5 Kylie Jenner Makeup Mistakes We Couldn't Look Away From

Trendsetter Kylie Jenner is a major makeup mogul who's changed her approach to beauty a lot over the years. As she told Elle in 2024, "I've definitely had some moments of quiet luxury, as they would say, but I'm always experimenting." And that experimentation has seen her perfect everything from plump, lined lips to glowing, flawless skin. She embodies the ever-glam and fabulous aesthetic so well that her Kylie Cosmetics line has exploded as fans clamber to emulate her. According to Statista, 12% of cosmetics wearers in the States use "The Kardashians" star's products.

But it hasn't always been that way. Though Jenner is one of the poster girls for flawless beauty looks now, she's proven even the best of us get it wrong sometimes. So, rise and shine y'all, because this reality TV superstar has some makeup mistakes we can't look away from.

While attending Daily Mail's Seriously Popular Yacht Party in Cannes in 2015, Kylie Jenner wore heavy makeup that washed her out. The beauty seemingly tried baking (applying a heavy amount of powder, leaving it to set, then brushing it away) under her eyes and on her chin but both appeared chalky and much lighter than her contoured cheeks for an unnatural contrast. Brittany Mahomes experienced a similar problem that ruined her makeup which is often caused by powders made with silica. Though it often looks translucent to the naked eye, camera flashes can pick up it up, making white patches appear on the face.

Another reason Jenner may consider this a mistake? She relied too much on trends. "I probably would never wear lash extensions and thick eyebrows. There are just certain trends that I've grown out of," she told Elle in 2024. And she wore both here.

Kylie Jenner posed with influencer Colt Paulsen at a Kylie Cosmetics event in 2022 and we couldn't stop staring at her heavy, unblended lip liner. Though '90s-inspired brown liner made a comeback, the harsh brown line on the upper lip aged Jenner (who was then only 25) and created a dramatic contrast against her lighter, gradient lipstick. Generally, it's most flattering for liner to only be one shade darker than the lipstick it's paired with. Paulsen's Instagram selfie was seemingly unfiltered, but Jenner's Instagram snaps looked a little different. The reality star shared images that were lower quality and not so close up, so it didn't highlight her unblended liner in such an obvious way.

But it wasn't just her lips that could have done with a little more blending. Jenner's contour and blush mix also appeared muddy, as the side of her face was several shades darker than her forehead and chin.

Kylie Jenner had the opposite problem with lip liner in 2013, as she needed more contouring around her kisser during a PacSun event. For the occasion, Jenner wore minimal eyeshadow, eyeliner, and long lashes that looked great, but she was let down by the execution of her light, baby pink lipstick. The flat shade made her lips disappear because it didn't offer any definition. The product also made the texture of her mouth appear dry. If we were Jenner or her makeup artist, we'd have added a deep pink liner and a moisturizing gloss for a flattering, youthful shine.

In 2012, Kylie Jenner appeared at a Popstar! Magazine event looking ghostly after paparazzi flashes took the color out of her foundation. The cool-toned cosmetic, which she'd likely set with silica-containing powder, made her complexion look flat and appeared even lighter against her dark brown tresses. Though we applaud the then-teenager for avoiding the temptation to wear a shade too dark or orange, in this case, she would have benefit from a warmer undertone to avoid being washed out. The beauty could also have applied a light bronzer over her nose and a richer product on her cheeks (the watercolor blush method could have worked wonders) to warm up her complexion and provide a healthy glow.

We appreciated when a young Kylie Jenner took a makeup risk at the 2011 "Prom" premiere, but her bright orange eyeshadow didn't work with her bright blue dress. The former "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star wore the vibrant shade all over her lids and in the inner corner of her eyes, with super long, spidery, faux lashes. But, because Jenner's natural skin tone was fair, a light peach or coral would've been more complimentary and closer to the glowy Aperol Spritz makeup trend that became popular 13 years later. The shadow would also have worked better with a neutral dress so it could have had its moment without working against the vibrant blue.