The seven deadly beauty sins

"The idea is to even out your skin tone. Foundation should be the same colour as your skin, not darker. If it's darker, you'll get a mask line."
– Eddie Maleterre, L'Oréal Paris

"Go easy with concealer. Pat it on with your finger or a small, flat brush. If you don't, by the time you add foundation and powder, you end up with crustaceans."
– Laura Szucs, makeup artist, Judy Inc.

"The worst sin is dark lipliner worn with a lighter shade of lipstick. It just looks ghastly, like a bad tattoo. Or worse, like an exotic dancer."
– Laura Szucs, makeup artist, Judy Inc.

"People wear the wrong colour in their eyebrows. You want the exact shade or one shade darker. (If your eyebrows are really light, you'll look older.) If you use eyeshadow, take a small brush and blend. If you use a pencil, stroke in the same direction and angle as your eyebrow hair. Always finish by brushing with an eyebrow brush; it blends everything beautifully and naturally. Nice eyebrows frame your eyes and give you more expression."
– Anya Ellis, makeup artist, The Artist Group, Vancouver

"Don't wear too much blush. Bang the handle of your brush against your hand to knock some of the powder off before you apply it, then just dust on a little so you look fresh."
– Eddie Maleterre, L'Oréal Paris

"A lot of women like the idea of a dark-red-lipsticked mouth, but it's too severe, especially as a woman ages. Lip gloss is the secret to looking young and natural – it's like an instant facelift – especially in a colour that's just a little pinker or peachier than your natural lip shade."
– David Goveia, makeup artist, The Artist Group

"Only apply shimmer, glitter or highlighter to a few key facial features. Lightly dust a powder highlighter onto cheekbones, brow bones and décolletage. And if you're using a liquid highlighter, pat it onto your face using a damp makeup sponge. Over-application will make you look like a sweaty disco dolly."
– Chase Aston, The Body Shop