PrintDear eDiets:
My eye shadow always creases and fades and my eyeliner never stays put throughout the day. What can I do or use to make it last longer?
– Karen, West Palm Beach, FL
Excess oil that builds up on the lid is what causes eye shadow to crease. After you apply foundation and powder, apply a small bit of foundation to the lid. Next, using a velour puff, press some loose or translucent powder onto your eyelid to set the foundation. This will also help to control oil and provides a canvas for your powder eye shadow.
Another option is to use a neutral-colored eye shadow base, such as L’Oreal De-Crease or Clinique Touch Base. Look for eye shadow base that is one shade lighter than your skin color to accomplish two things. First, it creates a canvas for your eye shadow and gives the powder something to grab on to. Second, a neutral color will even out the skin color on the lid, which is usually darker than the rest of your skin, particularly in older women. A light colored base will frame the area around the eyes and make them appear brighter. I prefer using an eye shadow base instead of foundation, since any oil in the foundation may lead to creasing (which is why you need to set it with powder).
There are a number of waterproof eyeliners on the market that are water and sweat resistant. Prestige and Lancome both make waterproof pencils, perfect for oily lids. You can also use a liquid liner, which is latex based and has more staying power. However, many people find it hard to produce a natural look with liquid liner.
For long-lasting eyeliner, most makeup artists use eye shadow as eyeliner. For this method, you’ll need a small flat or angled eyeliner brush, a black or dark colored eye shadow and some Visene or eye-drops. Wet the eyeliner brush with a few drops of Visene to moisten it, and soak up any excess with a cotton ball or tissue. Dip your liner brush into a side edge of the eye shadow. (Since any moisture will affect the texture of the eye shadow, you want to section off a small area of the eye shadow surface for this technique.) Place the brush right up against your lashes, and “walk” or push the brush across your lashline. The combination of the eye drops and the powder shadow lasts much longer than regular eye pencils, since pencils are wax-based and can come off with heat and perspiration.
As an extra measure to get your eye makeup to stay put, dust another layer of translucent powder over your finished eye. Make sure not to rub or touch your eye during the day, and stay away from cream eye shadows, which crease easily.
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Lisa Phidej has been a freelance makeup artist for 5 years. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives and is pursuing her entrepreneurial goals to open up her own makeup studio. Lisa currently works in New York City and resides in Westchester, New York.
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