10 MOST COMMON BEAUTY MISTAKES MEN NOTICE

Join a group of women for a night on the town, and you’ll hear them whispering about the guys with the obvious comb-overs and gaudy gold necklaces, or the ones chomping on gum so vigorously it’s a wonder their jaws don’t dislocate. But did you ever think about what it looks like from their perspective? Here are ten beauty mistakes that turn men off fast. Avoid making these common mistakes with your makeup that you may think is fantastic but makes men want to run the other direction and forget about you.

1. Too much perfume

Perfume is supposed to make a man want to snuggle in closer. If he can’t get within two feet without his eyes watering, you’re using too much. Plus, men like to think your perfume is for them only; it spoils the effect when they have to share it with everyone in the room. Don’t douse yourself with the fragrance. Just because you can’t sense your fragrance doesn’t mean others can’t. Try to spritz yourself sparingly (3-4 sprays will be enough) and spritz behind each ear, on your wrists, and behind both knees.

2. Crimes against foundation

Foundation is supposed to even out your skin tone, creating a more flawless look than is usually bestowed by nature alone. If your foundation draws attention to itself, you’re using it wrong. Some of the worst offenses are using too much (the dreaded cakey look), using the wrong color, or failing to blend it at your jawline. To avoid foundation faux pas, get help choosing the right color, then blend, blend, blend.

3. Glittery eye shadow

Glittery eye shadow clings to every crease. That may be fine if you’re in your teens, but after that, it’s time to switch to matte. It doesn’t make much sense to spend money on creams to fight wrinkles only to draw attention to them with glittery eye shadow. If you decide to wear a smokey eye, avoid using glittery eye shadow and make sure you don’t use too much eye shadow, mascara and liner, or your man will definitely notice this beauty mistake. 

4. Mascara clumps

Men think long lashes are sexy, but long lashes gummed up with clumps of mascara are another matter. So are black smudges under your eyes where your mascara has rubbed off on your skin. Apply mascara sparingly, and use the brush to get rid of any clumps. Experiment with different formulas to find one that doesn’t rub off on your skin. If your your mascara smudges during the day, opt for a waterproof version. It won’t run or smudge even if your eye area gets oily.

5. Sloppy shaving

While some feminists may rail against a culture that expects women to shave, the truth is that no man wants to reach over and caress a prickly leg…or see fuzzy armpits. There’s no point in spending time on makeup and hair if your legs scream, “Keep away!” Like it or not, men prefer smooth legs. This is one of the most common mistakes men notice even if it’s a first date. 

6. Dry Skin

Dry skin is almost as bad as prickly skin; it’s not touchable. Scaly elbows and cracked heels just aren’t inviting. Make moisturizer part of your everyday beauty routine, no matter what. And you shouldn’t do it only for men; you should do it for yourself first. You need to care for your skin daily to look younger longer. If you have a super dry skin, opt for a coconut or olive oil, and use homemade masks regularly. Dry skin is never fun, so make sure you care for it properly.

7. Poor oral hygiene

Bad breath and yellow teeth don’t exactly make men want to come in for a kiss. And if you have the evidence of your last meal stuck in your teeth, forget it. If your teeth are stained, look into some of the many whitening options are available. Practice regular brushing to make sure your breath is fresh and your teeth are free of food. And if you smoke or drink lots of coffee, carry some breath mints with you.

8. Loser lips

Think about how gross it is to see a man with food stuck in his mustache. Well, men think it’s equally icky to see crumbs embedded in sticky lip-gloss. No man wants to put his lips on something that looks like thick, sparkly glue. Stay away from the lacquer-like glosses and opt instead for sheer, natural-looking color with a built-in moisturizer. Another lipstick fail is dark liner. A liner in the same shade as your lipstick is fine; it keeps your lipstick from bleeding into your foundation. But when you wear a dark liner and your lipstick wears off, your mouth ends up looking like something from a kid’s coloring book. The purpose of lip liner isn’t to inspire the man sitting across the table to grab a crayon.

9. Untouchable hair

Men like natural-looking hair. Up-dos are elegant, but stay away from the ones that are so intricate it looks like one stray breeze could make the whole thing fall apart. Consider having a simple yet beautiful hairstyle, especially if you have very little time on your hand. And don’t use too many styling products; men want to be able to touch your hair without having to wash their hands afterward. Most men like soft, touchable hairstyles that are not too styled or perfect.

10. Public grooming

Unfair though it may be, men like to think women are effortlessly beautiful. Don’t ruin their illusion with public grooming. A subtle lipstick touch-up after dinner is fine, but save hair brushing, perfume spritzing, and any major makeup repair for the ladies room. As far as trimming or filing your nails…well, just save that for home. Try to spend more time talking to him instead of worrying about your makeup.