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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

There’s nothing like a little makeup to enhance your natural beauty.

If you’re not completely sure what you’re doing however, your efforts to look nice can go terribly, terribly awry – leaving you looking more like a circus clown than diva. Observe this makeup guide for top tips on how to avoid making fatal mistakes.

Wrong shade of foundation

If you’re putting on a bit of base or foundation to cover up flawed skin, it is imperative that you have the right shade, and that you brush it on in natural light. Often when purchasing foundation you might test the colour on your hand, when your face has a completely different tone! Also bear in mind that your complexion will change between summer and winter – in some cases, you may have to get a whole new shade to accommodate the season! Finally, apply foundation in natural light, or check in a pocket mirror once you get outside – you may be surprised at the blotches natural light shows up!

Clumpy mascara

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Spiderleg mascara is a classic no-no. Caking layer after layer of the goop on your lashes is always tempting when you’re trying to get glamorous eyes, but clumpy mascara never looks hot. Rather invest in a high-quality mascara than applying many layers of an inferior cosmetic. Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara does a fantastic job of it, giving you luscious long lashes without clumps or smudges. You can also consider getting an eyelash brush to remove any pesky clumps. Finally, remember that mascara does have an expiry date.

Too much eyeliner

Beware of overdoing the eyeliner during the day. Makeup guide tip: smokey eyes work best in the evening, and even then, skilled application of brush makeup works better than rimming your eyes with kohl.

Matching lip liner and lipstick

Lip liner can be incredibly effective in giving your mouth a bit of shape and definition, especially if you have a small mouth or fleshy coloured lips. Be careful to ensure that the liner you use is the same colour as the lipstick, or not more than a shade or two off – or it may end up looking like a case of ‘colour in-between the lines’. Also, remember to refresh every couple of hours – the lipstick may wear off faster from eating or drinking, leaving only the lip liner around the edges of your mouth.

Too much lip gloss

Photo: L’Oreal

Putting on too much lip gloss – especially the ‘wet look’ shiny kind, does not have a flattering effect. Worse still, with too much movement, hair or other debris can get plastered to your lips – not a good look! Find a lipgloss you like (L’Oreal Glam Shine is great for its classy look) and apply a modest, thin layer to give your lips the luscious shine you’re after.

Keep this makeup guide in your makeup bag for a fabulous look, day in and day out. Remember, with makeup, less is always more.

Tags: beauty, makeup