5 mistakes that ruin your makeup's staying power

You spent time on your makeup in the morning, and by 4pm it's gone? The problem rarely comes from the products, but from the technique. Here are the five mistakes I correct most often in lessons.

1. Skipping skin prep

Makeup holds on prepped skin, not on dry or overly oily skin. Cleanse, hydrate, then let it absorb for a few minutes before applying anything: it's the foundation almost everyone skips.

2. Using too much

More product doesn't mean more staying power, quite the opposite. A thick layer of foundation cracks, settles into fine lines and slides off. A thin, well-placed layer, reinforced locally where needed, lasts far longer.

3. Powdering the wrong areas

There's no need to powder the whole face. Target the T-zone and friction areas (sides of the nose, chin). That's where makeup moves first. The rest of the face can keep its natural glow.

4. Neglecting primers (eyes and lips)

A lid primer stops eyeshadow from creasing. A lip liner under your lipstick keeps colour long after the first drink. These are two ten-second steps for hours of extra wear.

5. Not setting it

Setting spray isn't a gimmick. Misted from the right distance in light passes, it melts the layers together and seals everything. It's the difference between makeup that lasts three hours and one that lasts the evening.

The real secret: understanding your skin

Every skin reacts differently. In a lesson, you learn to read yours and adapt these steps to your skin type and your daily life.

Want to master these techniques? Discover our lessons.