7 Reasons Your Makeup Doesn't Look as Good as You Want It To

If you are still using the sponge applicators that you sometimes get in eye shadow palettes, do yourself a favor and throw them away. They make applying makeup harder, not easier. Why brands continue to produce these is a mystery when anyone who's stumbled across a YouTube tutorial knows that makeup brushes are the key to a better result.

You don't need to spend hundreds on MAC or Shu Uemura brushes (though they are a great investment), but it really is worth building up a small collection of decent-quality brushes from a brand like Real Techniques or Eco Tools. Which ones to pick depends on which type of makeup you like to wear, but a good starting point would be to buy a good blusher brush, a medium shadow brush and a crease brush, an angled brush for liner and/or brow powder, and something to help you apply foundation. If you fancy a brush, try the Bare Minerals Face Perfecting Brush ($24), which has a shallow cutout section in the middle to help get around curves and creases. If you'd prefer to apply with a sponge, the Beautyblender ($22) is worth the investment.

Lip color doesn't have to come in a stick, eye color doesn't have to be a powder, and most base products, blushers, and bronzers come in a huge number of different formulas. So how do you know which one to pick?

In general, powders are more drying and mattifying and work better on oilier skin, while liquids and creams can help hydrate dry skin. Bear this in mind when picking foundation in particular.

But it's about the final result, too. Powders (especially things like eye shadow and blusher) allow you to gently blend and build up color with precision. Cream formulas tend to give a more youthful, dewy effect (which is why a slightly shimmery cream eye shadow is a must for older skins). They don't require exact application, making them good for beginners, and often look best applied with the fingers, which is good news if your budget doesn't reach to 15 new brushes.

Gels and pomades are often the hardest to work with, but they also give the most long-lasting results. If you can master gel liner and brow pomade, you can re-create those picture-perfect Instagram makeup looks yourself. Until you do, soft pencils are a little more forgiving.

We've all succumbed to trends that don't suit us, and this extends to makeup. But not every color suits every skin tone. One person's perfect red lipstick may wash out the next person to try it. Deep black liner under the eyes may look sexy and sultry on a brunette and '90s emo on a blond.

Finding out your skin's undertone is the first step to choosing colors to suit. If you're a lucky neutral, you may be able to pull off most things, but the rest of us will need to adapt. That doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment, but don't wear something you know washes you out just because it's popular.

When it comes to choosing the wrong colors, one place many of us go wrong is with our foundation. Testing it on your hand is not enough; you need to see how it looks in natural light on your face. Don't be shy about trying it on your jawline, then walking toward a window or doorway for the full effect. And remember, you may need one shade for Winter and one for Summer if you tan, though you may be able to use a product like The Body Shop's Shade Adjusting Drops ($20) to gently lighten or darken as necessary.

When we first experiment with makeup as teenagers, we probably reached for eye makeup and lipstick first. And those probably remained the main constituents of a look for most of us ever since. But when you want a more pulled-together look (especially for big occasions like weddings and parties), the real key to a polished look is what I call the "three Bs": base, blusher, and brows.

Firstly we have base, and by this I really mean any combination of primer, foundation, powder, and/or concealer depending on your preference. Not everyone likes or needs a full face of foundation, but creating a good base for the rest of your makeup is key to a good result. Even if you just slick some primer on your eyelids, you'll benefit from it!

Then comes blusher, the most maligned makeup item by newbies, but one of the best. Trust me when I say that even if you think you don't need blusher, you do. It's a miracle worker and makes you look younger, more awake, and more polished.

Finally, brows. Good brows have the ability to completely shape the face, and with the current trend for big and bold brows in full swing, you can no longer ignore those overplucked '90s wisps. Start as you mean to go on by visiting a salon for a shape and tint, then pick up a pencil, powder, or pomade to help fill in gaps and shape your brows. You'll be blown away with what a power brow will do to your finished face. Embrace it!

The expiration date on your cosmetics isn't just there to con you into buying more makeup. Though some products may last longer than advertised (usually powders), in general makeup expiration dates are worth paying attention to, especially when it comes to liquids that go around the sensitive eye area. We're talking about you, mascara! An old mascara tube is not only a breeding ground for germs (especially if you pump the brush — don't do this!), but it's also more likely to clump and flake. As soon as you open that tube, the product inside starts to lose moisture. Remember how lovely it feels to open a fresh mascara and glide on the smooth liquid formula? You owe yourself that treat. If your mascara isn't finished after three months, trash it and buy a new one. It'll make the world of difference.