Been doing makeup for years and I see the same mistakes over and over from people starting out. Here's what to fix:

1. Skipping primer. Your foundation isn't meant to stick to bare skin. Even a basic primer changes everything — smoother application, longer wear, fewer touch-ups.

2. Wrong foundation shade. Stop matching to your hand. Swatch on your jawline in natural light. If it disappears, that's your shade.

3. Too much concealer under the eyes. Less is more. A tiny dot on each side and blend outward. Caking it on creates creases by noon.

4. Ignoring your brows. Brows frame your entire face. You don't need to be an artist — just a spoolie and some clear brow gel makes a massive difference.

5. Not setting your makeup. A light dusting of translucent powder on your T-zone locks everything in place. Takes 10 seconds, saves you hours.

If you're learning makeup from scratch, I'm building a free community where we break everything down step by step. Come through.