17 Beauty "Flaws" People Complain About & How to Fix Them

01
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Beauty Problems People Complain About & How to Fix Them

jennifer-grey-nose-pictures.jpg
Jennifer Grey pre-nose job and years later, post-nose job. Left: Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images; right, Ethan Miller/Getty Images

You don't have to go under the knife to camouflage your "flaws." In this article, I share 17 of the biggest "beauty flaws" women complain about and how to fix them with a few swipes of makeup -- and a possible change of attitude.

Every woman has some facial feature she wishes she could change. The actress Jennifer Grey of "Dirty Dancing" (pictured above) hated her nose so much, so she got a nose job. The Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger has had a host of plastic surgery that I hardly recognized her when her new season began. The most obvious change is her soft chin which is now quite angled. You'll see what I mean in slide 10.

Many of the things that we hate most about ourselves are what make us unique. My dear British friend Abigail put this into perspective for me years ago when she admitted she loved a strong nose on a face. "Strong noses are just so much more...interesting," she said. They add character to what might be an otherwise average face.

Jennifer Grey may agree with her now. After she had her nose job done, her career ended for several decades. Why? With her "perfect nose" she blended right in and no longer stood out.

So here's to embracing our "flaws" and learning to love them. I'll show you how. Read on...

02
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"I Have a Huge Nose"

Khloe Kardashian with ombre hair color
Khloe Kardashian with ombre hair color. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

If there's one feature women complain about the most, it's the nose. Whether you think your nose is too fat, too long or too crooked, chances are you've been vocal about it. But it turns out the nose is an easy facial feature to fix without getting a nose job. With just a few sweeps of bronzer and a highlighting pen, you can trick the eye and make your nose appear thinner. The miracle is called "contouring" and "highlighting."

In this article, How to Make a Wide Nose Appear Thinner, I show you exactly how to do this. If your nose is too long, you can also use a few makeup tips to make the length less obvious. Find out how in How to Make a Big Nose Look Smaller With Makeup.

How to change your attitude about your nose:

The complaint: "I hate my nose. It's too big for my face."

The change of attitude: "My nose is strong, not big. It sets me apart from others and adds character to my face."

03
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"I Have Hooded Eyes; My Eyelids Literally Disappear"

Actress Helen Hunt
Actress Helen Hunt. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Hooded eyes is a way to describe eyelids that aren't smooth and visible, but seem to have a hood. These eyes can appear small and women with hooded eyes may wonder how they can make their eyes stand out without getting an eyelift.

Whether you were born with naturally hooded eyes or you have them now as a result of the natural aging process, there are ways to make your eyes stand out. 

  1. Don't use dark eyeshadows. Instead, opt for medium to light blends of color. Dark shadows will recess your eyes more, according to makeup artist Bobbi Brown.
  2. When lining eyes, use a stroke width that's visible when eyes are open.
  3. Bring out eyes with false eyelashes or eyelash extensions. At the very least, curl lashes and apply at least 2 coats of mascara.
  4. Play up your mouth with a gorgeous lip color.

Learn more about actually concealing drooping eyelids as a result of age in How to Conceal Droopy Eyelids Without Surgery.

How to change your attitude about your hooded eyes:

The complaint: "I hate my eyes. I can't wear makeup and I always look tired."

The change of attitude: "My eyes are mysterious and therefore sexy. They're bedroom eyes. And they make me look intelligent. Which of course, I am."

04
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"My Lips are Too Thin"

Woman with thin lips
nemke/Getty Images

If you have small, thin lips you can make them appear plumper by simply wearing lip gloss. But for the real makeup aficionado, there are amazing contouring tricks you can do to make your thinnish lips appear much fuller. (Results in this picture not guaranteed. Ha!)

Get the full scoop in How to Make Lips Appear Plumper.

How to change your attitude about your lips:

The complaint: "My lips are so skinny, they disappear into my face."

The change in attitude: "Thin lips are incredibly sexy. Right, Demi Moore? Plus, I can plump them up with a bit of gloss."

05
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"I Have a Round, Baby Face"

Jennifer Lawrence has a naturally round face
Jennifer Lawrence. Jason Merritt/Getty Images

If you have a naturally round face, know you are in good company. Some of the most famous beauties of our day and in the past have round faces. If you want to downplay the roundness of your face, you can attempt to bring out your cheekbones with bronzer. See How to Create Cheekbones Using Makeup.

Keep in mind that too much makeup can look fake and trying to be someone you aren't is rarely attractive. I feel it's always best to embrace your natural beauty. So if you have amazing eyes, play them up with makeup. Have great hair, get a flattering hairstyle that suits your round face. See Hairstyles for Round Faces: The 20 Most Flattering Cuts.

How to change your attitude about your round face:

The complaint: "I'm afraid my round face makes me look fat."

The change in attitude: "Some of the most gorgeous women in the world have round faces. I embrace my face shape. It makes me unique and if I'm confident inside, that will register to my looks outside and attract good people to me."

06
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"My Skin is Super Pale"

Emma Stone
Emma Stone. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Very light, porcelain skin is enviable in all cultures -- especially Asian ones where women spend billions of dollars on skin lightening lotions (read all about it here). In the United States and some European countries, however, tanned skin is sometimes revered and women slather themselves in fake tan lotions, spray themselves in tanning salons (or bake themselves, which is a terrible cancer risk) and brush on bronzers.

If you have porcelain skin, I recommend EMBRACING IT. It's important you get into a habit young of wearing sunscreen every day rain or shine because your skin is most susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun's rays.

When it comes to makeup, you'll want to opt for the lightest foundations or tinted moisturizers just to cover up any redness or uneven spots. Never attempt to choose a darker shade foundation to give yourself a "tan" -- it looks obviously fake. Blush in light pinks are best for you, avoid browns, and stay away from brown bronzer, your skin will just look dirty, according to makeup artist Bobbi Brown.

How to change your attitude about your pale skin:

The complaint: "My skin is as pale as a ghost. I'm sick of it."

The change in attitude: "Paler skin is desired by women all over the world who spend billions of dollars in an attempt to match my complexion. My skin isn't pale, it's porcelain and it looks great in contrast to my eyes and my hair. I'm very lucky to have been born with this exact skin color. I wouldn't change anything."

07
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"I Have Too Many Freckles"

Don't cover up those freckles
Don't cover up those freckles. Iconica/Getty Images

I love this quote I saw in Glamour Magazine years ago: "Wearing foundation to cover up freckles. That's like camouflaging a cute butt."

Some women and girls with freckles try to cover them up with thick foundation. Don't! Try to embrace your freckles and learn to love them. Freckles make you unique and accepting them will make you more beautiful. After all, it's almost impossible to cover up freckles without achieving "cake face." (See How to Avoid Cake Face).

Instead of covering up your freckles, let them show through with a light foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out skin tone. You can use a bronzer to finish off your look.

How to change your attitude about your freckles:

The complaint: "I am so bored with these freckles, they've been with me forever."

The change in attitude: "Freckles set me apart from almost every other woman I know. People tell me they're adorable and I believe them. They are!"

08
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"I Never Wore Braces, But Maybe I Should Have"

Vanessa Paradis, Johnny Depp's ex, has crooked teeth
Vanessa Paradis, Johnny Depp's ex, has crooked teeth. Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

If your teeth bother you, don't bring attention to them with bold lipsticks. Instead, focus on making your eyes look as amazing as possible.

Clear braces are becoming a huge trend among adults with crooked teeth. And they are becoming more affordable.

Do keep in mind that a gap in the front tooth ala Vanessa Paradis, pictured here, can be very sexy. You might not want to fix that.

How to change your attitude about your teeth:

The complaint: "My teeth are a mess. I hate them."

The change in attitude: "My teeth aren't perfect, but who is? They make me look interesting. Plus, I can always get them fixed."

09
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"My Eyes are Ginormous, They Take Over My Face"

Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

If you have naturally big eyes, lucky you. You'll want to make your eyes the focal point of your face by playing off your eye color. Blue eyes look best in golds and shades of brown. Choose blue tops and dresses to make your eyes really stand out, but it's best not to put blue eyeshadow or liner on blue eyes. If you have huge brown eyes, you can get away with jeweled colors if you want to make a statement. Otherwise, browns are a good bet. Green eyes look incredible with golds and yellows.

One rule of thumb to follow: Never play up both the lips AND the eyes. If you are making your eyes your focal point, keep your lips and the rest of your makeup understated. Find out why in Play Up the Eyes or the Mouth?

How to change your attitude about your large eyes:

The complaint: "My eyes are so big they bulge out from my face."

The change in attitude: "How can I complain about big eyes, when women all over the world would KILL to have bigger eyes? My eyes stand out. They are big and beautiful and I don't have to slather them in makeup to stand out."

10
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"The Skin Under My Chin is Starting to Sag"

AOL Build Presents - Patti Stanger From The WE TV Series: 'Million Dollar Matchmaker'
Astrid Stawiarz/Contributor/Getty Images

As we age, we may begin to notice a big change taking place under the chin. And I'm not talking about the excessive growth of chin hairs. You may develop a turkey wattle or you might notice the unwelcome addition of an extra chin. Either way, you might want to conceal what's going on under the neck as Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stenger, pictured here in 2008 and in 2014 obviously did.

You could see a plastic surgeon and have lipo under your chin or a facelift, but if you don't want to spend the cash or endure surgery, there are inexpensive ways to conceal sagging skin and a crepe-y neck.

Check out these tips and much more in Loose Skin? 4 Tips to Conceal Sagging Skin.

How to change your attitude about your chin:

The complaint: "I look in the mirror and all I see is this double chin."

The change in attitude: "People don't really notice my chin. Why? My eyes are my best feature, I have an awesome nose, my lips are sexy and my confidence wins everyone over."

11
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"I Have Scars Left Over From Teenage Acne"

Woman looking in mirror at skin
Stockbyte/Getty Images

You can disguise a concave pockmark or scar by using an angled brush dipped in a concealer that's a shade lighter than your skin tone. Fill in the center of the pockmark without going over the edges and then dust skin with translucent powder. If the scar is raised, use a concealer that matches your skin tone and pat the scar with the concealer, setting the concealer with powder.

For much more information on fixing your acne scars with lasers, see How to Cover Acne Scars.

How to change your attitude about your scars:

The complaint: "I have the worst skin ever."

The change in attitude: "Now that I know how to cover up these scars to make them less noticeable, they don't bother me at all. Plus, they are a part of who I am and I am not someone defined by the shape my skin is in."

12
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"I Have an IMAX Forehead"

Mena Suvari
Mena Suvari. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

I have a large forehead. A frat guy in college once told me I had an IMAX forehead. You don't forget things like that. Anyway, I've come to terms with it and hide it with the most amazing side-swept bangs, but if you have hair that's one length and you pull it back, you can downplay a high forehead using bronzer.

Find out exactly how in How to Downplay a High Forehead.

How to change your attitude about your big forehead:

The complaint: "My forehead takes up half of my face."

The change in attitude: "Everyone knows large foreheads are a sign of intelligence. Plus, side-swept bangs look incredible over them. Women with low hairlines can't wear bangs like I can. And bangs are so sexy!"

13
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"I've Noticed Lines are Becoming Etched on My Face"

Woman looking in mirror at lines on face
Photodisc/Getty Images

People ask me all the time if there's some sort of cream they can get at the drugstore that will turn back the hands of time. There isn't. But prescription vitamin A creams, in general, do a wonderful job of erasing fine lines and wrinkles.

Read more about Retin A in How to Use Retin-A & Other Retinoids Safely and The Secret to Anti-Aging Products: Sticking With It.

If you really want to get rid of those wrinkles, you might consider a partial facelift, lasers, Botox or fillers. Read more about these procedures in my in-depth article, How to Fix Deep Wrinkles: 5 Wrinkle Fixes You Can Get at Your Doctor's Office.

As for makeup tips to camouflage those fine lines, check out How to Conceal Wrinkles on Your Face.

How to change your attitude about your lines and wrinkles:

The complaint: "I look so old!"

The change in attitude: "I look pretty darn good for my age and feel younger than I am. All those lines and wrinkles? They were earned over a fantastic lifetime full of laughter and amazing experiences."

14
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"My Eyes are Tiny Without Makeup"

Woman with tiny eyes
Pierre Bourrier/Getty Images

The best way to open up your eyes and make them pop is to curl your lashes. For added benefit, warm up the lash curler with a blow dryer for 3 seconds and then curl your lashes. Make sure to test the metal on your arm first, so you don't burn your lid. Then apply a couple sweeps of mascara to your newly curled lashes.

If your lashes are not as thick and lush as they used to be you can get lash extensions at some salons. It's pretty pricey, but worth the splurge, if you want to look great for a big event. You can also play around with false lashes. But apply individual lashes rather than a whole length of false lashes. It will look more natural.

See How to Use and Eyelash Curler and How to Apply False Eyelashes.

How to change your attitude about your pale skin:

The complaint: "My eyes are so small, they disappear into my face."

The change in attitude: "All I need is a little bit of makeup and my eyes aren't so small anymore."

15
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"Help! I Have Bad Under-eye Circles"

How to fix dark eye circles
How to fix dark eye circles. Digital Vision/Getty Images

A big problem with older women (really women of all ages) tends to be the circles and darkness that can crop up under the eyes. These tend to get worse with age. The best way to cover these up is to use a rich under-eye cream at night and a lighter one during the day. You'll want to invest in a corrector in either pink or peach tones to cover the dark circles. Over this, apply a yellow-based concealer and foundation.

How to change your attitude about your under-eye circles:

The complaint: "I hate my under-eye circles. I always look like I haven't slept."

The change in attitude: "So I have under-eye circles. Big deal. They don't define me. Plus, they can be covered up with the right makeup. If I wanted to spend a ton of money, I could have them fixed with lasers. But I'd rather spend my money on a vacation."

16
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"My Brows are Too Bushy"

A woman has her eyebrows threaded at the Designer Couture Trunk Show hosted by Noelle Reno at The Collection in London, England.
A woman has her eyebrows threaded at the Designer Couture Trunk Show hosted by Noelle Reno at The Collection in London, England. Tim Whitby/Getty Images

Bushy eyebrows are actually hot again on the red carpet. But if you hate yours, I recommend you get your brows professionally done. Nothing opens eyes up like curled lashes and neat brows. If you can't afford waxing or threading every few weeks, use the professional's job as a map for your own tweezing. Simply pluck the stray hairs that grow in between professional tweezing or waxing. See How to pluck your own brows for guidance.

How to change your attitude about your eyebrows:

The complaint: "My brows are so bushy!"

The change in attitude: "Have you seen the latest red carpet? Bushy brows are always making a comeback. Plus, if I really hated them, I could grab a pair of tweezers. No biggie."

17
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"When I Smile, I Notice I Have a Ton of Lines Around My Eyes"

Woman with lines around eyes
Stone/Getty Images

Since we know eye creams won't erase your smile lines, then what does? In one word: Botox. I've tried it. It works. The doctor injects Botox into your lines and basically freezes them. You can still smile and laugh, but you'll notice the lines that were so deep are no longer as deep. You can also fill them in with fillers.

I realize the needle isn't for everyone. If you are looking for a non-invasive fix, there are few other ways to conceal them or diminish the signs of them. Find out how in 7 Ways to Conceal Crow's Feet.

How to change your attitude about crow's feet:

The complaint: "I smile and my face breaks out in wrinkles."

The change in attitude: "My crow's feet are actually quite sexy if you think about it. After all, I earned them over a lifetime of laughter. How can that be a bad thing? And if I wanted to fix them, I could always get Botox."

18
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"I Have Spider Veins and They're Ugly"

Woman with spider veins
E+/Getty Images

Spider and varicose veins can be unsightly, but if you have them you are in good company. Most women as they age develop some veins in their legs. You can get them professionally removed. You can also cover them up with concealer.

How to change your attitude about your spider veins:

The complaint: "My legs are covered in purple lines!"

The change in attitude: "Oh big deal. So I have a few purple lines on my legs like most women my age. I can just wear longer skirts. Plus, my personality is so great, no one will notice them."