Biggest Mistakes Women Make when it Comes to Applying Make Up

Ladies beware when wearing make up your face can look like an unevenly layered tiramisu or it can look as clear and flawless as the models in the advertisements.

It's your choice how you look but to ensure you look your best, avoid the top ten make up application mistakes by reviewing my guide below.

Top 10 common make up application mistakes:

1 - Not cleaning or applying moisturiser to your skin: By not ensuring your skin is clean everyday before applying make up, this means you do not have a clear base to work from. Like a painting if the base is not clean and dry, your paint will not be applied smoothly rather leaving surface bubbles and other imperfections etc. So before applying make, cleanse your skin properly (exfoliate once a week) and make sure it moisturised to allow your skin cells to breathe when you apply the make up. If you don't moisturize, you can use a skin primer instead which can help provide an even silky smooth surface for make up to glide on (Try MAC, Mary Kay or AVON Primers).

2 - Applying concealer before foundation: This is not a good idea unless you are using green concealer to cover acne. You may not need to use concealer at all because once you have applied your foundation you may find that your skin in clear and there is no need for concealer as foundation is very good at covering dark circles and imperfections. So don't apply concealer until after foundation and only if you really need it.

3 - Choosing a foundation that is too dark: This is a big no no.....DO NOT choose a foundation anymore than one shade darker for your skin otherwise you will not be able to blend into your neck and jaw line and it will look like you have layered too many layers. A foundation colour should be chosen to one colour darker than your neck or jaw line. Try this before buying to ensure it is right for you. When applying foundation there are many application types including; sponges, foundation brush, clean fingers etc. I recommend a foundation brush as this keeps it looking blended and doesn't leave a harsh line of colour around your jaw line as a lot of females mistakenly do. Make sure your skin on your face and neck are the same shade of colour and blend all the way to the ears for the best look.

4 - Using the wrong type of products for your skin type: This is really important. If you have dry skin and constantly use powders and dry products like pressed compacts, dusting powder, bronzers and dry eye shadows your going to look very cakey. Your skin is going to look extremely drying and give you the look of more unhealthy dry skin and possible enhance your wrinkles. If you have oily skin and use liquid foundations, cream blushes and creamy eye shadow your face is going to look like its melting off. It is important you know which of the 3 main skin types you are: Dry, Oily or Combination and buy products to suit. Dry skin usually is dehydrated, wrinkles quicker and looks flaky. The products best for this are liquid foundations, cream blushes and cream eyeshadows as they hydrate the skin and keep it looking softer. Oily skin usually means your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) look oily constantly and you can be prone to more pimples. This skin type should use dry products like pressed powder, dry eye shadows and mineral powder foundation. Combination skin type usually means you're sometimes dry or oily but most often in between. This means you should use cream to powder foundations, cream to powder blushes and cream to powder or wet eye shadows which are mixed with water. Bronzers and dusting powder in moderation is also ok.

5 - Not blending your make up: You must blend your make up to make it look flawless as mentioned above it is especially important with foundation but also as important with eye shadow especially if your going for a natural daytime look or dramatic smoky evening look. If you don't blend blend blend you will have eye shadow seep through lines in your eyes and make you look unfinished so to speak. Apply with one brush and use another clean brush to blend it in. Eye shadow should be blended to give a more natural look and for defined eyes use eyeliners too. You should not see any defined lines of colour other than eyeliner on your face.

6 - Use eyeliner sparingly - I definitely think liquid eyeliner suits everyone it just depends on how you apply it. If you attempt to use eyeliner make sure the line is straight even if you choose to have a Cleopatra style flick, it should always be straight feathered line otherwise your whole look will be ruined. When lining your lower lids and top lids make sure you do edge out and up towards the end otherwise you will look like you have drawn two circles around your eyes. This is not attractive. If you're not sure how to use it experiment until you get it right.

7 - Lining your lips with a darker pencil than your lipstick: Ok so this is something mortisha did in the Adams family, that's right she was a witch and that is the only time I think it's acceptable. This look is very wrong and has only been attempted by few who are convinced it looks good but I disagree. If you are going to line your lips to stop lipstick feathering do so only with a similar colour or slightly darker but not extreme difference in colour otherwise it can look unfinished.

8 - Avoid Spider Eyes: This is when you layer the wrong mascara on your eyelids with coat after coat and it leaves you looking like you have spider eyes. The whole point of mascara is to open and define the eyes and elongate your lashes so use 1-2 coats on clean fresh lashes. For a more natural look use clear mascara. Lashes should come out to the similar length and not be shorter in the middle. Be aware next time you apply.

9 - Eyebrows or No eyebrows: Ok so either you pluck or don't pluck. But eyebrows should always be groomed like the rest of you. When wearing make up, always make sure you clean your eyebrows after eye shadow with an ear bud to make sure they don't stay covered with make up. If you have eyebrows that don't fill out towards the end that also gives the appearance that they're missing then I highly recommend getting an eyebrow pencil matching your eyebrows and line them with light feathered strokes to give the appearance of more defined eyebrows. Eyebrows can frame a whole face and enhance your appearance significantly. These days they even have brow bars who will do it all for you....so definitely worth spending the effort. Permanent tattooed eyebrows rarely look good so maybe avoid this unless you feel you can get away with it. I think pencil is the way to go but don't define too deeply otherwise you will look like you have drawn on your eyebrows. Use a clear eyebrow brush gel to set your browns or a little hairspray on your pinkie fingers.

10 - Setting your make up: A lot of women forget when they have a big night out they don't set their make up which means it may not last the night. I think it is important to set your make up with a large powder brush and a little dusting of face powder but not too much otherwise you will look like a clown. Dust it on very lightly just to set your make up. Also another trick and good for those with dry skin, use an organise hairspray and lightly spray from 15-25cms away. This will also help set your make up.

Hope these tips help you by making you more aware.....and good luck!