Make Up Lines Are FAIL

Well, I've had a hell of a time finding examples of this online, but there is something that I think we all recognize, and that's the Makeup Mask. Here's my definition: gorgeous make up with a visible foundation line along the jawline. Perhaps your face and neck are two different colors after you're done with your foundation? Here's an example borrowed from Skin Deco:

That doesn't drive me as crazy as the ones that are orange in the face and white on the neck. It looks tacky. If you're like me and use a darker color than your facial skin tone, this is something that is difficult to combat, so I'm going to share some of the tips I've picked up over time.


1. Use a foundation brush.

You'll get a much more even blend with your skin tone using a brush, and you can fade it out to the edges of your face. Since I use a darker foundation, I spread it out to my hairline and to my ears. Do I stop at my jaw? Nope, I keep going down my neck until it's fully blended and seamless. It also doesn't require an expensive brush. I use e.l.f.'s foundation brush that costs a dollar.

2. Try tinted moisturizer.

For an every day look, tinted moisturizer is the way to go. It blends much more evenly with the skin and, in my opinion, blends very well. Save the thicker foundation for meet ups and events. One can still have smooth even skin without caking it on. The point of foundation is to hide flaws and even the skin tone, not look like you're about to go perform for the circus. If you do use regular foundation, make sure it's water-based and that you can still blend it smoothly.

3. Bronzing/Blushing/Powders

I'm a fan of bronzing, but something that contributes to the cake-mask face, too. If you use a darker bronzer, tap off the excess so that you don't use too much, and layer it until you have the effect you want. Don't be afraid to use it on your neck, either, to make sure your color stays consistent. Sometimes using a larger powder brush to blend in edges makes it a lot more natural looking and less glaring.

The same goes for contouring. I see sooooo much on the "Gal-nose", meaning the dark contours on the side with a light stripe up the center to thin the nose out. The problem is that I'm not seeing a lot of blending done, so that ends up on my pet peeve list, too. Here's a good tutorial from Chaigyaru on proper contouring:

See? It's not that hard, just blend it in.


4. Give yourself a good once over.

Look for visible lines, get a second opinion. Do your make up in the right light and really blend. Again, don't forget your neck, ears, and hairline. Visible contour lines and foundation lines are really distracting and detract from the overall package. Keep the illusion going! A couple of minutes of reviewing your finished make up and blending in places you might have missed will go a long way.

I hope you all found that helpful. I know most of what I bring up are pet peeves and the unglamorous side of being glamorous, but these are all things that I believe are necessary to presenting oneself properly. If you have tips of your own, please share them in the comments!

J!