If you have oily eyelids, you know that getting makeup to stay in place is a struggle. You probably know the drill all too well by now: wake up, put on your makeup, check your face at noon only to find that you're rockin' a serious pair of raccoon eyes — it's not a pretty sight. But, if it's any consolation, you're not alone. We've all been there.
We all create oil on our eyelids, some more than others. "We all have numerous tiny oil glands at the eyelash line to add oil to our tear film," says Dr. Ava Shamban, MD, dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA. "This oil-water emulsion provides lubrication to the eyes and the oil prevents the water from evaporating."
There may not be a cure-all method that will completely stop our bodies from producing oil, but we can definitely take measures to curb it. We talked to a few industry pros to get the lowdown on some of the best ways to stop slick lids from wreaking havoc on your makeup. Read ahead to learn the secret to a life free of mascara smudges, liner fading, and creased shadows.
First things first, before you put on your face in the morning, make sure your skin is completely free of any residual makeup (or even makeup remover) from the day before. "You need to make sure everything is totally off your eyes and that you don't have any oils leftover, because that can increase the oiliness," says makeup artist Elisa Flowers. "You want a clean, fresh start."
Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover, £18.27, available at Debenhams.
Simple Eye Makeup Remover Pads Kind to Eyes, £3.90, available at Pharmacy First.
After your face is clean, move on to your serums and moisturisers, but be sure to look at the ingredients for potential pore-cloggers and oils first. "If the issue is that makeup isn't staying in place, perhaps the problem is using moisturisers that aren't fully absorbing," says Heidi Waldorf, MD, dermatologist at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Oil-Free Mattifying Moisturiser, £22, available at Cosme-De.
Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet, £16.32, available at Cacoon Center.
If you can, avoid putting creams on your eyelid or very close to your lash line. The emollient properties in moisturisers and eye creams will cause your makeup to disintegrate. "It's definitely going to make your makeup get a little crazy," says makeup artist Katie Mellinger. "You basically broke it down before you put it on.”
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, £12.12, available at iHerb.
Deal with any extra oil on your lids by simply patting a blotting sheet on them before you do your makeup.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Shine Control Blotting Sheets, available on Amazon.
We all know that primers can do wonders when it comes to lasting power. Flowers recommends using Mac's Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base, which is humidity- and sweat-resistant and infused with antioxidants and vitamin E.
MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base, £16.50, available at Selfridges.
Lorac Behind The Scenes Eyeshadow Primer, $21 (£17), available at Lorac.
Anything that isn't a long-lasting formula "is going to break down, fold into your crease, and go underneath your eye,” says Mellinger. She recommends looking for long-wearing products like the Shiseido Shimmer Cream Eye Colours which go on creamy, but then set to a budge-proof finish.
Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Colour, £23, available at Feel Unique.
If you've ever tried to remove a waterproof makeup product without a seriously good makeup remover, you know that those babies don't move. Using waterproof formulas will ensure that your eye makeup won't end up on your cheeks by midday. Flowers likes to seal her regular mascara with a layer of Diorshow's Waterproof mascara. "It doesn't dehydrate my eyelashes, and it comes off easily in the shower," she says.
To intensify color and improve longevity, Mellinger is a fan of setting her pencil, cream, or liquid products with an eyeshadow powder of the same shade. Doing so ensures that everything from cream eyeshadow to gel liner won't budge.
If you want to lock everything in place in one fell swoop, Mellinger and Flowers both recommend going over your eye makeup with some transparent powder. "Just take a bit of loose powder and dust it across your lids with a little fluffy brush," says Flowers. "That way you have a little something on there to absorb oil."
MAC Set Powder in Invisible, £24.50, available at MAC.