How to Keep Eyeshadow From Gathering in the Crease of Oily Eyelids

Shiny metallic shades need smooth application to stay crease-free.

The skin around your eyes moves constantly throughout the day. Combined with natural oils, this dislodges makeup, which slips around and collects in creases. The easiest way to prevent creased eye shadow is to use an eye primer from a professional makeup range designed for heavy-duty stage and screen wear. This combats oil and perspiration by providing a matte surface to secure eye shadow. Applying products using professional techniques also helps achieve crease-free shadow, as does ensuring your eyelids have no residue of skincare creams coating them.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cotton pad
• Eye primer
• Cream eye color brush
• Cream (optional) and powder eye colors of choice
• Eye shadow applicator brush
• Blending brush or pony tail
• Long-lasting eyeliner (optional)
• Long-lasting mascara
• Eye makeup remover
• Makeup removing facial cleanser (optional)
• Your regular nighttime cosmetics

Instructions

Application

1. Blot eyelids with a soft non-scratchy cotton pad.

2. 

   Some primers are clear, but others also act as an eye base and give natural coverage for a flawless look.

   Smooth a dab of eye primer all over the lids from brows to lashes, irrespective of where you are going to place the shadow.

3. Apply primer with a flat cream eye color brush. These are usually made of the synthetic fiber Taklon, which smoothes on cream products with an even coverage.

4. Apply eye shadow as desired using brushes. Avoid touching your lids with fingertips at any time during makeup application, as this can add more natural oil from your hands.

5. Press on any cream eye shadow you want to use, then layer powder over. This way the powder locks on to the cream product and they both stay on better.

6. 

   Taking time to blend fine layers of color into the skin ensures a secure finish.

   Build eye shadow slowly, working a fine layer into the skin by blending with a soft brush.

7. Use long-lasting eyeliner and non-crumbly mascara with your eye makeup. Makeup that flakes off is likely to dislodge eye shadow as well. Quick-dry liquid or cake liners are the most likely to stay put.

Skincare

1. Use an effective eye makeup remover to clean off heavy eye makeup. Avoid oily formulas, which could leave a residue that stays on your lids until morning.

2. Wash your whole face with a makeup-removing cleanser, making sure to remove all residue.

3. 

   Instead of a a rich cream, try using an eye gel or serum if you have very oil skin.

   Apply your nighttime skin products, such as moisturizer, serum or eye cream, sparingly. Keep eye cream around the orbital bone that surrounds your eye socket, rather than placing it right up to the eye. This is also better for eye health because excess product easily leeches into eyes at night, causing puffiness and irritation.

Tips & Warnings

• For a quick eye makeup, focus color application around the lash line and use a neutral tone, or just prime, over the rest of the lid. This still looks dramatic but minimizes the look of creasing, without having to take time to blend a full eye makeup.

• Smudgy kohl pencils slide around on oily lids. If you want to use kohl, draw it on before powder eye shadow application, treating it like a cream eye color. Smudge kohl liner with a brush, then press a dark shadow into it for a quick smoky eye that stays put.

• Having oily eyelids means that your skin has great natural protection from premature aging and dryness. Don’t try to get rid of this oil by using a harsh makeup remover or an astringent. These can really damage the skin around the eye, so always treat this area gently.

References

• "The New Beauty Secrets: Your Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Face"; Laura Mercier; 2006
• Oprah; What's up With Oily Eyelids?; Valerie Monroe; December 2008

Resources

• Peta: Is There a Squirrel in Your Makeup Bag?