Can you spot the makeup sins in this pic?
(for full impact, enlarge these pics)
Makeup blunders are oft-talked about and can make any woman sweat. Two
of the most common are wearing the wrong shade of makeup and putting on too much.
But don't think this problem is limited only to us "normal folk"! I don't know who did Megan Fox's makeup for this recent photo op, but it doesn't really matter: if it was a makeup artist, SHAME ON HIM/HER; if it was Megan herself... well, shame on her, too, since she's been in the business long enough to know better.
How to prevent these errors:
- Select the right shade | Maybe Megan's MUA needs to read our primer on this, huh? Critical steps-
- Know your skin's undertones! Megan may be cool-toned, if my guess is correct (it's hard to tell from pics sometimes). This foundation is def warm-toned, though. The result is not "a nice fake tan" or whatever the goal was, here. The result is a jolt to the eye that says "An Oompa Loompa Barbie head was put on my bangin' Malibu Barbie body!"
- Match the color to your skin. Do not try to give yourself a tan using foundation. Nor should you try to make your skin look lighter with foundation!
- Fill in the blanks. If your face and neck aren't the same color, the only acceptable option is to use a bronzing product to bridge the gap. Using a big fluffy brush, lightly dust on a powdered bronzer to lighter areas, so as to make the difference less apparent. What also works: tinted moisturizer or mixing your foundation with body lotion to subtly deepen the skin on the throat and decolletage if necessary.
- The last word: step back! If you're not sure whether or not you have this problem, find a large mirror and step back a few paces. See a difference between face, throat, and chest? You'll need to compensate. Do this from time to time, and always before a big event to make sure you're not missing anything. Hello, Megan! This means you!
- Use a light hand | Here we see a horrific example of heavy handedness. Yes, the shade is wrong, but it can't be fixed by loading on more product! How to deal-
- Again: step back! Have you ever seen artists who step back to take a look at their work while painting? Sometimes you get too close to the work, and you need to see the big picture. As an artist, I do this, and I do it when I'm working as a makeup artist, too. I even do it when I'm putting on my own makeup! By stepping back, you can not only catch pesky little shade mismatches, like above, but you can see if you've make your brows two different shapes, if your blush is over enthusiastic, and if your winged liner is taking off in two different directions. Had Megan's MUA stepped back, she might have noticed the claylike effect she'd created here.
- Thinner is better. Yes, artists like to talk about how makeup is "buildable", but that doesn't mean you need to layer it on three inches thick! Full coverage makeup, like must have been used here, really need not be built up this way. And let's face it: if you need to put this much work into getting the coverage or affect you want --- are you really using the right product? I think Megan is hiding bad skin, or the results of bad skin, but she needs to shop around and find a product (or combination of products) that will help her cover the issues without the result seen here. It can be done - I've done it. (Megan, call me! We'll talk!)
- Use the lightest formula you can get away with! You can mix and match, btw. Maybe all you need is a tinted moisturizer everywhere but around the chin where you may need more coverage. Experiment!
- Technique matters. I find it best, even for photo ops, to follow the motto "less is best." I use this method to get perfect, camera-ready skin on most women:
- Prep skin with moisturizer then primer. Let that sink in for a few minutes.
- Conceal under eye circles first - use a pinkish if you're cool-toned, peach if you're warm.
- Dab foundation in center of face, first, since this is where most of us need more coverage. Then blend outwards.
- Use concealer on any spots still visible.
- Tool time! Get the right tools for the job to ensure your work holds up to scrutiny. I like duo-fiber ("skunk") brushes for foundation, or really whatever brush works best for you. Using fingers can create streaks, and using a sponge puts on a lot of product quickly and often thickly. If you must use a sponge, try getting it slightly damp first (wring it out, though!) to help soften the application.
- Troubleshooting: Take it off - take it all off! This is the best way to remedy an overly zealous application like here. Don't have time to take remove your makeup, or it's not quite this bad? Try taking a damp tissue and blotting it on the face to pick-up some of the excess. Using a big fluffy brush to dust on a translucent powder may also help.
What makeup faux pas would you like to rant about?