1. Being in your late twenties and STILL wearing the wrong shade of foundation.
By now, you should know the right shade of foundation that works for you. More often than not, Pinays end up getting shades that are too light for their skin tone, so they end up looking like an espasol. If you want brighter skin, use skincare products that are meant to switch on the radiance.

The fix: Swatch before you buy. Ask the sales associate to help you pick out two or three shades that are closest to your skin tone. Have them swipe each shade on your jawline and then blend them with your fingers. Whatever disappears into your skin seamlessly, that’s most probably your shade. Apply that shade all over your face, and walk around the mall for about an hour and observe how well it works on your skin. That’s when you can decide if the foundation is really your shade.

2. Forgetting to blend foundation down to your neck.
Okay, you may not know it, but doing so actually makes you look like a floating head. So don’t ever skip this step!

The fix: Using your sponge, brush, or fingers, drag your foundation down to your neck and blend it out. This will even out your skin tone, and leave your makeup look more natural.

3. Sticking to the wrong foundation formula for your skin type.
Your skin type is probably the most important factor you should consider when purchasing foundation.

The fix: If you have dry skin, cream and liquid formulas will work best. For oily skin, you want powders or cream-to-powder finishes. However, there are certain foundations in the market that are suited for all skin types—so go out and experiment to find what will work best for you.

4. Clownish blush
Your choice of blush shade and placement of the product are important. You want to achieve a natural-looking flush and not putok blush.

The fix: Go for soft pink and peach blushes—those are universally flattering. Also consider using liquid and cream blushes for a more natural look.

5. Picking the wrong shade of brow pencils.
This can get a little tricky, especially if you have colored hair. Picking the wrong shade of brown brow pencil can make your arches look too dark—and you very angry—or too red or orange. Yikes.

The fix: The general rule is to pick a brow color that is one to two shades lighter than your hair. To save yourself from purchasing the wrong shade, try them out first!

6. Applying eyeliner all around your eye.
Unless you’re going for gothic chic, lining your upper and lower lids with black liner actually end up making your eyes look smaller. The look may work on some occasions, but for everyday, it can look too matapang.

The fix: When lining your lower lash line, apply the liner only on the outer third. Then, take a clean brush or cotton bud to smudge the product—this trick will open up your eyes more. Also consider switching to brown eye liners; they’re not as harsh as black, but you still get the definition that you want.

7. Forgetting the importance of blending.
Ever wonder why celebs and beauty gurus look so darn good all the time with their makeup? The secret isn’t in the expensive products—it’s all because of precise blending.

The fix: Blend, blend, blend until no harsh lines are visible. Be patient—it takes time to look good.

This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph.

* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.

PHOTO: Pixabay