5 Reasons Why Your Makeup Looks Terrible

With a background in beauty, I find myself getting asked the same question by friends and family all the time: “How come when you do it, it looks great, but when I do it, it looks like crap?”.

I mean sure, you can go get your makeup professionally done or watch a million youtube tutorials. Sometimes it still just doesn’t ‘work’. And of course, nothing adds to this feeling of defeat more than when you drop serious coin on expensive makeup, only to then feel this – am I right?

I’ve got 5 important tips to make your makeup work for you, and some of them are so simple you won’t believe you didn’t think about it!

*Affiliate Links

Wrong Tool, Wrong Look

When it comes to applying your makeup, choosing the right tool makes much more of a difference than you think. Fans of damp beauty sponges like the Beauty Blender will tell you that it makes any foundation flawless, but this just isn’t always the case.

There are plenty of formulas that don’t react well to being blended out with something that is wet! I often prefer dense oval-shaped brushes like the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush or domed round brushes like the It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush to buff out a foundation to that airbrushed look.

Sometimes beauty sponges make my skin look cakey whereas with a brush I can manipulate my foundation to cover as I need it, where I need it!

You Didn’t Prep Your Skin

I know many don’t believe in using primer, but if you’re having a tough time getting your makeup to look good, then primer was made for you!

Does your eyeshadow disappear by the end of the day leaving you looking like you’ve worked a double shift? Invest in some Nars ProPrime Smudge Proof Eye Primer – it keeps your look going strong all day and night and never lets me down.

Similarly, if you find your face makeup disappears, migrates, or settles poorly then your skincare and or primer might be to blame!

Worried about pores? Try MAC Skin Refined Zone to fill pores and fine lines.

Dry Skin and dehydration? Smashbox Primerizer hydrates and plumps the skin.

Oily skin that breaks down foundation? The Fenty Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer will help keep shine at bay.

Read My Reviews >> Smashbox Always On Cream Shadows & Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All in One Tinted Moisturizer

You’re Not Using Enough

I know this one might blow some minds because our mothers teach us that less is more, but sometimes less is less!

I get asked a lot why my eyeshadow looks great, and generally, the problem is that the wearer just didn’t apply enough to make it work like it is supposed to. Notice I am not saying anyone NEEDS more makeup, but rather some products are meant to be used a certain way to get the desired look.

A friend told me the other day that she couldn’t understand why her complexion looked like it was lifeless. I suggested a little blush and she claimed she was wearing it already. If this is the case, try switching up the shade if it doesn’t compliment you, or popping just a bit more on.

Makeup can always be washed off after all, so go for it!

You’re Using Too Much

Speaking of going for it, yes it is possible to wear too much.

Trends like ‘baking’ look amazing on camera but in real life ad a recipe for makeup disaster. Packing on enough powder for 3 people to ‘set’ your makeup in place is way more likely to cause crepey, cracking complexions and flat, lifeless skin.

You Never Wash Your Brushes

This is horribly common and is not only one of the reasons we can break out, but why our makeup looks terrible. I am totally guilty of washing my brushes way too infrequently, this is more of a “do as I say, not as I do” kinda thing.

Shadow brushes retain colour which then mixes with the next colour. If you hate that you can’t get your eyeshadow to look the way it does in the pan, this might be the reason.

Likewise, foundation brushes get pretty cakey fast, and you’re compromising the finish by using a brush that has dried, funky residue.

If you don’t have the time to thoroughly clean your brushes as much as you should, using a spot cleaner like Cinema Secrets regularly is super fast, and makes all the difference!