Five Common Makeup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Call it a faux-pas, call it a 'don't,' or just look away. We've all seen some pretty bad makeup mistakes. Most of us have probably made them from time to time. As a stylist, sometimes I wonder if I should tell people that they're making a bad makeup mistake. Most of the time, I hold my tongue, because I don't like to make people feel uncomfortable. So in honor of all of us who have ever had a makeup faux-pas, here are the top five makeup mistakes and how to avoid them.

The wrong foundation. This is the one I see the most. I know you've seen it to - sometimes it's very easy to spot. It happens when foundation is too dark, too light, or just the wrong undertone and then doesn't get blended in around the jaw line. The result looks more like a mask than a pretty face. Or sometimes it looks like streaky lines around your chin. Unfortunately, its hard for the wearer to spot on herself because the area around the jaw line is hard to see in the mirror.

You can avoid this makeup faux-pas by making sure that your foundation is the right color. Try several different shades of foundation, and apply a tiny bit to a clean face in stripes along the jaw line. Look for the color that disappears - that's the one you want. Then, when you apply this foundation, make sure you blend it well around the jawline-hairline area. A damp makeup sponge, such as the Beauty Blender, works great. If you still need help, see one of the highly trained makeup artists at Sephora to help you.

An orange tan. I admit, I am not a fan of tanning. Tanning booths and baking in the sun are really unhealthy for you. The alternatives are self tanner and spray tans. Self tanner is usually where most people get into trouble. They pick the wrong shade, or try to go too dark too quickly. If you want to use a self tanner, choose a product such as Jergen's Natural Glow, which will give you a subtle tan. If that's not enough, see a professional for a spray tan. Better yet, forget the tan altogether, and use a bit of powder bronzer to give your skin a little bit of warmth just where it needs it - on your cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin.

Lipstick on your teeth. This makeup mistake has happened to most of us at one time or another. The best way to avoid this problem is simple. After you apply your lipstick, stick your finger in your mouth and close the inside of your lips around your finger. Gently draw out your finger. You'll remove any excess lipstick from the inside area of your lips, which will prevent it from getting on your teeth.

Mascara marks . This happens to me! After I apply my mascara, I have a tendency to blink before my lashes are dry, leaving little marks of mascara on my eyelids and below my eyes. If it happens, just wait until the mascara dries and then flick it off with the edge of your fingernail. If that isn't sufficient, dip a q-tip in eye makeup remover and swirl it over the spot. You may need to touch up your eye shadow, but at least you won't have little marks from your mascara around your eyes instead of on your lashes.

Overdrawn eyebrows. Sadly, this usually happens to someone who can't see as well as they used to, and who is beginning to lose their eyebrow hairs. But really, it can happen to anyone who fills in their eyebrows. The best way to avoid this makeup mistake is to use a brow powder in a shade lighter than your eyebrow color. Fill in slowly and blend well until the desired effect is achieved. E.L.F. makes a great brow powder in a tiny compact for next to nothing, and it is small enough to keep in your makeup bag for touch-ups on the go.