Fast Fix Makeup Tricks

Experimenting with makeup is a lot of fun, but applying too much bronzer, blush, or eye liner can be a recipe for disaster. Luckily, there are plenty of tricks you can use to avoid having to re-do your whole face. We spoke with New York City-based makeup artist Stoj Bulic—who’s worked with makeup artist extraordinaire Pat McGrath backstage at fashion shows such as Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci—for her tips on how to fix those makeup mishaps and still end up with a flawless finish.

I overdid my bronzer and blush!

“If you’ve applied too much bronzer or blush, use a big clean stipple—or powder—brush in large circular motions to blend the blush into the skin,” says Stoj. “If that doesn’t work, put a little of your liquid foundation onto the back of your hand, then apply the foundation on top of your blush using the same brush and circular motion. It will make you look as if you’re glowing from within.”

My eye liner went astray...

Applied too much eye liner? “Don’t fret! Smudge out the eye liner with a fluffy brush or your finger, and create a sexy, smoky eye,” says Stoj. “A great way to make sure you don’t mess up your eye liner when creating a cat-eye is to place a piece of tape from the outer corner of your eye towards the end of your eyebrow. When you’re done with the liner simply remove the tape for a perfect line.”

I've got runny mascara!

Mascara is a girl’s best friend, but what happens when a sudden jolt sends it all over your freshly applied smoky eye? “If you’re wearing dark shadow, simply use a blending brush to apply a little extra shadow and blend the mascara into your lid,” says Stoj. “If you’re wearing a lighter color, remove as much mascara as you can with makeup remover and a Q-tip, and reapply the shadow.” What about that pesky mascara smudge under your bottom lashes? “Runny mascara could be from your eye cream or moisturizer, so it’s best to apply a little translucent powder underneath your lashes before applying mascara,” says Stoj. “If it’s already run, apply a little eye liner and smoke it out so the mascara becomes part of your look, or dab—smearing can spread the mascara further—on some concealer to cover the black marks.”

Oh no! Lipstick on your skin

“If it’s just a little lipstick on the side of your lips, you can apply a small amount of concealer or foundation to cover it,” says Stoj. “It’s also best to use a lip liner first, but fill in your whole lip. It creates an easy outline to follow with your lipstick—so you don’t slip up—and once your lipstick has worn off, you’ll still have color underneath.”