Makeup can completely transform your face—but according to beauty creators and makeup artists, certain techniques may actually be adding years to your appearance without you even realizing it. In a viral video, makeup artist Christen Dominique broke down the common makeup mistakes that can make you look “10 years older” versus the softer, more strategic techniques that create a fresher, more youthful effect.
From swapping heavy matte formulas for hydrated skin tints to rethinking overly bright concealer and dramatic lashes, Dominique says small adjustments can instantly brighten and lift the face.
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1. Skip Heavy Matte Foundation On Dry Skin
According to Dominique, one of the fastest ways to age your makeup look is piling heavy matte foundation onto dry skin. Matte formulas can cling to texture, settle into fine lines, and leave the complexion looking flat or cakey. Instead, she recommends starting with a well-hydrated base and using a lightweight skin tint or hydrating complexion product. “Apply a skin tint that adds hydration [and] evens everything out without looking cakey,” she explains. The result is skin that looks smoother, glowier, and more natural.
2. Stop Using Thick Triangle Concealer
The classic bright under-eye triangle may have dominated YouTube tutorials for years, but Dominique says it can actually make the under-eye area appear heavier and more textured. Rather than dragging concealer into a large triangle shape, she suggests focusing product only where it’s truly needed: the inner corner near the nose and the outer corner of the eye. Using a neutral-toned concealer in those targeted areas helps lift, brighten, and conceal without overwhelming the face.
3. Choose Softer Blush Placement
Blush placement can dramatically change the way your face looks. Dominique warns that heavy, overly bright blush applied across the cheeks can overpower features and create a harsher effect. Instead, she recommends a softer neutral flush placed higher on the cheekbones. This technique helps create a lifted appearance while adding a healthy, youthful glow to the skin.
4. Avoid Over-Baking Your Makeup
Heavy baking may leave makeup looking flawless on camera, but Dominique says too much powder can emphasize dryness and fine lines in real life. Rather than packing powder under the eyes and across the face, she suggests lightly dusting powder where needed and only baking strategically in small areas. Pressing powder gently into the skin instead of layering thick amounts creates a smoother finish without looking overly dry or heavy.
5. Swap Heavy Lashes For Wispy Styles
According to Dominique, oversized dramatic lashes can sometimes weigh the eyes down and make them appear smaller. Instead, she prefers half wispy lashes that lift and open the outer corners of the eyes for a softer effect. The lighter lash style enhances the eyes without overpowering the face, helping makeup look fresher and more effortless.
6. Go Softer With Lip Liner
Overlined matte lips may still be trendy, but Dominique says harsh lining combined with flat matte formulas can age the face. Instead, she recommends subtly overlining only the cupid’s bow and the center of the bottom lip while following the natural lip shape everywhere else. Finishing with a gloss or light-reflective lip product helps lips appear fuller, smoother, and more youthful instantly.
Ultimately, Dominique’s biggest takeaway is that softer, skin-focused makeup tends to create a fresher and more youthful look than overly heavy or matte techniques. Hydration, strategic placement, and lighter textures can often make a bigger difference than piling on more product.
