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In beauty as in life, sinful deeds get done. But unlike life, when we might act on a wicked impulse with the most atrocious results, beauty sins are much easier to correct. Here are 10 beauty sins, from the innocently bungling to the outright jarring. Think of them as gentle -- and not so gentle -- reminders of what not to do. Ever.
Reprehensibly Dark Lip Liner
If friends are asking you how you enjoyed your hot cocoa and you didn't have hot cocoa, you're probably wearing lip liner that's too dark. Stop it. You look silly. Go find a lip pencil that matches your lip color.
Scandalously Sleeping with Your Makeup
Don't cheat on your face. Because your skin is rich in its own natural oils, gets coated with a daily blend of environmental debris and suffocates under makeup, you've got to wash your face every night or your pores will suffer.
Shamefully Trying to Hide Your Skin Color
Sorry, but you won't look like you have a honeyed and sultry tan if your foundation's too dark -- you'll just look dirty. And you won't appear porcelain skinned if your foundation is too light -- you'll just look like a ghoul. So gals, please, choose your foundation in good, clear light and blend it onto your skin carefully.
Appallingly Squeezing Your Zits
Bicoastal dermatologist Karyn Grossman explains that picking pimples not only pushes the bad stuff out of your skin, it also pushes it in deeper, resulting in prolonged redness and increased risk of scarring. She recommends using one-percent hydrocortisone on a pimple three times a day for up to five days to decrease inflammation.
Dreadfully Dramatic Contouring
Using deep contour shades to give the illusion of a sculpted nose or a sharper cheekbone looks divine on the pages of fashion magazines where choreographed lighting diffuses the gradations of tone. But in real life, you've got to blend those contour shades to near invisibility. That or look like a human outline.
Dishonorable Lack of Consideration for Brow Color
The most flattering brow color is a shade lighter or a shade and a half lighter than the darkest part of your hair. Don't go more extreme than that. If your hair is blonde and your brows are midnight black, you'll look like you've divided your features in two.
The Immorality of Spidery Lashes
Eyelashes are a fine and delicate feature, so honor them as such by using mascara only to subtly enhance. If your impulse is to over-apply, you're going to have to teach yourself to hold back. Spidery, clumped-up, wild-looking lashes are only attractive to other spiders.
Reckless Vibrancy
If you fancy vibrant cheeks, keep your lips understated. If, on the other hand, you're aching for vivacious lips, cool it with the blush. It's the difference between appearing sophisticated and clownish.
Scandalous Dapples
Trying to blend cream makeup over a powdered face is like trying to mix honey into your iced tea. It doesn't work. Instead, you'll look as though you dappled sticky bits of glue across your face. If you use cream foundations and concealers, start with those and finish with powder if needed.
Shameful Public Application
As I always say, there's only one situation in which applying makeup in public is okay -- as performance art. If you don't have dreams of being on the stage, don't do it. It's in bad taste, it's tacky and you'll look dumb!
Reprehensibly Dark Lip Liner
If friends are asking you how you enjoyed your hot cocoa and you didn't have hot cocoa, you're probably wearing lip liner that's too dark. Stop it. You look silly. Go find a lip pencil that matches your lip color.
Scandalously Sleeping with Your Makeup
Don't cheat on your face. Because your skin is rich in its own natural oils, gets coated with a daily blend of environmental debris and suffocates under makeup, you've got to wash your face every night or your pores will suffer.
Shamefully Trying to Hide Your Skin Color
Sorry, but you won't look like you have a honeyed and sultry tan if your foundation's too dark -- you'll just look dirty. And you won't appear porcelain skinned if your foundation is too light -- you'll just look like a ghoul. So gals, please, choose your foundation in good, clear light and blend it onto your skin carefully.
Appallingly Squeezing Your Zits
Bicoastal dermatologist Karyn Grossman explains that picking pimples not only pushes the bad stuff out of your skin, it also pushes it in deeper, resulting in prolonged redness and increased risk of scarring. She recommends using one-percent hydrocortisone on a pimple three times a day for up to five days to decrease inflammation.
Dreadfully Dramatic Contouring
Using deep contour shades to give the illusion of a sculpted nose or a sharper cheekbone looks divine on the pages of fashion magazines where choreographed lighting diffuses the gradations of tone. But in real life, you've got to blend those contour shades to near invisibility. That or look like a human outline.
Dishonorable Lack of Consideration for Brow Color
The most flattering brow color is a shade lighter or a shade and a half lighter than the darkest part of your hair. Don't go more extreme than that. If your hair is blonde and your brows are midnight black, you'll look like you've divided your features in two.
The Immorality of Spidery Lashes
Eyelashes are a fine and delicate feature, so honor them as such by using mascara only to subtly enhance. If your impulse is to over-apply, you're going to have to teach yourself to hold back. Spidery, clumped-up, wild-looking lashes are only attractive to other spiders.
Reckless Vibrancy
If you fancy vibrant cheeks, keep your lips understated. If, on the other hand, you're aching for vivacious lips, cool it with the blush. It's the difference between appearing sophisticated and clownish.
Scandalous Dapples
Trying to blend cream makeup over a powdered face is like trying to mix honey into your iced tea. It doesn't work. Instead, you'll look as though you dappled sticky bits of glue across your face. If you use cream foundations and concealers, start with those and finish with powder if needed.
Shameful Public Application
As I always say, there's only one situation in which applying makeup in public is okay -- as performance art. If you don't have dreams of being on the stage, don't do it. It's in bad taste, it's tacky and you'll look dumb!