8 common makeup mistakes that you should avoid

As a mtf crossdresser, we all want to look feminine and young, and makeup can make it happen. However, always remember that your makeup is required to evolve and adapt to your changing skin as you age. You might be a veteran at applying your makeup, but you can end up looking older too if you're not careful. Here are some common mistakes should avoid when crossdressers makeup.

#1 Apply Too Much Foundation

Foundation forms the base of any look. Your skin tone will be uneven if you ignore the foundation. However, the foundation may settle into fine lines and creases if you apply it too heavily, highlighting your imperfections. People after age 30 may be happier with a liquid or cream foundation, or even a tinted moisturizer instead of the powder foundation which may make your skin look flaky, because it is common that the skin becomes drier at your age, the powder might only accentuate the dryness of aging skin even though you are recommended to apply the powder on top of cream formulas to make them last longer. Try using a setting spray instead, for the powder tends to seep into fine lines for people with dryer skin.

#2 Wear Blush Wrong

Never apply blush to the apples of your cheeks unless you're actually in high school, and avoid using too much blush,  applying it too low, or picking the wrong shade. Because the shades may look muddy on skin, and excessive brown or red shades should be avoided. Instead, pinch your cheeks and try to find a blush matching natural shade that generates. Choose a cream formulation instead of powder to avoid a flaky finish. Apply tiny amount to the center of your cheekbone and sweep backward and forward. Blend well, and you'll nail that youthful glow.

#3 Use a black liner on the bottom

Because of numerous reasons, heavily lining that bottom lid makes you seem to be older: Heavily lining makes your eyes look smaller, accentuates fine lines surrounding your eyes are, and drags down your whole face. You want your eyes to appear brighter and opener to keep things looking youthful. How to apply eyeliner? Keep that bottom lash liner light. Use a deep brown eyeshadow and an angled brush rather than a hard black kohl pencil. Keep gel liner away from the bottom. Use it only on the top of your lids, or even try white or nude liner on the bottom waterline, in that way your eyes are brightened, creating youthful glow. 

#4 Concealer Mistakes

One size does not fit all when it comes to concealer. A concealer perfect for covering spots or blemishes will likely be way too thick for under-eye use. You're accentuating more than you are concealing if the concealer is too thick or not the right color. A light touch is essential, as the skin under the eye is seven times thinner than the rest of your face. Apply a lightweight formulation for your under-eye, in a shade matching your skin tone. Try a color with a yellow or peach undertone to counteract it if you have purplish circle. Don't go with super-light shades, or you will be found to look ashy or given with "reverse-raccoon" appearance. Apply to the inner corner of your under-eye area only, and gently blend and sweep outwards and downwards.

#5 Metallic Eyeshadow

If your eyelids aren't as taut as they used to be, metallic eyeshadow can really make you look aged. It's a natural part of aging. However, metallic, shimmer and glitter shadows can settle into fine lines and "crackle" around eyes, while those fun shimmer shadows can draw attention to wrinkles and fine lines. The application of either matte or satin finish shadows becomes the best bet to create a flawless look. Keep a sparkle in the center of your lid if you've gotten it. It brings more attention to the fine lines tending to settle in that site by putting metallics on the corners of your eyelids. The application of fine pearl shadow is another way to rock the shimmer without aging yourself. Choose a light shadow without excessively sparkly nature. It's great to use fine pearl as a base and layer over top with a non-shimmer shadow to soften the look. You are recommended to opt for muted colors, like apply the navy instead of bright blue or deep jade instead of green. 

#6 Wear Too-dark Lipstick

As we grow older, our lips become thinner and lose definition. You'll want to start easing away from darker shades unless you plan on going crazy with the liner to overdraw your lips, while darker shades make your lips look thinner. You can start with lip liner, and use a nice neutral shade just a bit bolder than the person's natural lip color. Then line the lips and fill in the rest with a tinted gloss. I think that gloss gives a softer and more youthful appearance, though most of us are really stuck on the idea of always using heavy lipstick.

#7 Get Highlighter Wrong

Bright or glowing skin is equivalent to youthful-looking skin. However, it takes proper placement of such a glow to make it work in your benefit. Mature sisters shouldn't wear highlighter at certain sites of the face. You don't want to apply a shimmery highlighter on your brow bone, that can look dated and tends to pull down the eye. Avoiding creepy areas of the mouth and eyes, and highlight more taut areas like the center of eyes or cheekbones instead. And you are recommended to have a liquid highlighter if you're going to highlight. 

#8 Heavy Mascara

It is possible to cast shadows and flake by applying heavy mascara on the bottom lashes, generating the illusion of dark circles. Keep the bottom clean and tight when you are about to wear mascara on it.

Then how do you keep makeup from aging you? Less is more! Keep everything light and natural. And keep a splash of something extra to a minimum even when you want it. However, most makeup rules are meant to be broken, so be bold to try new things and find what works best for you.