Beauty Mistakes That Make Women Look Old

Tap to Read ➤ Malvika Kulur

Even a few beauty mistakes that women make can end up adding a few years to their looks. We identify the most common beauty blunders made by women of all ages, and also gives quick and easy ways to fix them, making you look youthful and absolutely gorgeous.

Beauty and folly are old companions. -- Benjamin Franklin

Looking beautiful and evergreen is every woman's greatest desire. But the fairer sex does tend to goof-up on beauty-related matters, that make them look older than they are. Every woman makes fashion mistakes, unknowingly, by just following the trend of the season. The main culprits of a beauty blunder are the makeup products used.

Concealer, foundation, powder, blush, mascara, liner and lipstick, if not used properly, can make a 20-year old woman look like she is in her mid-30s, but if used well, can minus years of her face. Makeup trends like colors to use, highlighting points of the face, etc., keep changing, but the basics of donning cosmetics remain the same.

The easiest way to avoid looking older than what you really are, is mastering the subtle art of applying makeup. The beauty mistakes that make women look old, corrective measures, and some quick-fix tips are listed below, and will definitely help you look simply stunning.

Common Beauty Mistakes

BASE The first mistake women make regarding beauty is the foundation and concealer that they choose. While picking a foundation, you must take into account a few factors such as the shade and type of the product, and also the shade and type of your skin.

It is very difficult to find an exact match to your skin color where foundation is concerned. That is why you should mix two shades to get the perfect shade, or you could go in for a shade that is slightly darker than your skin tone, to give you that sun-kissed look.

You should never go out without foundation, as the sun may cause irreparable damage to your skin.

Before applying foundation, the first thing to do is cleanse your skin well. After cleansing, you can use ice or a good toner to ensure that the pores on your face are closed, so that the makeup stays on longer.

You should apply the foundation or concealer with a brush or the tips of your fingers, so that it looks even.

You need to be careful in the application of makeup near your eyes. You just need to slightly dab on a little bit of concealer and spread it evenly under your eyes, blending it well near your cheekbones and temple.

Do not use powder under the eyes, because powder is meant to simply remove the shine from the t-zone. Instead, you could use a slight dab of compact or eye-shadow base under your eyes.

Tip: If you have dry skin, moisturize your skin well before putting on makeup, as powder and foundation may accentuate fine lines around your mouth and eyes, giving you a more mature look. For those who have oily skin, use a water-based foundation, and loose powder.

If you are not very confident about applying makeup, try it out with a small quantity first, till you get more practice. The key is to look beautiful and not blotchy and caked.

BLUSH Blush is used to highlight the cheekbones, but many women apply blush only on the apple of the cheeks.

Invariably, because of this method of using blush, a lot of women end up looking odd, older, and clownish. Blush can work wonders on one hand, and be the most terrible makeup product on the other.

If the blush is not spread well, then the cheeks tend to look wrinkled, and no woman wants that to happen. The wrong method of applying blush will make any woman look older than she is. A color that does not go with your skin tone will look ghastly, and great care should be taken while choosing the color.

You should apply the blush with a broad brush, in an upward motion, covering not only the apple of the cheeks, but also the entire cheekbone. For those with oily skin, use a light powder blush, while for dry skin, a cream-based blush is the best option.

Using the right blush for your skin type really helps to brighten the face, giving you a natural and healthy look. Just remember to spread the product well and use fresh natural colors. Women also tend to apply blush too close to the nose, avoid that, just a little amount of blush for highlighting your cheekbones is more than enough.

Tip: Colors like plum, orange, wine, and cinnamon make one look older. Therefore, you should go in for natural-looking colors like rose, or a nice, rich shade of pink.

These colors usually complement every skin tone. The reason we women apply blush is to look a little brighter, but we must remember that blush is just meant to accentuate the cheekbones, and should be applied with a light hand.

LINER, MASCARA, and EYE SHADOW Eyeliner is meant to be used to highlight the eyes and make them pop. But a lot of women end up using colored liners that do not really go with their skin tone, or even their look in general.

Also, many women tend to put the liner only on the lower eyelid, which makes the eyes look smaller and bottom-heavy, making them look older.

Another common mistake is using colored mascara and incorrectly applying eye shadow. Brightly-colored and clumpy mascara attracts attention to the eyes, and if you have lines near the eyes, then they may appear pronounced due to the mascara color.

Women also use mascara for the lashes on the lower lid of the eyes. Usually, when applied in a hurry, the mascara looks clumpy, giving the eyes a very unkempt look. The quality of the liner and mascara is also very important.

Many women also like to indulge in shimmery shadow for the eyes. These shimmery shades do nothing to enhance the eyes. Instead, they make the brow bone more pronounced, making you look older.

Apply liner on both the eyelids using a soft pencil. You can also smudge up the lines a little, giving your eyes the smoky, mysterious look. Use either black or brown mascara, as these look decent and do not draw any unwanted attention to the lines near the eyes.

Do not use mascara on the lashes of the lower lid. That's a complete fashion sin, as it highlights lines, crows-feet, and dark circles. Eye shadow, if not applied properly, looks garish and harsh.

It should be blended-in properly, complement the skin tone, and the colors should be classy. Make sure to wipe off any loose shadow that has accidentally fallen on the cheeks, and use a very light dusting of shadow under your lower lashes.

Artificial lashes are a good option if you have thin lashes, as they help add volume and also make the eyes look younger. A bright liner can be used, but in moderation, and just on the outer crease of the eyes, so as to make your eyes look doe-eyed.

Do not use bright liners along the entire length of your eyelids. These liners are just meant to accentuate the beauty of the eyes. Tip Smoky eyes, and shades of brown and bronze work wonders, as they do not make you look older than you are.

LIPS Lip liners and lipsticks are a must for every woman. But when the lipstick starts to bleed or feather at the corners, you are stuck looking old. No woman wants that haggard look on her lips.

A gorgeous, plump, and full mouth is the effect that is desired by every woman. Chapped lips, with a dark shade of lipstick, or lips that have feathered edges teamed with a light glossy color makes women look old and unhealthy. A dark lip liner with a lighter shade of lipstick is a very old look. It is a complete fashion disaster.

Use clear liners to prevent the lipstick from bleeding and feathering. Wearing very dark colors make thin lips look even thinner. Instead, go in for lighter shades or even a sheer gloss to pump up your lips and add that extra 'oomph' factor to your overall look.

The liner and lipstick color should match. You must always apply the liner first, blend it well in the fold and lines of the lips, and then apply the lipstick with a soft brush. Remember to use a lipstick fixer so that your lips look gorgeous all day long.

Tip: If you want your lipstick to stay longer, without bleeding out, you can first apply foundation to your lips, blending it in well, and then go in for a liner and lipstick. Remember to apply the lipstick with a brush so that the color settles well on your lips, and does not run out.

EYEBROWS The eyebrows are the most neglected part on the face while applying makeup. The color of the eyebrows should match with that of the hair. Very dark, or light eyebrows makes a woman look old.

Dabbing eye-shadow just under or on the brows, that is shimmery and of the wrong shade, does not help even a little bit in making a woman look younger. Painted dark brows not only look unnatural, but also makes a woman look as if she is trying her hardest to look younger, and that ladies, is not a flattering look.

You should use an eyebrow liner with a very light hand, so that your brows look naturally full. You just need to fill in the liner where the hair is scarce, keeping the natural shape of the brows intact. You could dab a tad bit of a matte-finish eye-shadow on the lower part of the brow, so as to highlight your eyes.

Eyebrows help give the face a good shape. Therefore, the shape of the eyebrows should be pleasing to the eye, and also natural. If you are not game for waxing or using tweezers for your eyebrows, then using a good liner will help. Tip Use small strokes while using an eyebrow pencil, and smudge it a little to give your eyebrows a natural look.

HAIR Choosing a hairstyle is tricky. A short haircut with small waves, or long straight hair that is flat, adds years to your appearance. Even the wrong hair color makes a huge difference where appearance is concerned.

Dark roots with lighter strands are outdated. Not doing your timely root touch for graying roots would also make you look old. Damaged hair that lacks luster and body adds at least 10 years to your face.

Sporting the wrong haircut is the worst thing that you can do to your appearance. The haircut can be as simple as possible, but it should complement your face cut and your overall personality.

Go for a hairstyle that flatters your face cut. Your hair should be bouncy, glossy, and in the right tint that goes with your skin color. If you have thin hair, then keep your hair short and smart, but not too short. Layers add that extra volume to the hair, so try to go in for layers, especially in the crown.

Short hair with waves is a very retro style, and will make you look older. So if you are going in for short hair, make sure you straighten your hair first. Waves and curls are the best option if you have long hair, as they will make you look youthful.

Tip: Look after your hair well and get a trim approximately every 3 months, so that your hairstyle looks fresh. Overdoing hair treatments will just cause your hair to break and fall, and that is why you should try to be as natural with your hair as you can.

SKIN TREATMENT

Women tend to spend oodles of money on the latest facials, bleaching, massages, etc., but in the long run, these treatments tend to make the skin sag and look old.

Constant waxing of facial hair also tends to make the skin age prematurely, thus making a woman look old. Using products that do not suit your skin type may cause breakouts and also damage the skin. Damaged skin, added with sun exposure, ages the skin.

Go in for a skin treatment once in 15 or 20 days, so that your skin does not lose its elasticity. Eat well and avoid cigarettes and alcohol to maintain a youthful glow for your skin.

You could make a face pack at home using fruits and vegetables, to give your skin that extra glow and shine. If you love going to the spa, space out your visits, and whenever you can, try to get herbal therapies done. Herbal products help preserve the natural luminosity of the skin as compared to the chemical ones.

Tip: Exercise regularly to keep your face muscles and skin taut, and also drink a lot of fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. That is why women should be careful while applying makeup and going in for skin treatments. Overdoing anything is bad, and takes a toll on ones skin and basic health. Beauty is a privilege given to every woman, inner and outer, so try to keep your look simple, so that your inner beauty shines always.