What are your tips for making your eyeshadow last longer?
If I’ve only just applied moisturizer, then I’ll make sure to gently dab at my bare eyes to ensure there’s not too much product around/on my eyes. I’ll lay down a thin layer of eyeshadow primer from my lash line to brow bone, but I also like to put some underneath my eye (lower lash line and a gently blended outward). This usually does the trick, but sometimes choosing the right eyeshadow formulas can determine whether it’s solid eight-hour wear or nearly perfect wear 14 hours later.
— Christine
Wear MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre and then any eyeshadow last me all dang day long! But I will say my eyelids are normal to slightly oily. I don’t have a problem with eyeshadow lasting. I probably could get away w no primer but I’m in such a habit of wearing it, I don’t want to try no primer and find out?
A friend gave me a Soft Ochre Paint Pot recently. NYX is still my favorite primer, but I was surprised at how well the Paint Pot worked on my oily lids and I’ll definitely be getting a lot of use out of it.
It will last you forever. I’ve been working all year in the one I have. Have had it for 2 yrs. And it is still going strong. I made a deal w myself that I have to use it up before I can buy the Milani primer
NYX Proof It Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer. I love it so much, I buy at least two backups every time NYX is on sale at Ulta.
I never thought of applying primer to the lower lash line. That’s where my liner/shadow tends to smear! Will try.
I always use NARS eyeshadow primer. My lids are oily and I have an extra skin fold on the mobile lid. If I don’t use primer it creases in an hour. If I do, the formula of the shadow determines how long it lasts before creasing. I don’t set the primer either. It makes things harder to blend but the shadow is stuck down pretty well!
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot In Painterly as primer on the lid and crease, not as much up up brow bone. Setting that with MAC Blanc Type. Then after blending eyeshadow, setting with MAC Fix+. This will stay all day and then some on my oily eyelids.
1.) Apply my favorite nearly fail-proof Nyx Proof It! Waterproofing Eyeshadow Primer. Patting it in and around the entire upper lid, inner corner and lower lashline.
2.) If I will be using silicone heavy, creamier metallics on my mobile lid (Coloured Raine’s metallics, MAC Woodwinked), I also will set my primer with some RCMA No Color Powder.
3.) Setting spray absolutely helps, too! Whether for application or literally “setting” any powder, including eyeshadow.
Oh! I almost forgot the MOST important step!
4.) Staying on course with using my Flonase daily for upper respiratory allergy symptoms, including teary eyes that seem to have a very acidic pH or something.
MAC Prep + Prime 24 Hour Extend Eye Base all over lid (lash line all the way up to brows) and on lower lash line if I’m applying eyeshadow instead of using liner. I set with RCMA No Color or a bone colored matte eyeshadow. Some shadows crease or wear away if I don’t do this, so I have just gotten in the habit of doing this all the time and I get ironclad wear all day (8 hours) for my work days. If I really need it to last, then I’ll prep like above and only use certain formulas (MAC permanent line, Pat McGrath, Viseart). I take my time and layer and build in smaller amounts at a time.
I use the Fenty shadow primer and I’ve never had a problem with my shadow lasting all day. Before that it was Nars. I tried using the new Anastasia one but it’s too stark white for my skin. I can’t imagine not using a primer for my shadow but I never use face primer now lol.
I have really oily, somewhat hooded lids. What works best for me: 1) Lightly blot my eyelids with blotting paper or a paper towel. 2) An eyeshadow primer that dries down completely. I apply a small amount and spread it over the entire eye with my ring finger. Too much primer is as bad as too little. TFSI and UDPP work best for me. 3) Powder eyeshadows, but it also depends on the brand. Generally speaking, I find high end lasts better than drug store, but there are many great budget and indie brands. 4) Setting spray. I just close my eyes and spray my eyes with the rest of my face. I keep them closed until the setting spray is dry.
I just use a bit of primer on my eyelids and wait for a little bit so it can sink in. My eyelids are not oily and I generally get quite good wear out of my eyeshadows anyway.
I don’t have a favourite eye shadow primer but I have to use one or my shadow creases and fades away within a few hours. I also use it under my eye and my eyeliner or eye shadow will stay put all day and night.
Another vote for MAC Prolongwear Paint Pots here, No matter what kind of eyeshadow I use, it will last all day with no creasing. I also like to use them as a quick, one-color shadow if I’m in a hurry. I wish MAC would produce more shades of it.
Urban Decay Primer Potion is still the primer I really rely on when I need to know my eyeshadows will last all day and into the night in heat, humidity, etc. On less demanding days or more temperate ones, MAC’s Painterly Paint Pot or one of their coloured ones (Constructivist, Groundwork) or one of the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks or similar shadow crayons from Lise Watier will do the trick and the variety of colours can also really help to intensify whatever shadows are applied on top.
Less appears to be more for me, ironically. MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (applied thinly with a brush) with loose powder pressed on top seems to do wonders for me. Lately that powder has been Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouching Setting Powder, though it changes from time to time. 🙂
I don’t have particularly oily eyelids or anything but I do have hooded eyes, and I found that it’s just as much about the technique as it is about the actual products used. It seems like it’s intuitive in that respect, but it took me years to figure out!
christine, might i inquire which brands/formulas will ensure 14hour wear? thank you for your time!
I wish I had a list, but I don’t! I’ve been trying to figure out if there’s a way for me to get that info but we don’t store data that would allow me to do so.
ALWAYS use primer! You wouldn’t paint a wall without priming it first! My eyeshadow will not budge until I remove it, whether that’s eight hours or well over 24, even when I’m sweating all day. No eyeshadow lasts longer than half an hour on me without it. The only one I’ll use is Wet n Wild Photo Focus.
NYX eyeshadow primer, the one in the pot. It’s the best. Benefit’s Air Patrol was really good too, but they discontinued that.