Makeup has no rules, but it certainly has a theory.
In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a girly girl. A Bratz-adoring, wig-loving, makeup-wearing girly girl.
My family sometimes reminisces on when I was four and would count down the years until I could wear makeup at fourteen. Seeing my grandmother sell Mary Kay and my mom wear her brown lipliner and frosty eyeshadow for work made me so ready for the day I could do the same
It all came full circle when I started 8th grade and found myself at a Walgreens with my mom, picking up makeup for the first day of school. Disheveled and anxious for the days ahead, 8th grade me was intimidated by the same frosty white eyeshadow my mom was so fond of in 2006.
I’ve come a long way since then, but now that I’ve evolved past my beginner phase, I can share my experiences so you don’t have to go through the same embarrassing phase of novice mistakes and awkward makeup photos. In this article, I’ll be helping all my future beauty gurus with some of the worst beauty mistakes I made as a beginner.
Check it out:
1. Not using primer/setting spray
This is one of the most important steps in your makeup routine, and if you don’t do it, you’re missing out: here’s why.
Primer provides a good base for your foundation. No base, no solid foundation and no protective layer between your skin and makeup. Luckily, primer also has more functions than just providing you with a flawless base.
Depending on which primer you buy and your skin concerns, primers also serve as a way to mattify your skin, give you an illuminating glow, or block out blemishes. There are even primers for your eyes and lips to give your eyeshadow a vibrant pop or protect your lips, respectively.
While primer establishes a solid base for your makeup, setting spray tops it off. When I didn’t use a setting spray, my makeup rarely looked as good as it did at the beginning of the day.
Like primers, setting sprays come in different forms that fit your skin needs–like illuminating or mattifying spray. It all depends on you.
If you want that seamless look for your makeup, you need a good primer/setting spray in your life. My favorite primer is Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer & my favorite setting spray is Milani’s Make It Last Setting Spray Prime + Correct + Set (it’s a great three-in-one product for an inexpensive price).
2. Using products with silica
If you’re planning on implementing foundation or setting powder in your makeup routine, you need to know what silica is because it can make or break your flashback game.
Silica is a mineral that is found in generally everything–from sand to rocks to clays. It even makes up a portion of the Earth’s crust. A synthetic form of it, amorphous silica, can also be found in your face products like foundations and setting powders–which help set your makeup as well.
Although it’s used as a thickening agent and can prevent your makeup from settling, it’s one of the top ingredients that can cause flashback.
Flashback is when your makeup gives off a white and almost chalky outcast in photos with the flash on. (Think of the infamous James Charles meme). Depending on what products you use, flashback can occur and it is not cute.
Along with silica, products like certain SPF ingredients, silver mica, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide can cause the dreaded chalk look.
The best way to let your melanin shine is to look into what products you’re using so you can avoid those ingredients.
3. Being Product Heavy
It’s likely many of you have heard the term “less is more” and in the beauty world, it’s beyond true.
Makeup is an art—whether you like to admit it or not—so there aren’t “rules” that you must follow. It’s what you make of it. However, makeup does have principles, so if you want your makeup to be seamless, being product heavy is something you should avoid.
Instead, build up your product to your liking. This goes for foundations, concealers, powders, lip products, and eyeshadows especially.
Like adding salt to your food, you can always add more but too much can ruin the whole thing, so start modestly.
For example, when using eyeshadow it’s always best to dip your brush in your pigment a few times, tap off the excess and blend it into your desired area while holding the end of your brush. This allows for more control, so you build up your eyeshadow.
The same goes for face products. Using a smaller amount starting out and then building up where you want more coverage will ensure a better finish. Again, makeup is art, and it doesn’t have rules.
If you have a desired look you want to execute, execute it.
4. Sleeping with Makeup On
For the sake of your skin, please don’t sleep with makeup on.
Not only will there be more bacteria festering on your face, but you’ll also be more prone to getting acne. There’s already bacteria on your face from going on with your day to day life, so the least you can do for your skin is treat it well and wash your face at night.
During high school, I was involved in a lot, so whenever I got home, all I wanted to do was go straight to bed. Despite a comfy bed and fuzzy blankets calling my name, it was essential for me to wash my face when I finally realized the consequences associated with omitting it.
According to a conversation with Dr. Sue Ann Wee on Byrdie.com, Wee says:
“Makeup can trap dirt and environmental pollutants inside the skin, and this type of environmental stress can result in increased free radicals which can cause DNA mutations, collagen degradation, and, over time, can result in premature aging.”
Dr. Sue Ann Wee
Additionally, sleeping with makeup on causes:
- Breakouts
- A Dryer/Duller Complexion
- Inflamed Skin
- Chapped Lips
- Irritated Eyes
- And so much more…
Allowing time out of your night routine–no matter how much your bed and fuzzy pajamas are calling your name–is essentially a form of self-care. No one wants unwanted breakouts and premature aging, so do yourself a favor and wash your makeup off before you go to bed.
BLK/OPL has a great line of skincare products for your nighttime routine. Check it out here!
5. Being Insecure About Wearing Makeup
The more I wore makeup in high school, the more I began to experiment with dark lip colors and bright jewel tones. It wasn’t until recently that I felt comfortable doing this with complete confidence. Living in a relatively small & conservative town in a southern state and attending a high school where a full beat face was uncommon was nerve-wracking.
Putting myself out there through my wardrobe and my makeup was my main way of being outspoken since I’m a generally introverted person. When words failed me, my style prevailed. Still, high school itself can be a judgmental place, so I struggled with being comfortable and confident in the way I expressed myself.
Looking back on it, I realize how important is it for me and other girls who want to start wearing makeup to realize that at the end of the day the only opinion that matters is yours. Makeup is supposed to be fun, not a burden. (It’s also pricey, so don’t let anyone’s opinions affect you if they’re not paying for your makeup.)
Experiment, have fun and do as you please.
