Common Makeup Mistakes That Can Age You

I was recently asked to be on WCNC's Charlotte Today with host Colleen Odegaard. I shared some common makeup mistakes that can unintentionally age you, and how to fix them. After all, makeup should enhance your natural features—not add years.

Watch the segment below.

🚫 Mistake 1: Too Much Under-Eye Concealer

• Why it ages you: It can look cakey, settle into fine lines, and highlight texture.

• Fix: Use a thin, hydrating concealer only where needed. Put on the back of your hand and allow your skin to warm up the product. Then work the concealer into the concealer brush first, and only apply where needed. This will allow you to apply the product in thin layers, adding coverage only where you need it and reducing the chance of using an excessive amount which causes visible creasing.

• Let it sit for a couple of minutes, pat out any excess product with the same brush, a cutip or a damp sponge and then set with a very finely milled setting powder.

  • Laura Mercier or Fenty Setting Powder

🚫 Mistake 2: Skipping Blush or Using the Wrong Tone

• Why it ages you: A lack of color makes the face look flat, one dimensional and tired.

• Fix: Use a cream or powder blush in peachy or rosy tones applied to the apples of the cheeks for a youthful glow.

  • NARS powder blush in a peachy tone, Hourglass powder blush in a soft warm pink tone, Laura Mercier powder blush in a soft rose tone, Westman Atelier cream blush in a warm pink tone.

🚫 Mistake 3: Harsh Eyeliner or Overdone Brows

• Why it ages you: Harsh lines can drag the face down or create a stark contrast.

• Fix: Use a soft brown liner on the top lash line. Try tightlining or smudging for a softer look. Then use a light to medium brown eye shadow and a smudger brush to line lower lash line. This will create a softer, more diffused look.

• Fix: Choose a brow pencil one shade lighter than your natural hair.

🚫 Mistake 4: Lip Prep and Over-lining Lips

• Why it ages you: Lipstick can settle into lines or look dry.

• Fix: Use a balm or mask first while you’re doing the rest of your makeup and let it fully absorb. Choose creamy lipsticks or glosses with a slight sheen instead of overly matte formulas.

• Why it ages you: over-lining your lips in the corner can drag down your mouth.

• Fix: Instead, over-line ONLY in the center if you need more “volume”. Then under-line in the corners of your mouth. See diagram below.

The left corner is what you should aim for - lining just inside your natural lip line. The right side depicts when you overline all the way to the corner, accentuating and dragging down the corner and aging your appearance.

A few simple swaps can take years off and make you feel more confident—because when makeup enhances you, not hides you, it truly becomes empowering!

Feel free to reach out with any questions!

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XOXO,

Lindsey