For those who haven’t worn makeup before, the sheer volumes of products, as well as the billions of beauty tutorials online, can be understandably overwhelming. The information overload can even lead to bad habits and makeup mistakes that could be affecting the final result.
If your makeup just isn’t giving what it needs to, it could be down to a few application methods you’ve embedded into your routine that need to be freshened up. Now, a viral video has demonstrated a side by side of these common mistakes and what to do so you never make them again.
Janelle Zharmenova shared the clip to her account, @janelthebear, on February 23, where she proved to viewers “you’re not ugly, your makeup is,” as she demonstrated three makeup mistakes.
Before getting into her tips, which have gained over 2.6 million views and more than 244,000 likes, Zharmenova warned viewers to “buckle up, because I might be offending some people right now.”
1. No Bulky Brows
Just because there is a product available to fill in your eyebrows, it doesn’t mean you need to use it.
Zharmenova puts it simply: “Stop filling in your brows.”
Expecting some backlash from the statement due to her naturally full brows, Zharmenova referenced 1990s supermodel makeup through Kate Moss to illustrate her point:
“She has brows for sure, but they’re not very full. They might be plucked, they might be shaped, but she doesn’t fill them in,” Zharmenova says.
After filling in her brow on one side of her face, she asks viewers, “Do you see how that just sort of drags your face down? Fill them in if you want to but keep it as natural as possible.”
2. Goodbye Flaky Foundation
Ask any MUA their top tip for a flawless base, and you’ll be told the key lies in skin prep. Taking time to prepare your skin before applying foundation results in a smooth finish that lasts a lot longer, too.
For a skin-like finish, Zharmenova suggests: “Face oil, moisturizer, sunscreen, primer. If that’s not what we’re doing before we put on foundation, then what are we doing?”
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3. Ditch the Liquid Liner
Many make the mistake of going in hard and fast with a thick wing angled too far upwards, and then deciding that eyeliner doesn’t suit them.
In reality, it’s just that the style that isn’t flattering on everyone and switching it out for a softer wing may leave you feeling more confident in your liner capabilities.
Using a dark eyeshadow on an angled brush, Zharmenova said you should begin the wing at your lower lash line, “follow that natural shape and connecting it at the top.”
She used the same shadow to tightline the inner corner for a darker look, finish with waterproof mascara, which she says is needed “if your lashes always fall down”.
Finishing with a neutral lipstick to compliment her skin tone, Zharmenova said: “This [the good side] truly has highlighted my natural feature. And this [the bad side] has made my natural features just disappear completely.
“It’s not about the products you’re using, it’s about the application,” she added.
What Do the Comments Say?
Users agreed with her suggestions, as one shared: “omg [oh my god] yeah one day I stopped filling in my brows and ever since then I’ve liked my makeup sm [so much] better.”
One added: “The more I grow older and learn from my makeup mistakes, the less makeup I wear.”
Some weren’t sold of her tips, as one posted: “I can’t leave my eyebrows, they literally have BALD SPOTS BRUH.”
“If I ‘prep’ my skin my makeup separates and looks so bad,” added another.
Newsweek tried to contact Janelle Zharmenova via an email to her management.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.