You know the saying “you learn something new every day”? I recently discovered that my eye shadow always creases and my mascara constantly smudges because I have oily eyelids. Through some heavy research (and much trial and error), I finally found a four-step process to keep my eye makeup intact so I no longer have to worry about touch-ups throughout the day.
1. The first thing you need is an eyelash primer. Not only will it condition your lashes, but it also helps to maximize your mascara and sets it in place until you wash your face. This one from Clinique goes on white, so you can easily see where you’ve applied it. I swipe it through my lashes and wait about 10 seconds before I put on my mascara.
2. Next, comes your mascara. My favorite is the Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Lengthening mascara. The formula doesn’t get clumpy and it has conditioning peptides that hydrate and strengthen your lashes. Depending on how messy things get during the application (mascara gets all over the place for me), I wet one side of a pointed Q-tip to clean up any smudges and flip it over to the dry side to make sure my lids are completely clean before I move onto the next steps. (Thanks, Kim K., for the tip!)
3. Once your eyelids are completely dry, it’s time for the most crucial step: eye shadow primer. I have tried a few formulas and the Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer takes the gold by far. The primer has the smooth consistency of a concealer and though it applies beige straight out of the tube, it dries clear. I like to apply a fair amount of it to my eyelids using a small brush. This ensures the product spreads evenly across your eyelids and covers all the little folds and creases. I leave it on for about 10 seconds to let it set; you’ll know it’s time when your eyelids feel a bit tacky. Rest assured, once your eyeshadow is on, it will dry to a soft matte finish.
4. Last but not least, apply your favorite eye shadow. Currently, I have two favorites that I am constantly going back-and-forth between. During the day, I am obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury’s Instant Look of Love in A Palette. The “Number 2” sparkly eyeshadow is perfect for a daytime look—whether you’re going to work or have brunch plans. When I am going out on the town, I love Huda Beauty’s Naughty Nude palette, which is filled with golds, browns, pinks and purples to enhance any eye color. I would recommend using a tapered eye shadow brush to buff and blend a generous amount of shadow onto the lids.
Follow these four steps and, scouts honor, that no matter how oily your eyelids get, your makeup will stay intact for whatever life throws at you.