8 Makeup tips our Southern mamas swore by often came from a place of love and tradition. However, beauty standards and techniques evolve. Here, we reexamine eight classic pieces of maternal advice that modern beauty experts now consider missteps.
8 Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: The Powder-Only Face
One of the most common makeup tips our Southern mamas swore by involved using all powder products. This often created a flat, matte finish. Today, liquid and cream formulas are preferred for a dewy, radiant look. Experts now recommend using a light setting powder only on oily areas.
Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: Dangerous Lash Separation
Another risky piece of advice was separating lashes with a safety pin. This dangerous technique risked serious eye injury. Modern beauty offers safe, effective lash combs and wands designed specifically for this purpose, making the old method obsolete and hazardous.
Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: Skipping Blush
Many mothers favored a more neutral cheek, leading to the tip of skipping blush. Contemporary trends celebrate blush for a healthy, sun-kissed glow. Cream and liquid blushes are now staples for building a youthful, vibrant complexion, making this avoidance a dated concept.
Top 8 Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: Post-Mascara Lash Curling

Curling lashes after applying mascara was a common recommendation. This habit can crimp lashes and cause them to fall out. The correct technique is to curl clean, dry lashes before applying mascara for a safe, lasting, and natural-looking curl.
Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: Overly Light Concealer
Choosing a stark, light under-eye concealer was once believed to brighten dark circles. This often resulted in a gray, ashy cast. The modern approach uses a concealer only one or two shades lighter than your skin tone, sometimes layered over a color corrector for a truly awake look.
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Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: The Vaseline Slug

The practice of “slugging”—covering the entire face in Vaseline—has cycled back into trend. While it locks in moisture, it is highly comedogenic for many and can clog pores. Dermatologists now recommend non-comedogenic moisturizers and overnight masks for hydrated skin without the breakouts.
8 Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: Waterline-Only Liner
Lining only the waterline was a definitive look. This technique actually makes eyes appear smaller and more closed off. For a wider, more awake effect, makeup artists suggest lining the upper lash line and avoiding the tight waterline entirely.
Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By: Neglecting the Neck
A final classic tip was focusing the foundation solely on the face. Failing to blend makeup down the neck creates a stark, noticeable line. The key to a seamless finish is blending foundation and bronzer over the jawline and onto the neck for a uniform skin tone.
Source Information:
This beauty analysis is based on the expert retrospective article from Southern Living.
You can read their full story here:
8 Makeup Tips Our Southern Mamas Swore By—That Turned Out To Be All Wrong













