20 Makeup Trends That Need to Go Away

The super skinny eyebrows of the ‘90s were regrettable. Thankfully, we’ve since ditched the tweezers and let our brows go au naturel—kind of. In an attempt to achieve full, bushy brows, many women are overdrawing their arches. Please stop. Overdrawn brows are a beauty crime.

Fuller-looking lips can be attained without an abundance of lipliner. Instead of overlining and exaggerating your mouth, opt for a more subtle way to plump your pout. Dabbing gloss in the center of your lips allows them to appear fuller!

I have a love/hate relationship with highlighter. When used correctly, it can create an ultra-luminous glow. But when used incorrectly, it can attract unnecessary attention. Use highlighter sparingly on your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, and nose. A little goes a long way...

Some eyeshadow palettes still come with the double-sided sponge applicators—ditch these ASAP. It’s difficult to blend with these disposable devices. Instead, invest in a set of fluffy eyeshadow brushes so you can properly blend your shadows.

I’m not saying you need to throw out your favorite matte lipsticks, but it wouldn’t hurt to experiment with a different finish for a change. Sheer, glossy, and satin lipsticks look more natural and are more moisturizing than matte formulas.

Luminous skin is in. Rather than wearing full-coverage makeup, use a sheer foundation to show off your skin’s natural glow. There are a plethora of barely there foundations that blur blemishes and fine lines—without weighing your skin down.

Kim Kardashian is the queen of contour. She’s created countless tutorials to teach us how to enhance our features and sculpt our faces. But is this beauty trend coming to an end? Honestly, I hope so. Just google “contouring gone wrong.” Let’s leave this technique to the beauty gurus.

Many of us swipe blush on our cheeks without a second thought, but it’s time to focus on what hues we’re using. Bright pinks and fuschias are unnatural and unflattering. Rosy cheeks can be achieved with toned down shades of pink, peach, and gold.

Hairspray should never be used as setting spray, which is why we need to put an end to this damaging makeup “hack.” Hairspray contains harsh ingredients that will leave skin dry and irritated. To avoid discomfort, trade your hairspray for a true setting spray. Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting setting spray and Elf Matte Magic Mist and Set setting spray are fan favorites.

Shimmery highlighters, blushes, and bronzers are all the rage. If you’re not quite ready to abandon your matte makeup for a dewy foundation, utilize these luminous products to create glowing and radiant skin.

I’m still not able to understand this bizarre beauty trend. Squiggle brows are exactly what they sound like—a makeup optical illusion that transforms arched brows into squiggles. My advice is to ditch the editing apps and leave the brows alone.

Don’t get me wrong, I love false eyelashes, but it’s time to retire thick, voluminous falsies. Opt for thinner fake lashes that blend in seamlessly with your natural lashes. Lengthy, wispy lashes add volume without looking heavy or overdone.

Thick, clumpy lashes aren’t cute. Fortunately, they’re preventable. To avoid the chunky mascara trend, wiggle your wand horizontally when applying, apply no more than two coats, and separate lashes after application. These tricks will help you avoid spidery lashes.

Although it can be tempting to fix eyeliner mishaps with more eyeliner—don’t. Thick eyeliner can make eyes appear smaller. Instead, fix mistakes with a cotton swab and focus on applying liner as close to the lash line as possible!

The over-application of bronzer is a major beauty blunder. Your desire for a sun-kissed glow is understandable, but excessive bronzing isn’t the answer. Apply bronzer in natural light so you don’t overdo it.

This trend must be stopped. Choose to flaunt bold hues on either your eyes or your lips, but not on both at the same time. This may be advice we’ve heard for decades, but I thought a reminder couldn’t hurt.

If you believe makeup primer is unnecessary, do I have news for you! The omittance of this crucial beauty product is ruining your makeup routine. Primer is a beauty trend you should be following. It helps makeup go on smoother and last longer—and not to mention it hydrates, brightens, and evens skin tone.

Powder-based products can settle into fine lines, leaving skin looking dry and cakey. To prevent this, apply only one layer of powder to your face and remove any excess powder with a makeup brush. If you still look over-powdered, use a setting spray or rosewater mist to illuminate your skin.

This may have been a trend in the ‘90s, but it’s not anymore. Choose a lip liner that matches your lipstick, not a lip liner that’s multiple shades darker. When your lip liner complements your lipstick, you can use it to color in your entire lip—allowing your lipstick to blend better and last longer.

Just like overdrawn eyebrows are a problem, so are overplucked arches. Put the tweezers away if you can’t control yourself. Over-tweezing can leave you with thin, scraggly brows that you’re ashamed of. That being said, stop plucking and allow your brows time to grow back in.