Makeup trends evolve, and what worked a decade ago might be working against you today. If you haven’t refreshed your makeup routine or swapped out old techniques, you could make yourself look older or out of touch.
1. Blundering Your Base
A youthful look starts with great skin. So first things first, always apply makeup after your usual cleanse and moisturize routine. If fine lines and wrinkles are your friends, apply a primer to your skin before foundation to smooth things out and set the stage for your base to stay put. When choosing your foundation, take note: matte foundation is an enemy of mature skin as it makes it look flat, dull, and older. They also settle into fine lines and wrinkles, emphasize imperfections, and can look cakey. Opt for lightweight, satin foundations or illuminating BB creams to stay current and glowy.
2. Majorly Failing at Contouring
Contouring is a trick that makes your face look chiseled and your cheekbones more defined, but if you get it wrong, it can look harsh and make your makeup look uneven. Instead of attempting dramatic contouring techniques, opt for a dust of subtle bronzer, illuminating highlighter, or cream contour. Start at the apple of your cheeks and blend upwards (and well) toward your temples to create more of a soft, natural shadow that enhances your features and makes your skin look glowy without looking overdone.
3. Setting Everything with Heavy Powder
Powder used to be the holy grail for setting makeup, but now, overdoing it can make your skin look cakey and dry. Too much powder highlights fine lines and gives a chalky finish. Instead, reach for a dewy setting spray or a light dusting of translucent powder, focusing on your T-zone only. This way, your skin can maintain a natural glow without the shine.
4. Skipping Highlighter
Skipping highlighter is a missed opportunity to give your skin a healthy, luminous glow. A matte face can appear flat and lifeless. A subtle highlighter applied to the high points of your face—like your cheekbones, brow bones, and nose—adds dimension and a youthful radiance. But don’t overdo it; the goal is a natural, sun-kissed glow, not a glittery look.
5. Applying Heavy Powder Blush
If you’re applying powder blush heavily across your cheeks, you might channel a retro vibe without realizing it. Thick, heavy blush ages your appearance. Cream blush or cheek tints are your best friends for a more youthful glow. Apply sparingly on the apples of your cheeks and blend outward for a natural flush that makes your complexion pop.
6. Overdrawing Your Lip Liner
Overlining your lips too dramatically is a dead giveaway of an outdated makeup routine. While lip liner can define and enhance your pout, using a shade that doesn’t match your lipstick or going too far outside your natural lipline looks unnatural. Stick to lining just slightly outside your lips with a shade that matches your lipstick for a fuller, more modern effect.
7. Wearing Flat or Frosted Eyeshadow
Frosted eyeshadow had its moment, but that moment has passed. Frosty shades can make your eyelids look creased and older. Update your eye look with matte or satin shadows in neutral tones that enhance your eye shape without adding unnecessary shimmer. The result? Eyes that look lifted and refreshed instead of stuck in the past decade.
8. Over-Plucking Your Eyebrows
Thin, over-plucked eyebrows are a relic of the 90s and early 2000s. Sparse brows can make your face appear older and more severe. Fuller, natural brows are the way to go now. Use a brow pencil or gel to fill gaps and shape your brows for a more youthful, balanced look. Fuller brows frame the face beautifully and soften your overall appearance.
9. Applying Aging Black Eyeliner
Applying thick black eyeliner all around your eyes may have worked in your teenage years, but now it can make your eyes look smaller and your look more dated. For a fresher, more flattering look, opt for a soft brown liner and focus it on the outer corners. Smudging the liner slightly will give you a more modern, smoky effect without the harshness.
10. Messing Up Your Mascara
Spider lashes never looked great, but they’re a major no-go in today’s beauty world. Clumpy mascara can weigh down your lashes and age your entire look. The modern trend is all about length and definition. Opt for a volumizing mascara that separates your lashes, creating a full, fluttery appearance that makes your eyes pop without the clump.
11. Clinging to the Same Lipstick Shade for Decades
Still, wearing that signature lipstick shade you fell in love with years ago? It’s time to switch it up. What once looked flattering might now look dated or wash you out. Experiment with fresher shades like soft nudes, corals, or berry tones that brighten your complexion and give you a youthful glow. Remember, as your skin tone changes, so should your lipstick.
12. Wearing Dark, Matte Lipstick
Dark, matte lipsticks can be dramatic but are often unflattering as they age your look and make your lips appear thinner. If you love bold lips, opt for a formula with a hint of sheen or a more youthful shade like bright red or berry. For a softer, everyday look, lighter shades with a creamy finish will bring your makeup a fresh, modern touch.
13. Applying Eyeliner in Your Waterline
Applying black eyeliner to your waterline can make your eyes appear smaller, and you look heavy. A simple update to this technique can brighten your eyes instantly—use a nude or white liner in your waterline to open up your eyes. It’s a subtle change that makes you look more awake, fresh, and youthful.
14. Still Rocking Blue Eyeshadow
Blue eyeshadow is best left in the past unless you’re going for a specific retro look. Bold shades like this can overwhelm your eyes and make you look dated. Stick to earthy tones, soft browns, or pinks for a polished, modern appearance that enhances your natural beauty without taking it overboard.
15. Going to Town on the Gloss
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Lip gloss can look fresh and youthful, but overdoing it can lead to a sticky, messy finish that screams “overdone.” If you’re piling it on, your lips will look more plastic than chic. Stick to a light layer of gloss