Makeup should enhance your features—but done incorrectly, it can do the opposite. According to professional makeup artist Gabi, some everyday mistakes could be adding years to your face without you even realizing it.
“Makeup can make you look amazing, or it can make you look really bad,” Gabi says.
Here are the most common mistakes she sees—and how to fix them to look “10 years younger” and achieve a more youthful, flattering look.
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1. Using the Wrong Foundation for Your Skin Type
One of the biggest culprits behind cakey or aging makeup? The wrong foundation.
“People always say things like ‘avoid matte foundations because they’ll age you,’ and that’s only true if you have dry skin,” Gabi explains. “A glowy foundation can be beautiful on dry skin—but for oily skin, it just emphasizes pores and settles into fine lines.”
Instead, she recommends choosing foundation based on your skin type:
- Oily skin: Look for mattifying or oil-control formulas.
- Dry skin: Go for hydrating, luminous foundations.
- Combination skin: Find a balanced formula or mix products.
Also, don’t blindly trust influencers. “Their skin type may be completely different than yours,” she notes.
2. Harsh, Overdrawn Brows
Gabi admits this was her personal biggest mistake: overdoing her brows.
“Brow blindness is real,” she says. “You get so used to a certain shape, you don’t realize how unflattering it is.”
Harshly drawn brows or ones that are too dark can “instantly age you,” while brows that are too sparse make your face look unfinished.
Her go-to fix? A two-step method using:
- Brow gel to lift and shape.
- A fine-tip pen to mimic natural hairs.
“It gives you a full yet soft brow that enhances your face beautifully.”
3. The Wrong Concealer (And Technique)
Concealer is meant to brighten your under-eyes—not highlight every wrinkle.
“A thick, heavy formula just settles into fine lines and makes your under-eye area look crepey,” Gabi says.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Correct first with a peach, pink, or orange-toned corrector.
- Follow up with a lightweight concealer only 1–2 shades lighter than your skin tone.
- Set it with a finely milled powder made for under eyes to prevent creasing.
Avoid dense sticks and overly bright concealers, especially on textured skin.
4. Liquid Eyeliner on Aging Eyes
“I’m just going to say it,” Gabi shares. “Liquid eyeliner looks much better on young, lifted, untextured eyelids.”
She explains that thick black liner can make eyes appear smaller and more droopy—especially on hooded or mature eyes. “It’s not doing you any favors. It’s closing up your eyes and making them look small and beady.”
Instead, opt for:
- A soft Kajal pencil.
- Smudge it out with an angled brush.
- Tightline the upper waterline to define eyes without stealing lid space.
For lower lashes, ditch the harsh black. Use taupe or brown shadow for soft definition.
5. Lipsticks That Are Too Nude (Or Skipping Lip Liner)
Many of Gabi’s mature clients shy away from lipstick—but overly pale, matte shades can make your face appear “washed out” and reduce dimension.
“Those beige, concealer-toned lipsticks emphasize dryness and make your lips disappear.”
Her solution:
- Choose nude shades with a hint of pink, peach, or mauve.
- Always use lip liner—it redefines lips and prevents lipstick from bleeding into fine lines.
“As we age, we naturally lose lip definition,” she says. “Lip liner brings it back.”
6. Misplaced or Wrong Blush
Blush is a secret weapon for looking fresh—but only if you get the placement, formula, and shade right.
“Bronzer is not blush,” Gabi emphasizes. “Say it with me!”
Common blush mistakes:
- Placement: Too low on the cheeks drags the face down. Apply higher on the cheekbone and blend upward for lift.
- Formula: Cream or liquid blushes tend to look more youthful than powder.
- Color: Skip deep, bronzy tones. Go for peach, rose, or mauve for a lifted effect.
Bottom Line
Makeup should work with your skin, not against it. “No matter what foundation you use, it will only look as good as the base underneath,” Gabi says. From fine lines and wrinkles to brow shape and lip color, even small tweaks can take years off your look.
So next time you reach for your beauty bag, remember: the right techniques can enhance your natural beauty—no filters required.
