Fast Fixes for Makeup Mistakes

Makeup mistakes always seem to happen at the worst possible time. I always seem to mess up my own makeup when I'm trying to get done quickly so I can get out of the house on time, or when I'm sleepy, or when my mind is on something else. And of course, it always happens when I don't have enough time to wash my face and start all over again. I've learned a few tricks along the way to salvage my efforts so my makeup can still look its best. Here's how to fix common makeup mistakes.

Foundation goes on too heavy. This is usually my worst mistake when I'm in a hurry. I start slapping on the foundation and before I know it, it's heavy and cake-y looking. The solution - take some off! I take a dry, cotton circle and gently blot away any excess. Try to do it before your make up 'sets' or you'll have a harder time coming clean. Next time, to prevent the problem, either use a damp sponge to apply your foundation or mix your foundation with a little bit of moisturizer to water it down.

Concealer can't stick to blemishes. This problem grates my last hair follicle! It's bad enough to have a shiny, red, raised blemish. What's worse is when you try to cover it, but nothing sticks. Sometimes, the foundation that's hanging around the top of your tube of foundation (the stuff that sticks between the outside of the tube and the lid) is dry and stickier. Dry dabbing it on the blemish, let it set, and then powder. Or, apply a teeny bit of acne cream. Dip your (clean) finger in powder and dab it on the blemish. Let it set, then lightly dust the entire face with powder. This should remove any excess powder, as well. And remember, never, ever pop a zit. It will just make matters worse.

Eyeliner oops. Nothing is more frustrating than drawing on your eyeliner and realizing you missed! You have a great looking line but somehow managed to get a squiggle in the wrong spot. Well, don't despair. You can take a teeny sponge (or the corner of a sponge wedge) and blend the eyeliner across the eye, giving yourself a smudgy, smokey look. Or, dip a cotton swab in eye make up remover and carefully wipe away just the liner. Use the dry end of the cotton swab to blend the eye shadow back over the clean spot. You can use the same trick to rid your eyes of liner smears underneath your eyes.

Mascara mishap. Every once in a while, when I'm applying my mascara, I blink at the wrong time and stick the side of my nose with the mascara wand. Or I blink too soon and get little spidery-sticks of mascara on my eyelids. It looks so silly! But the least disruptive way to lose the lines is to wait until they dry completely, then flick them away with your fingernail. Any leftover residue can be carefully removed just like you would an eyeliner smudge, as previously mentioned. Next time, keep your mouth open while you apply mascara to minimize blinking, sneezing, and muscle spasms.

The most important part of fixing a makeup mistake - is don't panic! Take a deep breath, relax, and get creative. Most things can be removed with eye make up remover and fixed up fast.

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