5 Eye Makeup Sins We All Commit

We know that bad makeup (occasionally) happens to the best of us. We’ve all detagged a few washed out complexion shots or begged a friend to completely remove that insta where we were stupidly sporting some absurdly bright blue eye shadow.

Collectively, we can all say, “What were we thinking?” at one point or another... but what about those daily little mistakes we’re making? Yes, there are ones that you probably don't even know you're doing in your everyday routine. Here, the top five mishaps that are stopping your makeup from becoming next level:

Not using an eye primer

The virtues of a pre-foundation primer have been drilled into us pretty hard by now, so why do so few of us utilize one for the eye, too? The premise holds up: A primer creates a barrier between product and skin, not only to keep it on longer, but also for skin protection. Shadows, crèmes, pencils, and gels can be drying on the lid so for the best canvas possible (minus creases), apply a skin-smoothing primer.

L'Oreal Paris De-Crease Eye Primer, $7, Amazon

Not blending eye makeup

Do you shy away from even trying a smoky eye look now because you just can’t get the colors blending right? For the perfect gradient (read: no muddiness between the shades), you can’t just use the same brush that you applied them with. Application brushes contain more densely packed fibers so that you can press color onto the lid for longevity, however a blending brush features soft bristles in a dome shape, perfectly for sweeping color outwards, blending up into the crease or gently merging two shades.

Sigma Blending Brush, $14, Amazon

Not using tape to get the perfect cat eye

Liquid eyeliner is tricky, but if you’re spending four hours every Saturday night trying to match up your flicks to the perfect symmetrical degree, you are wasting your time. Even top makeup artists cheat with Scotch tape! It’s one of those duuuh tricks that once you start, you'll never stop.

NYX Liquid Liner, $6, Amazon

3 Pack of Scotch Tape, $5, Amazon

Not using the right under-eye concealer

Are you still using one concealer for under eyes and your blemishes? First, gross, because your blemish concealer shouldn’t touch anywhere else on your face, but next, the two actually have vastly different uses. Under-eye bags should be covered with a light reflecting concealer that’s going to brighten the eye area. Of course, if you have heavy bags you can choose a tinted concealer based on your undertones, but this should still contain light reflecting particles. Much of under-eye darkness is a result of shadows, so a great trick is to also apply concealer in the space running underneath the start of your brow, next to your nose.

Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser, $7, Amazon

Not using the right eye makeup remover

There is a reason every single makeup artist, skin expert and general beauty enthusiast recommends Bioderma Crealine. Not only is it amazing for sensitive skin and removes anything waterproof in like, one millisecond, but it is also the most gentle remover for the delicate eye area. If you are still using baby oil, stop now. Heavy removers like this leave behind a “sludge” residue that sits on the top layer of your skin and can travel into your eye for a damaging effect. Also, any moisturizer or eye cream you spend the next five minutes carefully patting into your skin just can’t get through the heavy, oily film.

Bioderma Crealine, $27, Amazon