6 Eye Makeup Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

ByCordelia

6 Eye Makeup Mistakes You Don't Want to Make

I’ve learned a lot about eye makeup since I started blogging 5 years ago and I’ve come a long way. Today I’m sharing 6 eye makeup mistakes you don’t want to make.

6 Eye Makeup Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

1. Not using eyeshadow primer.
Eyeshadow primer provides you with an even canvas to apply not just eyeshadow, but it helps your eyeliner to be budge proof, too. If you’ve got oily eyes, like I do, make sure you blot off any excess oil on the lids, then apply your eyeshadow primer before you apply any other makeup. My favorite eyeshadow primers are Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion, and Jesse’s Girl Eyeshadow Primer. See my review of Too Faced, Urban Decay and Jesse’s Girl.

Makeup Tip! Don't apply mascara to your lower lashes

2. Applying mascara to your lower lashes.
I used to think that you must always apply mascara to your upper and lower lashes, no matter what. Now I think it looks better to only apply mascara to the upper lashes. Of course, I also cannot advocate enough that using a metal lash comb really has made a difference in how my lashes look. They’re no longer clumpy due to the lash comb.

3. Applying the wrong color of concealer.
I’ve been guilty of the reverse raccoon eyes! Don’t apply too pale a shade of concealer. And be sure to blend. I love using a wet beauty blender sponge to make sure I’m using the least amount of product to cover up the dark circles and then blend with the rest of my makeup before I set my concealer. You can also try color correcting concealers. Mint is supposed to cover redness. Lavender is supposed to brighten skintone. Peach is supposed to be good for dark circles.


Check out my video on my favorite concealers and how to use them. You can see more here.

4. Applying concealer without setting it.
If you’re going to wear concealer under the eyes (and anywhere else), you need to set it. Otherwise it will crease or make a mess. You also want to make sure you’re not using too much concealer, as that can draw attention, too.

5. Sharpee brows.
Seriously, unless you’re doing a drag queen look (which, if you are, that’s awesome), don’t go for the ‘I just drew my brows on with a marker’ look. When you’re filling in your brows, whether you choose to use a gel or mousse or powder or pencil, make sure you focus the color on the outer half of your brow. Then fill in the inner half lightly. You may have naturally thick brows or naturally thin brows, but make sure you give them a little bit of love and attention to help them frame the eyes. My favorite brow product is the tarte brow mousse. See my review. However, I recently picked up the tarte brow pencil, and really love it as well, so it may nudge the mousse out of first place.

6. Sleeping in your eye makeup.
This is a terrible thing to do! That’s why everyone harps on it. Don’t sleep in your makeup. You can irritate the delicate skin around the eyes. If you have rosacea or eczema or any other skin condition, sleeping in your makeup can exacerbate it. So really, no matter how tired you are, you want to avoid this.

Phyrra Then and Phyrra Now

Finally, I wanted to share how far I’ve come with my makeup application skills since 2008. I’ve watched many great people on Youtube and read lots of books and tutorials, and finally, I’ve practiced for hours to improve my skills! The picture from June 2008 is one of the very first eyeshadow looks that I ever shared online. I was wearing Aromaleigh Coco Mauve (similar to Makeup Geek Insomnia). The only thing I like about that picture is my hair. In the recent picture from my  Velocity Voodoo tutorial, I like everything except my hair. I also feel like my photography skills have progressed a lot, too.

Since you asked for it, below is a list of people that I watch on Youtube for Beauty. I do watch others, too, but below are the main channels.

People I watch on Youtube for Beauty

So what are your tips for eye makeup mistakes to avoid? Do you ever go back and look at how far you’ve come with your makeup skills? Who are your favorites to watch on Youtube for beauty?

Cordelia Frost is the creative force behind Phyrra, a treasure trove for cruelty-free indie and goth makeup enthusiasts. She's the author of the game-changing 'Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual' a must-read for hooded eyes makeup.

Cordelia's world is a kaleidoscope of alternative beauty, gothic fashion, and life-enhancing tips, making every visit to Phyrra a journey into a more colorful and inspired self.

33 Comments

  2. Pingback: The Lipstick League: Weekly Links, Volume 112 - Clumps of Mascara

  3. I think the #1 mistake is applying your eye makeup exactly how your favorite “guru” does without taking into consideration your unique eye shape. You have to experiment with color placement and work out what best fits and flatters you.. no matter what looks good on anyone else. My skills improved 100% when I quit trying to learn the “right” way to do it.

    I need mascara on my lower lashes, my eyes look terrible if I don’t. I have small hooded eyes with light lashes and I need that definition down there, plus it makes my eyes look a LOT bigger. The key is to find a product that works with your chemistry and will stay put.. and keeping it fluttery and natural. My biggest pet peeve is liner on the top lash line, especially thick liquid liner. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people do a gorgeous transition of color on the lid only to cover it all up with liner. Unless you are going for a strong liner look, which can be gorgeous, let your shadow speak for itself and use only enough to define the lash line. Ditto with false lashes, which seem to have become a crutch for too many. “Nice falsies” is not what you want people to think when they see you. There is a reason the best MUA’s use individual lashes, full strips look fake and are obvious even from a distance.

    1. That’s a really good point for your #1 mistake. I used to get so frustrated when I would try to recreate a tutorial and it didn’t look the same on me because of my hooded eye shape.

  4. You have gorgeous eyes!! And I love your blue hair, that looks fab!! Thanks for the vid on concealor and the tips! 🙂

  6. great post! youtube tutorials are great for picking up the theory but nothing beats hours and hours of practice and experimentation! are you willing to share some photography tips with us too? i’ve been trying to compile a folder of FOTDs so my bf can rank the looks and tell me his favorites but the colors never look as pigmented in the pictures and end up looking very similar. thanks for the list of people you watch! now i can add a few more sources in my seach of greater technique!

  7. Thanks for sharing some great tips! Another information post from you lead to me realizing I’d been applying setting powder wrong! By pressing it on with a rounded sponge, my makeup is LOCKED DOWN now! I always think of you when I reach that step in my makeup process and send you a little thanks with sparkles! 😉

  8. As someone who has just gotten heavily into makeup this past year I realize how guilty I was with a lot of this. I don’t know how I survived without using eyeprimer! A lot of mistakes that I see? I frequently see girls that put on waaaay too much mascara. It just looks like an awful clumpy mess and I also hate when I see girls that dont blend their shadows. The inner half of their eye will be a light color and the out half is usually black and it just looks like they quickly swiped it on in one stroke and didnt give it another thought. Also, VintageorTacky is my favorite youtuber ^_^

    1. I have ALWAYS struggled with mascara. I finally found the best way I can apply it is with the Goss technique of running my mascara brush along the top of a metal lash comb, then running that comb through my lashes. Less clumps.

  10. These are some fantastic tips and I love that you included your own past mistakes into the post – it’s all about trial and error and practice makes perfect!

  12. That is such a nice improvement, and we have all made those mistakes at one point or another. It’s good to know we are not alone

  17. make sure you focus the color on the outer half of your brow. Then fill in the inner half lightly. Yo

    do you have any pictures where u can show this? I understand what you mean but I cant picture it , hope I am not asking too much.

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