer Lopez
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