My days are spent indoors, often with just my husband or family, so having perfect eyeshadow all day long isn’t necessary but I don’t like touching up or having to worry about things creasing/migrating… and continual fallout is irritating to my eyes! I need something to wear well enough for 10 hours and keep out of my eyes so that I can actually wear it that long.
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Longevity is big for me. I’m not always out and about in bright eyeshadow but nothing ruins a daring eye look like creasing and migrating. My eyelids tend to be oily too, so they’re definitely hard on eyeshadow. Pat McGrath never lasts on me!
I have oily lids, too, and same here on PML eyeshadows. ND, too. Got any tricks? Best primer I’ve found is the Smashbox one.
I also have oily lids with some extra folds that really are hard on shadow. I use the NARS Pro Prime primer in white and ND shadows last about 10 hours on me. PML has too much slip to be long wearing. It’s a shame. Drier shadows last longer, so unfortunately the longest wear times are going to be mattes and shimmers with less silicone in them.
I used to have the same exact problem, and if I’m traveling and forget to pack my eye primer, for whatever reason, it really puts me in a jam as far as creasing, sliding off, etc. But, I use the NARS eye primer as step one for my base, and then once I’ve applied that, I go back in with a MAC paint pot, whatever one matches my skin tone for that time of year (because I get dark circles sometimes and I like a nice bright canvas for the vivid shades I use). Then, I set with a powder (usually PMG, Marc Jacobs, or By Terry), and then I go about doing whatever eye makeup I want to do for the day, followed by foundation, concealer, etc., and a great setting spray. I will also say that if I do not use my setting sprays, I note that makeup deteriorates in rapid fashion. I prefer cover FX and KVD sprays. If I don’t follow my routine, my makeup might as well not have even been applied in the first place. When I do follow the steps, I could probably go 48 hours without touch-up if need be (but, that would hopefully never happen, clearly).
Thank you ladies both for the tips!!
VERY important. I don’t want an eye look melting into an ugly, creased and smeary mess by mid-morning so primers are a must have for me since they make almost any eyeshadow last through my day and into the night. I remember the “old days” – before first UDPP (which seems to have been reformulated into CRAP) and then other eyeshadow primers – and wearing eyeshadow was never a jolly experience as they would all (with the exception of an Estee Lauder doe foot one) crease by noon, leaving an ugly line where the shadow collected in the crease of my lid. I’ve always used an eye cream or moisturizer on my eyes which I suppose didn’t help. Primers have changed all that and it was with the original “genie bottle” of UDPP that my love for eyeshadow was re-awakened.
Long wear is critical, at least when we’re not in a pandemic. In normal times, makeup needs to make it through a full workday and often through an evening out, errands, or after-school activities with the kids afterward. There’s no good way to touch up in any of those places, so makeup needs to stay put or at least wear off evenly.
I am lucky if it’s 8 hours on me because I have oily lids. I’m a therapist and no time to even go to the bathroom sometimes, especially during the pandemic when my schedule is packed. So, I need something that will last and my eyes are super important since I can’t show most of my face to them where I work. Primer is important and I’ve tried so many (UDPP, Mac Paint Pot, ABH primer, Too Faced primer, Nyx primer and glitter glue, concealer, some I received in Boxycharm – Pretty Vulgar and others), and the only ones that give me some longevity are Smashbox and Too Faced Glitter Glue. Would love to know any tips if anyone has any! lol A Sephora worker told me about the Smashbox and I was so skeptical but bought the mini and used the whole thing up and went back for full sized. :o)
I have similar issues, but the ABH primer did the trick for me; I started using it since it launched, and I don’t think that I ever seen my eyeshadow crease since then.
But one big trick for me is also to apply the primer on the clean eyelid, no foundation or concealer or face primer, any layer between the eye primer and skin ruins things; off course, except SPF, but I let it sync completely before applying makeup.
Hi Sandy, I wrote my process out above, since I used to struggle with the same issues. One other thing I thought about for people that are wanting a one-stop shop to help achieve a good base and to set before applying (which is essentially all I’m saying to do following applying a primer), is the eye kit from Makeup by Mario. I bought it and it is a nice little kit for color correction and powder to set before applying the color to your eyes. They claim it primes, too, but I still use my own primer (NARS or Smashbox – and if Smasbox, I will *only* use the 24 hour one).
A must-have from Sephora.com – MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Eye Prep & Setâ„¢ – https://www.sephora.com/product/makeup-by-mario-master-eye-prep-set-tm-P04456664?skuId=2389633&om_mmc=oth-textmsg-mobileappshare
Longevity means nothing on my hooded eyes. Everything is gone, except for the inner corner, by the 4 hour mark (sometimes even by the 2 hour mark). This is part of the reason why I like simple one and done shadows–I can keep them with me and reapply throughout the day!
Eye makeup should wear a full day.
Nothing worst than wearing your signature eye look and two hours later see creased shadow and smearead mascara/eyeliner.
It is not always you have a bathroom around to fix it… ou you can leave for a bathroom in the first place.
Very hooded lids. I very rarely apply e/s without some form of primer.. or doubling up on the one two punch of primer and paint pot. Eyeshadow is probably the area where I have highest longevity expectations.
Because I always use eyeshadow primer, I’m always hoping that it will wear until I take it off. Only hitch is that when either my allergies or a cold wind hits, my eyes water heavily. And whatever is in those tears is strong enough to breakdown any and all e/s primers. But in a perfect world, all day, every day!
Since I have hooded eyes and oily eyelids, my eyeshadow wear time is critical to me. I don’t want anything that fades, and I want my eyeshadow crease free even after 8-10 hours.
But for me it all depends on the eye primer, not the shadow itself. A good eye primer makes even mediocre eyeshadows last all day, if used properly.
High on the list. Viseart the best, and surprisingly some WNW
This issue for me is HOW it wears.. I don’t mind if it fades but I cannot abide by a creased oxidizing mess on my lids. I also do not feel that I should have a muddy mess from blinking where the colors just melt into one another. Glitter on my cheeks from fall out is another NO.. so I am very picky.. I have found that as much as I love ND it fades.. at least it doesn’t look bad when the colors fade.. but the highest marks for me would be Pat McGrath… and I still have my MAC singles… some are very good but I need a primer with them. I never see Dose of Colors reviewed much but their Block party eye shadows are amazing! I want to try Dior .. I have a few TF palettes but I don’t buy them any more… love the formula but they all tend to look “ashy” on my golden complextion
Extremely important. Eyeshadow is my favorite cosmetic. I have really oily, somewhat hooded eyes. I still haven’t met an eyeshadow that I can wear without primer. With a good primer, I expect at least 8 hours wear, because that’s what I usually get.. I remember the days before primer and having instant creasing and needing to do touchups all day long. No thank you!
I would love to hear what your favorite primers are!!!
Important! The second most important product wear time wise. I like the color to stay popping! That said, if it doesn’t, I want end my use of the product.
I have dry eyelids, plus they are hooded. I have tried several eye primers with mixed results. Currently using Hourglass eyelid primer with some good results. Yet my eyeshadow fades in about 4 hours of wear even with this product. I have started applying each eyeshadow twice and find that even though some fading occurs I still have some color remaining. I did not know that Smashbox had an eye primer and will have to check that out. Before I apply my primer, I use Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich eye base. I also get creasing and think it is more so because of my dry eyelids.
My biggest problem with eyeshadow is that it fades on me rather than crease or melt. But I rarely wear a lot of colorful eye shadow looks because I prefer a bold or colorful lip and both together feels like too much on me. I do expect my eye liner and mascara to stay put for the day, however. I’m not killing myself to get the perfect wing just to have it disappear by noon!