Mistake: Applying Blush Incorrectly

A frequent makeup mistake: adhering too literally to that old adage about putting blush on the apples of your cheeks. The clown-like rounds of makeup that can result flatter no one. Another no-no: brushing on blush too far below the cheekbone, which visually pulls down the face, making you look jowly. Applied correctly, blush should look like, well, a blush. Rather than concentrating it on the apple of your cheek, brush it—sparingly—up along the cheekbone, using the center of your eye as a guide for your starting point. The upward sweep also gives the illusion of pulling your face upward, slimming it. One blush to try: Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush ($43, chanel.com).