You might be past the selfie stick stage of your life, but in this social media age, going to events like a birthday party or wedding can mean you’re often having to put
your best face forward for the inevitable online gallery.
But looking #flawless can be harder for those of us who grew up before filters, and there are the occasional makeup mistakes that can let us down! To showcase the best version of ourselves, we asked the experts to point out our errors and how to avoid them.
Avoid: Over powdering
“Too much powder on your face can lead to skin looking flat and sallow in photos and in real life,” says Maybelline New York makeup artist Rani Shortland. To appear fresh-faced, only apply a pressed powder to areas that need it, like the middle of the forehead, chin, under eyes, and the sides of the nose. Shortland prefers a soft, medium-sized powder brush, tapping off any excess before applying.
Avoid: Overdrawn brows
“Brows are so important because they add structure to the face and frame your eye shape too,” says MAC national training manager Sarika Patel.
“A severely overdrawn brow is a strict no-no as it can become the main feature of the face that may distract from the rest of the makeup, like a beautiful blended eye or bold lip,” she says. Patel’s advice is less product is definitely more when it comes to on-screen brows.
“Lightly layer a more wax-based brow pencil to mimic the look of real hair and add definition. Always set the brows in place with a clear brow mascara to make them look tidy and groomed for real life and in photos.”
Avoid: Not enough lashes
“Perfectly groomed lashes will both define your eyes and make them stand out,” says Bobbi Brown NZ training manager Olivia Wild. She swears by an eyelash curler to create lift and definition to the eye, followed by a volumising mascara.
“Curl the lashes in three sections starting at the base of the lash and hold for five seconds, then the middle of the lash, continuing to the end for five seconds each.”
Top tip: “Avoid pumping the mascara wand in the tube as this gets air in the product causing it to dry out and clump,” says Wild.
Too much strobing
Too much strobing (using illumination to define your features) can make skin look oily and even highlight flaws, says Elizabeth Arden national makeup specialist Dorothy Ng. When a camera flash is used, Ng says excessive highlighter can make you look washed out. Avoid sparkly formulas or high-shine products, and opt for more luminous ones instead.
“Also avoid too much highlighter on areas that are already oily like the forehead, the tip of the nose and chin as they will appear even oilier.”
