Join a group of women for a night on the town, and you’ll hear them whispering about the guys with the obvious comb-overs and gaudy gold necklaces, or the ones chomping on gum so vigorously it’s a wonder their jaws don’t dislocate. But did you ever think about what it looks like from their perspective?
Here are ten beauty mistakes that turn men off fast. Avoid making these common mistakes with your makeup that you may think is fantastic but makes men want to run the other direction and forget about you.
1. Too much perfume
Perfume is supposed to make a man want to snuggle in closer. If he can’t get within two feet without his eyes watering, you’re using too much. Plus, men like to think your perfume is for them only; it spoils the effect of sharing it with everyone in the room.
Don’t douse yourself with the fragrance. Just because you can’t sense your fragrance doesn’t mean others can’t. Try to spritz yourself sparingly (3-4 sprays will be enough) and spritz behind each ear, on your wrists, and behind both knees.
2. Crimes against foundation
Foundation is supposed to even out your skin tone, creating a more flawless look than is usually bestowed by nature alone. If your foundation draws attention to itself, you’re using it wrong.
Some of the worst offenses are using too much (the dreaded cakey look), using the wrong color, or failing to blend it at your jawline. To avoid foundation faux pas, get help choosing the right color, then blend, blend, blend.
More: 10 Must-Have Beauty Products
3. Glittery eye shadow
Glittery eye shadow clings to every crease. That may be fine if you’re in your teens, but after that, it’s time to switch to matte. It doesn’t make much sense to spend money on creams to fight wrinkles to draw attention to them with glittery eye shadow.
If you decide to wear a smokey eye, avoid using glittery eye shadow and make sure you don’t use too much eye shadow, mascara, and liner, or your man will definitely notice this beauty mistake.
More: 10 Ways to Look 10 Years Younger in Just 10 Minutes
4. Mascara clumps
Men think long lashes are sexy, but long lashes gummed up with clumps of mascara are another matter. So are black smudges under your eyes where your mascara has rubbed off on your skin. Apply mascara sparingly, and use the brush to get rid of any clumps.
Experiment with different formulas to find one that doesn’t rub off on your skin. If your mascara smudges during the day, opt for a waterproof version. It won’t run or smudge even if your eye area gets oily.
More: 5 Reasons Why Your Mascara Clumps
5. Sloppy shaving
While some feminists may rail against a culture that expects women to shave, the truth is that no man wants to reach over and caress a prickly leg… or see fuzzy armpits. There’s no point in spending time on makeup and hair if your legs scream, “Keep away!”
Like it or not, men prefer smooth legs. This is one of the most common mistakes men notice, even if it’s the first date.
More: 10 Tips to Keep Your Legs Smooth
6. Dry Skin
Dry skin is almost as bad as prickly skin; it’s not touchable. Scaly elbows and cracked heels just aren’t inviting.
Make moisturizer part of your everyday beauty routine, no matter what. And you shouldn’t do it only for men; you should do it for yourself first.
You need to care for your skin daily to look younger longer. If you have super dry skin, opt for coconut or olive oil and regularly use homemade masks. Dry skin is never fun, so make sure you care for it properly.
More: 7 Amazing Homemade Face Masks for Dry Skin
7. Poor oral hygiene
Bad breath and yellow teeth don’t exactly make men want to come in for a kiss. And if you have the evidence of your last meal stuck in your teeth, forget it. If your teeth are stained, look into some of the many whitening options are available.
Practice regular brushing to make sure your breath is fresh and your teeth are free of food. And if you smoke or drink lots of coffee, carry some breath mints with you.
More: 10 Amazing Beauty Uses for Baking Soda
8. Loser lips
Think about how gross it is to see a man with food stuck in his mustache. Well, men think it’s equally icky to see crumbs embedded in sticky lip gloss.
No man wants to put his lips on something that looks like thick, sparkly glue. Stay away from the lacquer-like glosses and opt instead for sheer, natural-looking color with a built-in moisturizer.
Another lipstick fail is the dark liner. A liner in the same shade as your lipstick is fine; it keeps your lipstick from bleeding into your foundation.
But when you wear a dark liner and your lipstick wears off, your mouth ends up looking like something from a kid’s coloring book. The purpose of the lip liner isn’t to inspire the man sitting across the table to grab a crayon.
More: 10 Dos and Don’ts of Wearing Red Lipstick
9. Untouchable hair
Men like natural-looking hair. Up-dos are elegant but stay away from the ones that are so intricate it looks like one stray breeze could make the whole thing fall apart. Consider having a simple yet beautiful hairstyle, especially if you have very little time on your hand.
And don’t use too many styling products; men want to touch your hair without having to wash their hands afterward. Most men like soft, touchable hairstyles that are not too styled or perfect.
More: 7 Wonderful Natural Oils to Use for Your Hair
10. Public grooming
Unfair though it may be, men like to think women are effortlessly beautiful. Don’t ruin their illusion with public grooming. After dinner, a subtle lipstick touch-up is fine, but save hair brushing, perfume spritzing, and any major makeup repair for the ladies’ room.
As far as trimming or filing your nails… Well, save that for home. Try to spend more time talking to him instead of worrying about your makeup.
More: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Makeup Routine
Nobody says you have to design your beauty routine around what men like, but few women really want to drive men away. Just keep in mind that most men love natural-looking beauty that seems effortless. That’s a tall order, but it’s a lot easier when you avoid these ten mistakes.1