Magazines, makeover shows and the gals at the cosmetics counter may try to convince you otherwise, but when it comes right down to it, makeup is largely a very personal, subjective thing. Sure, everyone experiments with trends from time to time, but most women I know wear their makeup the same way day in and day out; they find what works for them - what they feel makes them look their best - and they stick to it. Still, there are some (more or less) universally agreed upon makeup missteps - and Total Beauty wants to break it down for you with their picks for the Top 10 Makeup Felonies. The list:
- Overplucked eyebrows
- Dark lip shades
- Not blending well enough
- Mismatched foundation
- Makeup overload
- Flakey/smudgy mascara
- Too much glitter
- Overbronzing
- Too much illumination
- Neglecting your skin
Okay, some of these are true no-brainers. Obviously no one looks hot with mismatched foundation, bad skin or smudged mascara. But others seem completely out of place on this list: For instance, overplucked eyebrows. I agree that it’s usually bad news when someone gets a little tweezer-happy, but what if it’s part of your look? What if pencil thin brows are your thing? Take Jean Harlow, for instance. Would she have been quite so iconic without her drawn-on Betty Boop brows? I also have to take issue with #2. I love dark lipstick! TotalBeauty cites its "aging" qualities, but I just think it looks sexy and mysterious (check out the above pic of Drew - or, for that matter, Jean! - for evidence). And really, when is the last time you saw anyone over the age of 12 sporting "too much glitter" on her face? Maybe at a club - but then isn’t looking over-the-top and outrageous all part of the fun when you’re going out on the town? It may not be office-appropriate, but after the sun has set, I say glitter away to your heart’s content!
Plus, consider some of the true makeup atrocities that could’ve made the list in their place: Mismatched or too-dark lipliner, spiky eyelashes, self-tanner overdose…yikes! Glitter and skinny brows seem positively tame in comparison!
