We’ve all had those “oh no” makeup moments—when your foundation looks patchy in daylight, your eyeliner takes an unexpected detour, or your contouring attempts leave you looking more striped than sculpted. The good news? Makeup mistakes are totally fixable, and with the right products (hello, Laura Mercier!), you can elevate your beauty routine effortlessly. Here are some of the biggest makeup missteps and, more importantly, how to correct them like a pro.
1. Skipping Primer: The Fast Track to Makeup Meltdowns
You wouldn’t paint a wall without priming it first, right? The same goes for your face. Skipping primer can lead to foundation settling into fine lines, uneven texture, and makeup fading by lunchtime.
The Fix: Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primers—whether you need hydration (Pure Canvas Primer Hydrating), oil control (Pure Canvas Primer Blurring), or luminosity (Pure Canvas Primer Illuminating) there’s a formula for every skin type. A smooth canvas ensures your makeup lasts all day with a flawless finish.
2. Choosing the Wrong Foundation Shade
We’ve all been there—buying a foundation that looked perfect under store lighting, only to realize it’s too orange (or ghostly pale) once we step outside.
The Fix: Test foundation on your jawline in natural light, not just in-store. If you’re in between shades, mix two together for a custom match. Try Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation, which adapts beautifully to skin tones while providing hydration and a natural glow.
3. Over-Powdering (a.k.a. The Cakey Effect)
Setting powder is great for setting makeup, but too much can emphasize dryness and settle into fine lines, making your skin look older than it is.
The Fix: Less is more. Use a light hand with any of Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powders, pressing it into the skin with a puff or fluffy brush for a smooth, airbrushed finish. Bonus: It controls shine without flattening your natural glow.
4. Harsh or Unblended Contour
There’s a fine line between sculpted and streaky. A heavy-handed approach can leave you looking more like a zebra than a bronzed goddess.
The Fix: Use a light touch with Laura Mercier's Bronze Color Infusion for a soft, natural sculpt and glow. Blend upwards with a contour brush to avoid harsh lines, and always check your makeup in different lighting.
5. Neglecting the Eyebrows
Thin, over-plucked brows? Too heavy-handed with the pencil? Brows frame your face, and a little effort goes a long way.
The Fix: Opt for soft, hair-like strokes with the Laura Mercier Eye Brow Pencil and set with a clear or tinted gel. Aim for a natural, lifted effect rather than a drawn-on look.
6. Applying Concealer Too Thick Under the Eyes
Piling on concealer to cover dark circles often backfires, making the undereye area look heavy and creased.
The Fix: Use a lightweight, hydrating formula like Laura Mercier's Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Serum Concealer—apply sparingly and blend with your fingers, a concealer brush, or a damp beauty blender for a seamless, skin-like finish.
7. Forgetting Lip Liner (and Dealing with Lipstick Bleed)
Nothing ruins a bold lip like feathering and smudging.
The Fix: Line your lips with the Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner before applying lipstick to prevent bleeding and ensure a crisp, defined pout. Fill in your lips with liner for extra staying power before layering on with a creamy (Caviar Hydra-Crème) or matte (Caviar Smoothing Matte) lipstick.
8. Not Blending Eyeshadow Properly
Harsh lines and unblended shadow can make even the best eyeshadow shades look messy.
The Fix: Use a clean, fluffy brush to blend edges seamlessly. The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadows are perfect for beginners—it glides on effortlessly and blends like a dream with just your fingers so you don't need to spend extra time blending. The best part? There's a creamy (Caviar Stick Eye Shadow), matte (Caviar Stick Eyeshadow Matte), and roseglow version (RoseGlow Caviar Stick Eye Shadow)!
9. Overloading Mascara (Hello, Clumps!)
Lashes should be full and fluttery, not clumpy and spidery.
The Fix: Wiggle your mascara wand at the base of your lashes and sweep upward in a zigzag motion to separate and define. Laura Mercier's Caviar Extravagant Mascara lifts and volumizes without clumping, so your lashes look lush but never overdone.
10. Applying Makeup in Poor Lighting
No matter where you do your makeup, dim lighting or harsh fluorescents can trick you into applying too much or too little makeup.
The Fix: Always check your makeup in natural light or use a daylight-simulating mirror. This ensures your blending is on point, your foundation matches, and there are no surprises when you step outside. If it's dark, apply a vanity, phone flash, or ringlight flash to your face infront of a mirror to visibly see how it looks.
Makeup is meant to enhance, not stress you out. With the right techniques and Laura Mercier products, you can create a flawless, effortless look every time. So next time you pick up a brush, keep these tips in mind and watch your makeup game transform.