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The Real Reason Your Makeup Isn’t Working (It’s Not You—it’s These Mistakes)

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The Real Reason Your Makeup Isn’t Working (It’s Not You—it’s These Mistakes)

👉 Learning makeup doesn’t have to be all trial and error. If your look isn’t quite landing, you might be making one of these beginner mistakes—and don’t worry, they’re all fixable.

Let’s walk through them together.

1. Skipping Skin Prep

What’s going wrong:
Jumping straight into foundation without moisturizing or priming.

Why it matters:
Without a smooth base, your makeup can look patchy, cling to dry spots, or fade fast.

Quick fix:
Use a gentle moisturizer and a primer that suits your skin type. It helps your makeup go on smoother and stay put.

✨ Need help figuring out your skin type? Glaminai can match you with the right prep routine—fast.

2. Using the Wrong Shade

What’s going wrong:
Your foundation looks great indoors but off in natural light—or doesn’t match your undertone at all.

Why it matters:
Even flawless blending won’t fix the wrong shade. It can make your makeup look masky or uneven.

Quick fix:
Swatch your foundation on your jawline—not your hand—and check it in daylight.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

If you're unsure...	Try this:
Foundation looks too orange	Check for neutral undertones
Looks grey or ashy	Try warm or golden shades
Looks too pink	Shift toward golden or olive

💡 Glaminai’s shade matcher can help you find a better match before you even shop.

3. Applying Too Much Product

What’s going wrong:
Going in heavy with foundation or layering blush and contour without blending.

Why it matters:
Too much product can look cakey and settle into fine lines—especially throughout the day.

Quick fix:
Start small. Use thin layers and blend before adding more. Your skin will thank you.

4. Forgetting to Set Your Makeup

What’s going wrong:
Skipping setting altogether—or going too hard with powder.

Why it matters:
Your makeup might melt off or end up looking dry and flat.

Quick fix:
Powder only where you get shiny (T-zone), then finish with a light setting spray.

Step	What to Use
Forehead, nose, chin	Light pressed powder
All over finish	Hydrating setting spray

5. Using the Wrong Tools (or Not Cleaning Them)

What’s going wrong:
Applying everything with fingers, not washing brushes, or using tools that don’t suit your products.

Why it matters:
Can lead to uneven makeup, skin irritation, or breakouts.

Here’s a quick guide:

Tool	Best For
Damp sponge	Light coverage, dewy finish
Dense brush	Full coverage, blending edges
Clean fingers	Cream blushes, lip tints

🧼 Pro tip: wash your tools weekly. Your skin will glow, not break out.

Final Takeaway 💖

Mistakes are totally normal when you’re starting out. But with a little guidance, they’re also super easy to fix.

From shade matching to prepping your skin and picking the right tools—you’ve got this.
And if you ever feel stuck?

✨ Ask Glaminai. I’ll walk you through the fix—no stress, no judgment.