Laura Bermingham

Without exception, we all make some mistakes when we put on our face. Whether it’s to do with our make-up formulation or shade, we can all get it wrong. These are the most common blunders — perhaps they are something you struggle with too?

Too dark foundation

This is very common, especially if you self-tan and are chasing that golden glow from your foundation. Ideally, if you tan all of the time you will need a make-up that is a little darker, but don’t go more than one shade up in colour. If you want your skin to look more golden add colour to the face with bronzer after contouring. A sheer sweep of sunkissed skin all over will look more natural than a foundation that’s two to three shades darker than you are.

Concealer that’s too light

Applying a concealer that’s too pale or bright for your skin won’t cover up dark circles like you think it should. You need a different type of cover-up — a corrector concealer. In shades that look peach or pink, these correctors ‘neutralise’ the darkness of the circle first. Then when you place a regular concealer that is skin toned and matches your foundation on top, the dark circle will have disappeared and your under eye should look bright and even.

Choose blusher carefully

There are two things to consider here — formula and shade. A lot of women avoid blusher completely but it is wonderful for making skin look more youthful. In general, a cream formula is best, powder can appear to ‘sit’ on top of skin and the effect is counterproductive if used for its youth-giving potential. Cream colour looks more natural in daylight, but get the colour right. Lighter skin tones need paler shades, and pink works best with darker hair and a pale complexion, or peach with lighter coloured hair and a pale- to-medium complexion. Darker skin tones can ramp up the colour. Choose warm shades in coral and hotter pinks.

Keep lipstick in place for longer

Lipstick bleeding or smearing is inevitable if you don’t prep the lips first by using a lip liner pencil. Both products are made of colour pigment and waxes, but the liner formula is more durable.

When you line the lips and then apply lipstick it creates a barrier that prevents the lipstick from spreading.

It should be in a matching shade to avoid it looking darker or lighter than the lipstick, but it will make all the difference to the finished lip.