How to Keep Your Eyeshadow From Fading and Disappearing
E writes:
Hi Nadine- love your blog and all your advice!! I have a question I don’t know if you have answered before…but my eye makeup seems to disappear. Like there is it all pretty and nice and I swear 10 minutes later it’s gone! Faded into my eyes? Fallen off my face? UGH! I cant get eye shadow or liner to stay on…any advice on what to use as a base on my eyes before the makeup to make it last? Do you recommend a type of eyeliner that seems to stay on as well? Thanks greatly!
Hey E.! Thanks for your email. Believe me, I can relate to the Case of the Disappearing Eyeshadow! Even those who aren’t cursed with oily skin sometimes fall prey to Slick Lid Syndrome. Luckily, a few simple tricks will help your shadow (and liner!) stay put. Here’s my routine:
- Apply a makeup primer to eyes, patting gently with your 4th finger to avoid pulling the delicate skin. I like OC Eight Mattifying Gel, but any primer will do. (A great option is Skindinavia, which makes a slew of oil- and paraben-free Makeup Finish mists to hold shadow in place. Try Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish.)
- Use a makeup brush, not your fingers. The oils on your fingers will transmit to your lids, speeding up the fading process. High-quality brushes are fine and dandy, but even cheapie brushes from the drugstore, Target or Sephora will aid in smooth, longer-lasting makeup application.
- After you apply eyeliner, double back over it with an eyeliner brush dipped in translucent powder, or in a shadow the same color as the eyeliner. (This trick also works on eyeliner on the “waterline” inside lower lids.)
- Finish with a light dusting of translucent powder over shadow (my standby is Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Mineral Veil), topped off with another spray of Skindinavia Makeup Finish.
- Finally, if you’re out and about, keep some blotting papers handy. Clean and Clear makes fabulous, cheap versions–or, in a pinch, run to the ladies’ room and use a toilet seat cover! Sounds gross, but it works like a dream to banish oil.
Good luck!
Tags: Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil, Clean and Clear Oil-Absorbing Sheets, how to keep eyeshadow from fading, OC Eight Mattifying Gel, Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish
4 Responses to “How to Keep Your Eyeshadow From Fading and Disappearing”
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August 7th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
You rock! I knew if anyone had a good answer to this you were the gal to go to. Thanks so much for answering my question and so speedy :-} Just in time for the weekend…you are the best!!
August 7th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
on top of all of jolie’s great tips…if you want a really good primer, MAC’s paint pots have never let me down, and they are great because they come in lots of pretty colors too!
August 10th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I’m going to have to try the Skindinavia finishing spray. I use the MAC Fix, and it’s okay, nothing that I’d rave about. Especially if it helps with the shine.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
You can also use concealer as a primer/base. It works great and you probably have a bunch of concealers that you don’t use (too yellow, too light, too whatever) hanging around.