Every Must-See Makeup from Spring 2018 Fashion Shows

1. Not Using Primer

A good primer helps create a smooth base for makeup application, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and allowing your products to glide on effortlessly.

So, if you skip this critical makeup step, your products may just settle into any fine lines (think on your forehead, near your mouth, or at the edges of your eyes).

There are plenty of primers available on the market that offer various effects, such as a matte finish or a dewy glow. We recommend opting for a formula that's specifically designed for mature skin to fill in and blur fine lines.

2. The Finger Application Method

Beauty blenders and other modern makeup tools obviously weren't around decades ago. Even so, the classic finger application method may be aging your skin.

While using your fingers can be a quick and convenient way to put on products like foundation or blush, it can transfer bacteria to your face. Moreover, tugging and pulling at your skin with your fingers on a daily basis might contribute to skin sagging over time.

The best way to blend your makeup is with a damp sponge. By keeping your sponge moist, you'll get a smoother application and prevent the tool from soaking up too much product.

3. Overdoing Your Brows

It's true that eyebrows can thin as women age, and defining your brows may help brighten your face and make your eyes seem bigger.

At the same token, though, you should avoid overdoing it. In 2016, heavily outlined and filled-in eyebrows were extremely "in." Contrary to this trend, mature faces benefit the most from a more natural look.

You can definitely still use an eyebrow pencil to fill in any sparse areas. Just avoid making your brows look too bold or heavy. Lighter, feathered strokes are the way to go, as you can always build up the pigment gradually.

Then, once you're satisfied with the shape, lock your brows in place with a clear brow gel.

4. Going Heavy With Eyeliner

If you want your eyes to appear more open and awake, light eyeliner should be your go-to.

Heavy, black eyeliner, especially on your lower lash line, may cause your lids to look tired or droopy. So, to maintain a fresher appearance, say goodbye to eyeliner under your eyes. Then, for your upper lash line, swap out your black liner for a softer shade of brown.

You can even use a smudge brush to blend it out as opposed to going heavy-handed with a thick line from the start. This will leave you with a more subtle and lifted effect.

5. Using The Wrong Under-Eye Concealer Shade

If you regularly wear makeup, then concealer is probably a staple in your routine. However, many women make the mistake of using a concealer shade that's too light and think it'll erase any under-eye darkness.

Unfortunately, the opposite tends to happen. Instead of brightening up your under-eye region, the area will look chalky, and your fine lines and dark circles may become exaggerated.

As a rule of thumb, you should select a concealer that's only one shade lighter than your skin tone to achieve a natural brightening effect. Warming up the product on the back of your hand can help you blend it more smoothly as well.

6. Applying Plenty Of Powder

After you apply your liquid products, it may seem logical to lock your makeup in with a setting powder. However, a little goes a long way, and using too much can quickly make you look older by giving your skin a drier appearance and accentuating any fine lines.

Our advice? Skip compact powders and use loose powder instead. Also, use a big powder brush to apply it rather than flat fabric puffs to avoid caking the product onto your skin.

7. Being Heavy-Handed With Blush

It's natural for our faces to slim out as we age. In response, many women rush to apply more blush in hopes that their cheeks will appear fuller and more youthful.

Yet, when applied too heavily after the rest of your makeup is finished, blush can have the opposite effect. The bright pigment may draw even more attention to mature cheeks and cause you to appear older.

The key is to apply a cream blush earlier in your routine, specifically before you put on any foundation. This will make your skin look rosy and glowy without the flush becoming too overwhelming.

8. Using Dark Contour Shades

Finally, there's nothing worse than trying to contour your face and realizing you've been left with a ton of dark, unblended streaks. Improper application techniques are sometimes the culprit. But, more often than not, the issue is that you're using a contour shade that's simply too dark for your skin tone.

Instead of sculpting your face, the darker hue can appear harsh and sunken, making you look more mature. So, if you want to contour, make sure you select a product that's only two shades darker than your true skin tone, with a formula that's lightweight.

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Tint Foundation

I haven't stopped praising this skin tint foundation since I tried it last year and there's so many reasons why. Similar to tinted moisturizers, it gives brown skin a "clean girl" makeup base that'll have people asking about your beauty secrets.

Its radiant finish and infused collagen encourage a healthy glow while ceramides improve your skin's barrier over time. Plus, you don't have to use a lot! I've been using it non-stop since September and there's still product left.

Range Beauty True Intentions Skin-Soothing Hydrating Foundation

This foundation is strictly for my brown skin girlies with sensitive skin that's prone to acne or eczema flareups. Rated as being the "best for combination skin" by Sephora, it also works for anyone whose skin can't choose between being oily or dry. It has calendula, chamomile, green tea, and kaolin clay in it to help target congested skin that's lost its luster.

Prior to relying heavily on Danessa Myricks Beauty's Yummy Skin Tint Foundation, my makeup routine wasn't complete without Range Beauty's hydrating formula. I loved that I didn't experience allergic reactions to it and noticed an improvement in my overall appearance the more I wore it.

LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation

IMO, the best foundations have skincare ingredients in them. From ceramides to niacinamide, they're a must-have for brown skin and LYS Beauty gets it! Their Triple Fix Serum Foundation has hyaluronic acid which makes my skin jump for joy. Okay, my skin doesn't actually leap in the air but wearing this tones my oil production down.

Get this — it has turmeric and ashwagandha in it! If you're confused because you have both in your spice cabinet, let me explain. The first ingredient is known for its soothing antioxidant properties while the second one lowers signs of stress in your face. Sounds appealing, right?

Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Lightweight & Blurring Foundation Stick

I've been team #liquidfoundation for so long that using a "stick" seemed unnecessary. But, I've been known to be wrong before, so I can admit Ami Colé made me a believer with this product. It's fragrance-free and has ingredients like baobab seed oil and soft-focus powder.

They work together to tell your skin it doesn't need to make more oil than it normally does while preventing it from drying out. If you have combination skin, it's a dream!

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation

Before I graduated to more "higher end" foundations, Maybelline's Fit Me Matte & Poreless formula was my go-to! It got me through the first few years of college so I have fond memories of it. It's nice to know it's still in the business of refining pores so they're not as open as they normally are.

One note is that the finish is a little more dewy than matte, but that's not a bad thing! Some formulas can be too drying, so this just leans more on the side of not making you look like you've been sweating all day.

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Full Coverage Foundation

The girls love Nars and Nars loves us back! I've only worn this a few times, but I didn't have any complaints when I did. For starters, it offers up to 16 hours of wear which is great if you commute to work. Two, it's free of pore-clogging and harmful ingredients that could potentially cause acne breakouts, leading to dark spots on brown skin.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation

Every makeup forum I've been on can't stop raving about Estee Lauder's Double-Wear Foundation and I finally get it. This will make you look like the celebs and models in the magazine advertisements because it has a flawless finish.

If you're not interested in looking dewy, this is going to be your new go-to because it's the true definition of matte. Again, matte shouldn't equal drying! It just means that you have a canvas that looks like it's meant to be admired from afar!

The only reason I don't buy it as often is because it's pricey. However, I don't mind splurging at least once per year to remember why I fell in love with it.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Satin Foundation

e.l.f. cosmetics can't do anything wrong in my eyes. Every product I've tried has worked well with my brown skin so I'm always going to talk about them.

I like this foundation because it has a semi-matte finish that errs between radiant and smooth, which is good for those who can't decide which they like more. It's also incredibly lightweight and inexpensive!

If you're not a fan of spending over $20 for foundation, I highly recommend you try this.

Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation

Ah, Haus Labs. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I don't know if it's meant to be for performance wear, but I once wore this on a busy work day where I sprinted up and down the halls during an emergency. Guess what? It didn't budge and only looked like I'd added a bit of highlighter to my cheeks.

It has fermented arnica, intellizen 7 complez and bioferment 7 complex in it which sounds unlike anything I'd ever heard of in makeup. They combat irritated skin while healing it and protecting it from further stress. Though I'm not 100 percent free from acne (and never will be), I've noticed I don't break out as often since introducing this to my makeup routine.

Huda Beauty Easy Blur Natural Airbrush Foundation

Last but not least, this super blurring foundation is the definition of "airbrushed." It's buildable so you can control the kind of coverage you want and it has one of my favorite skincare ingredients in it — niacinamide.

Whenever I wear this, my skin's texture doesn't look patchy and I can barely see my pores. I'm not a fan of erasing my pores, but I don't mind looking "smooth" sometimes!

Maison Barboulot Cabernet Syrah

This red blend has the heart of one Redditor that noted it "drinks WAY more expensive than its $6.99 price tag. It’s a forever favorite for me. When I serve it at a dinner party, people always ask what it is.”

TJ's says each sip of this red wine is "smooth and fruity" and contains "approachable" notes of cherry and vanilla.

Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon

Oftentimes, $5 bottles of wine tend to disappoint. Not this one from Charles Shaw, though! It was mentioned as a favorite several times on the Trader Joe's Reddit for its impressively full flavors. With notes of blackberry and vanilla, it pairs really well with grilled steak, lamb, or even rich, cheesy pasta dishes.

Moon X Pinot Noir

This $7 was another frequently-mentioned pick. One Redditor noted that “it is easy drinking, a crowd pleaser, but not boring, and a great value." Per Trader Joe's, it carries a "bold plummy profile," plus notes of vanilla, oak, dark fruit, and warm spice.

Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Hailing from a family-owned-and-operated winery, you'll instantly detect the love and care goes into making this $8 bottle upon first sip. Trader Joe's compares its punchy and crisp finish to that of a Granny Smith apple; one Reddit user agreed and said it's simply "very nice."

La Ferme Julien Rosé

For a “nice summer sipper,” you've gotta consult this fresh $7 rosé that also boasts an adorable illustration of a goat on the label. So cute!

Honey Moon Viognier

One Reddit user said that they enjoy this $6 wine because it's "medium-sweet and very flavorful.”

The "crisp, floral, phenomenally fruity" varietal white has plenty of fruity notes, which TJ's says pairs naturally with cheeses like brie, Manchego, and blue cheese.

Espiral Vinho Verde

The Vinho Verde region of northern Portugal is known for its sweet, fruity wines like this $5 option. It contains some delightful notes of green apple and melon, so it would make a great summer sipper.

One Redditor said that the “price point is unbelievable for how good it is IMO.” Now we've gotta try!

Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio

This $4 number is another cheap Trader Joe's wine you wouldn't expect to be so good. It's got notes of lemon zest, white peach, and. almond, all balanced by a "lively acidity" that levels out each sip.

One Redditor shared a tasty hack for this wine in particular: "Since its on the lighter side, I always had a few raspberries that I eat at the end of the glass or slices of jalapeño if I'm feeling spicy.”