15 Popular Makeup Trends That Might Be Wrecking Your Skin

Makeup trends change all the time, and while some styles become classics, others are better left behind. Makeup is a fun way to show your personality, but some trends can lead to things like skin problems or a look that feels too overdone. Keeping your makeup fresh doesn’t mean you need to follow every new trend — it’s about finding what makes you feel great. To help you stay up-to-date, here are some makeup trends you can say goodbye to. Let these outdated styles go and stick with what makes you feel like the best version of yourself!

Overly Contoured Faces

Overly contoured faces can make your features appear harsh and unnatural. This trend, popularized by social media, often involves using dark shades to carve out cheekbones, nose, and jawline to create a chiseled look. However, this heavy-handed approach can look muddy and overdone in everyday lighting.

Super Matte Lips

Super matte lips have been a staple recently, but they can be incredibly drying and uncomfortable. These lip products often emphasize every line and crack, making lips look parched and less youthful. Furthermore, matte formulas can be unforgiving, requiring frequent touch-ups to maintain a flawless appearance. A satin or creamy finish can provide a more hydrated and plump look, adding a touch of softness and vitality to your overall appearance.

Heavy Powder

The baking technique involves applying a thick layer of translucent powder to areas of the face and letting it sit for several minutes to “set” the makeup. While it promises a flawless, long-lasting finish, it can also leave the skin dry and cakey. This trend can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles, making you look older than you are. Moreover, excessive powder use can clog pores and lead to breakouts.

Excessive Highlighter

Excessive highlighter aims to create an intense glow but often looks more like a disco ball than a natural radiance. Over-applying highlighter to the cheekbones, nose, and other high points of the face can give a greasy or overly shiny appearance, detracting from your overall look. A more subtle application enhances your features with a gentle sheen, mimicking how natural light hits your skin.

Instagram Brows

Instagram brows, characterized by their overly sculpted and bold appearance, can look artificial and harsh in real life. This trend often involves heavily filling the brows with sharp, defined edges that can overpower your facial features. Natural brows, with their softer and more relaxed shape, complement your face and enhance your overall look without drawing too much attention.

Too Much Foundation

Applying too much foundation can mask your natural skin texture, resulting in a heavy, cakey look. This trend often leads to a flat, lifeless complexion, as the skin’s natural variations and glow are entirely covered. Excessive foundation can also settle into fine lines and pores, emphasizing them rather than hiding them. Using a lighter application of foundation or opting for a tinted moisturizer can enhance your skin’s natural beauty, providing coverage where needed while allowing your skin to breathe and shine through.

Dramatic False Lashes

Dramatic false lashes can overpower your natural beauty and appear overly theatrical in everyday settings. While they add instant volume and length, they can also look unnatural and uncomfortable. The weight of heavy false lashes can cause strain on your eyelids and even damage your natural lashes over time. Opting for more natural-looking false lashes or enhancing your own lashes with good mascara can provide a flattering and comfortable alternative.

Overdrawn Lips

Overdrawn lips, whose lip liner extends well beyond the natural lip line, can look artificial and exaggerated. This trend, aimed at creating fuller lips, often results in an uneven and noticeable outline that detracts from your overall appearance. Instead of dramatically altering your lip shape, enhancing your natural lip line with a lip liner that closely matches your lipstick can create a fuller, more balanced look.

Extreme Winged Eyeliner

Extreme winged eyeliner, with its sharp and extended lines, can create a striking look but is often too harsh for everyday wear. This trend can make your eyes appear smaller and more severe rather than enhancing their natural shape. A more moderate wing or a softer, smudged eyeliner can provide definition and lift without the intense drama.

Glitter Everything

Glitter particles can easily migrate from your eyes to other parts of your face, creating a scattered and unkempt appearance. Moreover, removing glitter can be difficult and can cause irritation to your skin and eyes. Using glitter sparingly, such as in a targeted area like the inner corners of your eyes or as a subtle highlight, can add sparkle and interest without taking over your entire look.

Dark Lip Liner with Light Lipstick

Dark lip liner paired with light lipstick can create a stark, dated contrast that often looks unflattering and harsh. This trend can make your lips appear outlined and unnatural, drawing attention away from the overall harmony of your makeup. This technique ensures that your lip color blends smoothly, providing a polished, modern finish that complements your facial features.

Heavy Under-Eye Concealer

Applying heavy under-eye concealer to cover dark circles can create a cakey and creased appearance. This trend can accentuate fine lines and create an unnatural, mask-like effect that detracts from your overall look. A lighter, more hydrating concealer formula can provide coverage without settling into lines or looking heavy.

Overly Dewy Skin

While a dewy look is trendy, overdoing it can leave you looking oily and sweaty. Aim for a natural glow with a subtle touch of highlighter instead. Use a bit of mattifying powder on areas that get shiny to keep things balanced. This way, you’ll have that fresh, radiant look without the greasy vibes.

Using Heavy Makeup Setting Spray

Going overboard with setting sprays can leave your skin feeling sticky and smothered. It can also lead to clogged pores and annoying breakouts. Opt for a lightweight, breathable setting spray and use it sparingly. It’s all about keeping your makeup fresh without messing up your skin.

Fake Freckles

Drawing on fake freckles often looks artificial and rarely comes across as natural. If you want the freckled look, try using a fine-tipped brow pencil with a light touch for a more realistic effect. Or just embrace your natural skin and highlight your other features. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to pulling off a believable look.

More For You

Achieving a natural makeup look starts with high-quality products that enhance your features without overpowering them. Use a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone and a creamy blush for a subtle flush. For a touch of elegance, finish with one of Dior’s best lipsticks, which provide rich color and hydration.

This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.