7 make-up mistakes that age you

Make-up has the power to take years off your face, but it can also make you look older. Here are some beauty bloopers to avoid.

1. You Use Too Much Foundation Your skin becomes thinner as you age. "So when you use too much foundation, it weighs your skin down. As a result, your face sags," says Mumbai-based celebrity make-up artist and Prevention advisor Clint Fernandes. Moreover, heavy foundations seep into fine lines on the skin and highlight them.

Swap It "Keep your skin matte, and use a lightweight foundation or mousse," suggests Fernandes. Try: Lakme Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse, Rs 700.

2. You Wear Dark Lipsticks With age, our lips tend to shrink. "Add dark hues to that, and you've got a sure shot way of making your pout look even thinner," explains Anu Kaushik, a Delhi-based make-up artist.

Swap It Send dark maroons and plums on a holiday, and go for lighter and softer shades in the same family. "Lift the corners of your mouth with a little bit of highlighter," suggests Kaushik. Then using a nude lip liner, outline the shape of your lips. "However, avoid using dark lip liners. They also make lips look smaller and thinner. Ditto for matte lipsticks. Always choose a moisturising formula," she adds.

3. You Wear Glittery Eyeshadow Love all that glitters, including shimmery eyeshadows? It's time to go easy on them! "Frosted eyeshadows accentuate lines and wrinkles around the eyes," says Fernandes.

Swap It "Choose a matte shadow in a shade that complements your skin tone, to reduce the appearance of lines and other signs of ageing around the eye," he adds. Try: Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow, Rs 1,390.

4. You Use a Brownish Blush "As your skin starts sagging with age, your cheeks look sunken. Applying a bronzer or a blush in a brownish hue just highlights this further," says Ralph Daniels, a Bengaluru-based make-up artist. Moreover, if not applied properly, it can look like pigmentation.

Swap It "A peach hue works best for Indian skin tones," he adds. When applying, start on the apples of your cheeks and blend towards the sides. "Use just a hint of blush; it should not be overpowering," Daniels says.

5. You Don't Apply Concealer Right Want more coverage from your concealer? "Massaging the product deep into the skin isn't the best way to go about it," says Fernandes. Sponges don't help either; they take the make-up off, instead of spreading it evenly. "Also, don't use too much of it. You'll just highlight the flaws," says Daniels.

Swap It Apply 3 dots on the under-eye area, and dab gently to blend either with a concealer brush or your ring finger. "Also, choose a dry formula to keep your face from becoming oily," says Fernandes. Try: Revlon Photo Ready Concealer, Rs 700.

6. You Can't Live Without Kajal Not every eye shape benefits from kohl. "Kajal applied on the waterline makes droopy eyes look smaller, instead of making them pop," says Daniels. Plus, kohl bleeds can give the appearance of dark circles where there are none.

Swap It If you have droopy eyes, ditch the kohl and apply eyeliner on your upper eyelids. "To control bleeds, apply a brown eyeshadow along the waterline after applying kohl. This will keep it from seeping out," adds Daniels.

7. You Swear by Waterproof Mascara "Your eyelashes start thinning out as you age and their growth rate slows down significantly," says Mumbai-based dermatologist Dr Aparna Santhanam and author of Let's Talk Hair. Top that with tough-to-wash waterproof mascara, and you could lose precious lashes in the process.

Swap It Reserve waterproof mascara for special occasions and embrace a washable formulation, such as Clinique Lash Power Feathe-ring Mascara, Rs 1,695, which comes off easily with warm water. "To keep your lashes from drying out, coat them with castor oil using an old, but clean, mascara wand once a week," says Fernandes.

The content is owned by Prevention India