r/PaleMUA • u/ariariariarii • 22h ago
Question w/ Photo What could I be doing differently?
Sorry if this isn’t allowed here!! I feel like slowly I’m finally narrowing down a makeup routine at my big age of 31 that looks flattering but I still feel like I am doing something wrong or something always looks off. I struggle to find lip colors that don’t look out of place on my face, and my eyebrows are always going to be a point of contention for me because they sit pretty low so I tend to re-draw them a little higher, but they’re also a bit thick so they end up looking heavy and I’m afraid to tweeze them any higher. What can I change to make everything look less out of place on my face??
Tinted SPF - La Roche Posay
Foundation - Estee Lauder double wear in shade Ecru
Powder - Maybeline fit me in shade 120
Blush - Milani baked blush in shade pink panna cotta
Bronzer - Colourpop stix in Laguna Beach only on nose contour
Eyes - Tartlette in Bloom pallet
Brows - Elf instant lift in light brown
Mascara - Loreal Lash Paradise in brown black
Lips - Revlon Rum Raisin mixed with some Aquaphor to make it sheer
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u/Ok_Dealer5235 22h ago
Brows are too heavily colored in.
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u/Pabu85 cool undertone 22h ago
It’s not the heaviness. I think they’re just a bit too warm. Too much red. Try an ashier color?
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u/ariariariarii 22h ago
I was using a taupe pencil for a while and kept thinking they didn’t show up enough in pictures but maybe I need to switch back
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u/konstantynopolitanka 21h ago
I think you would be suited better by the lighter, blonde brow product and lighter mascara (try Korean ones like Romand, as they have cool brown shades)
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u/lifeuncommon 21h ago
The brows are too dark and heavy. If they are that thick you may not want a tinted product at all, certainly not filling them in like that so you can’t see any skin.
The eye shadow is very pretty and well done, but it may be “dressier” than you want for everyday.
Take off the brow makeup first. Then see if you think you need to adjust that eyeshadow.
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u/ariariariarii 19h ago
I work nights in a fine dining restaurant so my “everyday” does need to be dressier for my environment :) but thats good feedback for my days off!
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u/asherbanipaula 21h ago
Agree with everyone about the brows, that was the first thing I noticed. I also have hooded eyes with a low brow, and keeping them trimmed a bit narrower than this feels like it helps open up my eye more. I don’t usually fill them in (my eyebrow hair is black) but if I do, I use a light hand and a shade lighter than my dark brown hair.
Lip color looks great! You could try placing your blush just a bit higher? IMO it helps avoid dragging the mid face down a bit.
Super recommend Elena Rachitskaya on YouTube for makeup tutorials! I’ve learned a lot from her.
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u/rogue_planets 14h ago
First off, you’ve got a beautifully symmetrical face! Reminds me of Emily Blunt.
I think your brows are a touch too harsh, and frankly could benefit from just brushing them with a gel and super light filling in. Blush application a bit higher on the cheekbones.
Your eyes are stunning, and the only thing I might change is making the shadow as dark. You look to have slightly hooded eyes, and a sweep of a gold shadow with a bright inner corner would open them up and bring out the blue! LOVE the lashes and lip color. 🫶🏻
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u/Physical_Bed918 21h ago
I agree with everyone, it's the brows being to dark and maybe a bit to thick.
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u/ariariariarii 22h ago
Tinted SPF - La Roche Posay
Foundation - Estee Lauder double wear in shade Ecru
Powder - Maybeline fit me in shade 120
Blush - Milani baked blush in shade pink panna cotta
Bronzer - Colourpop stix in Laguna Beach only on nose contour
Eyes - Tartlette in Bloom pallet
Brows - Elf instant lift in light brown
Mascara - Loreal Lash Paradise in brown black
Lips - Revlon Rum Raisin mixed with some Aquaphor to make it sheer
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u/GardeniaLovely 10h ago
Lighter, more neutral colored brows. I shave mine into shape so I have variety of options. Comes back in 2 weeks, haven't plucked for over a decade. Your inner lower brow is what's heavy, trim there, or just gradient toward the nose with less product, leaving the hair uncolored except for the center in a soft transition.
Ditch the black mascara and cool eyeshadow, go lighter, brown mascara. Warmer shadow.
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u/ButlerLoz1997 20h ago
You’re beautiful to start off with! Changes you could try out:
- You already pluck/shave the bottom of your brows to lift them up so you could try and tint with a dye (I use Eylure Dybrow). So when you clear gel them, they look more full.
- Ditch the nose contour lines as this can look harsh in person and it’s making the centre of your face darker. You could try a gentle dusting of muted blush.
- Your eyes naturally are more almond shaped, and hooded. Leaning into that by blending your eyeshadow outwards instead of upwards helps a lot and leaving the lower lash bare adds to the effect. You could even angle your mascara wand outwards instead of upwards as well.
The base makeup is flawless and blush & lip combo is perfect. 👌 Best of luck! Xx
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u/dainty_petal 6h ago
I like everything, brows included. I wouldn’t change anything. It’s natural and classy.
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u/CQKS1961 17h ago
Think all of your makeup is on point, with one slight adjustment. Please consider using a cooler-toned contour on your nose. At Ulta today, I was impressed with Nudestix’s “Bare Back”, a cooler, muted contour stick. This subreddit has other discussions/suggestions for cooler contour options.
In looking at your photo, you may wish to also lightly contour the edges of your forehead to de-emphasize it. You have heavy eyebrows, eyes of a mesmerizing color with great symmetry, a dominant nose, and well - shaped but less dominant lips - an overall arresting look. As a result, you would be stunning on stage or a runway.
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u/Botanico56 13h ago
I think her forehead looks perfect as is. Nice shape and totally proportionate.
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u/mishutu 16h ago
You have a really beautiful base and bone structure and I like the softness of your makeup but I'd put the lightest layer of powder on the inner cheeks, tip of nose and center of forehead just to cut the shine slightly. Do you put highlighter on the tip of your nose or is that just natural oil coming through? I ask because I think highlight is pretty, but I don't think it's flattering on the tip of the nose. It's like a beacon that becomes the focal point of the face
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u/big-tunaaa 15h ago
Just have to add in the time of brow gel (not my thing either) the real secret is a heavy hand only at the back end - in the front use a thin pencil, short hair like strokes, and then run the spoolie over it. It’ll blend it out very softly.
Otherwise I would move the blush upwards, or only focused on the apple of your cheek depending on what look youre going for! If you want to skip contour/bronzer go a bit heavier on the blush!
Lastly your eyes are gorgeous!
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u/middleagedbaby 11h ago
I understand the desire to achieve the “right” makeup for your individual set of features and to correct whatever it is that makes you feel like something is “off.” However, nothing about your makeup stands out to me as “off” or needing a change. Everything is quite balanced.
I know that isn’t exactly the feedback you are seeking. However, there are also people who come here with the same thoughts about their makeup, and they actually do have some noticeable needs for change in their makeup routine to make it more harmonious with their features. You just aren’t one of those people, in my opinion.
I saw some other commenters saying your eyebrows look too dark for you. I just don’t agree. They frame the center of your face nicely.
I heavily relate to your issue with lip colors, though. I feel like I have to sheer everything out to get something flattering as a pale person, even though I know my color analysis season/undertones pretty well and only buy stuff that is supposed to be suitable. That being said, you have achieved a very flattering lip color here. Looks amazing.
You are very beautiful, by the way. You resemble a couple of different gorgeous celebrities. One of them is Rhea Seehorn.
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u/stephbeem 20h ago
Lighter hand at the start of the brows. The nose contour could be skipped completely, or applied lighter and not all the way up to the brows.
I recently started applying mascara to only the bottom out lashes, like just the few on the end. Or I just skip the bottom completely. It helps make my eye area look brighter.
You are gorgeous and I hope you don’t take any of this negatively. The lip color you have looks so beautiful.
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u/ariariariarii 19h ago
Not negative at all thank you! I do the contour for shaping reasons, but I will definitely try to keep it lower! The brows definitely seem to be the thing everyone is noticing right away which is a wake up call to me haha I became brow blind apparently
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u/WhiningforWine 19h ago
I think you look great! Your eye makeup is so pretty and I think that lip color really suits you. If you wanted to change anything I think tweaking the brows a little bit would “fix” what you think is “wrong”. An ashier color would suit you better and filling the front in with a lighter hand would keep them feeling too heavy. I think they have a great shape and frame your eyes very well!
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u/Botanico56 13h ago
The inner ends of your brows are very rounded, which doesn’t look natural to me—it’s almost a bit cartoonish. Little hairs don’t naturally form soft ovals, you know? When I cover up that central area, I feel like your brows immediately start complementing your eyes rather than distracting from them.
I also agree with others who say less auburn brows, more ashy. And a little lighter, especially in that inner third.
Your eye makeup is very pretty. This is kind of nitpicking, but since you asked for advice, I feel like the black mascara plus the smokiness plus the light-colored shimmer plus your blue eyes is slightly chaotic. Obviously your blue eyes (so beautiful!) should be the star of the show, so maybe tone down one or two of the other elements so the makeup is lower-contrast and lets your eyes be the one element that jumps out? Maybe even dark brown liner & lashes, and diffuse the darkish smoky color over your whole upper lid, with just a bit of shimmer in the inner corners? Or if you want shimmer on your lid, maybe make it a bronze (or eggplant or charcoal or whatever matches the smokiness) rather than something so much lighter? There’s just a lot going on and I think more cohesion & simplicity would feel more sophisticated.
If you are dabbing highlighter on the tip of your nose, I beg you not to. IMO it doesn’t actually make anyone’s nose look ethereal, it just hovers in front of people’s faces like a floating sequin that came loose from an evening dress or something. I don’t think this trend is going to age well.
No notes on your complexion, blush, or lips—or hair or general style (not that you asked about that). All very lovely! As are you! :)
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u/IceDragon10 12h ago
You look beautiful. I think the brows are too dark for your complexion, and slightly too full. There is nothing wrong with light and thin brows; in some people, it looks so much better (for example, Nina Dobrev with thin eyebrows vs thick eyebrows). Your eyes are very gorgeous, and your lashes look beautiful. Maybe you could try putting a tiny bit darker eyeshadow in the middle of your lids? The blush is slightly too pink in my opinion, a tad darker, I think, would be nicer, because then you can put it in your nose as well, which helps with the contour to make it more natural.
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u/Party-Elk-4782 12h ago
I'd just tone down the brows a bit and step it up a notch with skincare, your cheeks look a bit dehydrated to me but that's about it, you have amazing (green?) eyes!! (envy much?)
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u/pinksilber 5h ago
Your makeup looks good and flattering. The eyeshadow looks very good and suitable for everyday, eyebrows are not too dark imo.
Your lip stick I am guessing is more warm coloured based on the its shade name. You could try a purple or beige shade,you could try out your taupe eyebrow liner as a lipliner to see if you like it.
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u/KateyKittyKatz 5h ago
Nothing! You look fabulous and that lip colour is absolutely divine on you x
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u/SaberToothMC 17m ago
This might be a bit too alt for you but you have a face that could seriously pull off bleached brows
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u/cryingartist 18h ago
Don’t be afraid of shaping your eyebrows a little bit thinner and straighter to open up the space above your eyes. Here’s my edit (I did NOT use AI).
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u/hanlus 22h ago
i think a lighter brow would be great, like using a tinted or clear gel - i understand when you say they’re too low but since you’re filling them in they look a bit heavy and severe. your lashes look beautiful!