The Best Primer + Makeup Combos to Ensure Your Makeup Lasts

1. Hair Bedazzlers

The ultimate way to bling out your look, hair bedazzlers let you snap tiny, sparkly rhinestones into your locks for a very princess-meets-pop-star vibe. Whether you were channeling your inner Britney or just wanted some extra glitz for a girls’ sleepover, this wacky gadget made every strand shimmer.

2. Bump-Its

Now this is a classic. Remember those commercials? Nothing screamed "2000s hair" quite like Bump-Its. They were plastic inserts that promised to give your hair (especially your bangs) that effortless poof without endless teasing. We look back at them now and cringe.

3. Crackle Nail Polish

We wish this one still existed, TBH. Crackle nail polish was the edgy, rebellious older sister of your regular ol’ nail polish. It created a cool, shattered effect as it dried. Our favorite thing to do was to pick out a silver crackle nail polish to layer over neon pinks or oranges. It’s giving Avril Lavigne energy!

4. Lip Tattoos

Lip gloss, who?! Lip tattoos let you rock everything from pink zebra stripes to a glittery cheetah print on your lips. Why this existed, we don’t know, but they were definitely a fun novelty at the time.

5. Makeup “Phones”

Claire’s took so much of our money in the 2000s for these little makeup-packed phones. Beauty met tech (kind of…) with these makeup compacts disguised as flip phones – because what’s more 2000s than touching up your lip gloss while pretending to take a call?

6. Bouncy Blush

Not quite a cream, but not quite a powder, bouncy blush was a weirdly satisfying cheek color with a wacky, squishy texture. It made applying blush feel like playing with putty, which made our teenage hearts sing. Half the fun was just poking it in the pan between uses.

7. Hair Crimpers

Somehow, hair crimpers snuck their way into 2000s beauty trends, all the way from the ‘80s. They were the go-to styling tool! With just a few squeezes of those zig-zag plates, your hair totally transformed – but if we tried one now, it’d totally make us look like Weird Barbie.

8. Lip Smackers

Every 2000s kid had at least five Lip Smackers floating around in their backpack! We were loyal to the classic Dr Pepper, but the brand dropped many more wacky flavors like Coca Cola, Skittles, and Fanta. They truly weren’t just lip balms – they were status symbols at every sleepover and middle school lunch table. Bonus points if you had the jumbo ones.

9. Hair Chalk

For those who wanted to be rebels (but didn’t want to totally upset their strict parents), hair chalk was the #1 way to bring bold, colorful streaks to your locks without major consequences. While it did give a cool effect, it really didn’t stay on your strands for very long.

10. Sun-In

You were so cool if you brought a bottle of Sun-In to the pool party. This lemon-infused lightening spray was the ultimate DIY highlight hack, but looking back now, all it did was damage our strands. We’ll never forget that smell, either!

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.

On shelves now, Trader Joe’s Tomato Leaf candle smells like – you guessed it – fragrant tomato leaves. Some shoppers have said it comes across as “verdant and fresh” while others say it’s “slightly sweeter.” So far, the aroma has been divisive among TJ’s fans, but smelling it myself, I think it smells exactly like tomato leaves with a hint of refreshing sweetness – making it a perfect scent to ease you into springtime!

This iteration of the Trader Joe’s Tomato Leaf candle is technically a remake of the same scent they released several years ago, but stopped stocking because the glass jars it was cased in posed a safety hazard (ahem, exploding). But fret not – this new container is made of metal, so you shouldn’t expect any glass malfunctions. Plus, it boasts the same precise scent – nothing’s changed in that department!

Trader Joe’s fan account @traderjoesobsessed shared the new find with their Instagram followers, and plenty of customers sounded off with excitement.

“Omg yes this is the best one!!!!” one person said.

“This is their greatest candle to date imo,” another person wrote.

“I was actually talking about this a couple days ago with my boyfriend and then magically it appeared!!” someone else commented. “Glad it’s in a tin option even though the glass was beautiful!”

The Trader Joe’s Reddit page also had some thoughts about the new scent:

“I love this friggin candle,” one person said. “It really took me by surprise.”

“I’m so excited!!” another rejoiced. “This is my all time favorite candle scent of any line ever!”

While some Trader Joe’s shoppers praised it, others had some strong opinions.

“Soapy with a hint of tomato,” someone else noted. “I personally really like it, but I like green, fresher-smelling candles. I hate bakery or sweet candle scents.”

“I love this candle and everyone I know hates it and I’m not allowed to light it when I have my friends over 😆😆,” another said. “It’s SO divisive!!”

Across both Instagram and Reddit, several shoppers compared the new Trader Joe’s Tomato Leaf candle to brands that are so bougie. Some comparisons that were made include the Loewe Tomato Leaves candle, Maison Margiela's From The Garden perfume, and the Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle from Flamingo Estate. The Trader Joe’s Tomato Leaf candle costs just $4 for 5.3 ounces worth of candle, so you could absolutely get a similar luxe effect for way less.

The Trader Joe’s Tomato Leaf candle is crafted from a blend of soy wax, coconut oil, and beeswax. It also comes complete with a lead-free cotton wick to ensure a clean burn. Totally fresh and definitely unique, I’d say it’s worth the money – especially for a fresh feel during spring!