5 Reasons Your Eye Shadow Doesn't Stay Put–And How To Fix It

These are my top 5 reasons why eye shadow doesn't last. - and they apply to all women (celebrities, teens, women dealing with aging eyes, etc.)

 

1 – Concealer or Foundation on the Eyelids

Applying concealer or foundation on the eyelids is not a good idea.

These products are too thick for the delicate skin of the eye area, and they are likely to look cakey as the day progresses.

The creamy texture of concealer and foundation can increase the chances of eye shadow smudging.

If you are worried about discoloration along the eye area, rest assured, the #1 matte in your FLEKK palette color corrects redness and providea a clean canvas for the rest of your eye shadow colors.

 

2 – Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can also make it more difficult for your eye shadow to stay put.

When your eyes are dry, the powder doesn’t adhere well to the skin and it is more likely to rub off quickly throughout the day.

Eye cream is a quick way to solve this problem.

If your eyes are severely dry, try using a gentle ointment on the dry patches at night.

 

3 – Oil Based Makeup Removers

Leftover oil from makeup removers can also decrease the wearing power of eye shadow. If there is too much oil around the eyes, the makeup is more likely to slide off.

If you like oil based makeup removers, it is important to make sure the entire remover is gone before applying your makeup.

You can also try a cream based remover. I find these to be just as effective at removing makeup, if not more – and they leave less residue.

 

4 – Oily Eyelids

Some people naturally have oily eyelids. In these instances, I suggest cleaning the eyes with a makeup wipe prior to application.

Skipping eye cream in the morning may also be helpful.

Most of the time, the matte texture of the #1 all over shadow in the FLEKK palette will be enough to combat the oiliness and keep the eye shadow in place throughout the day.

After trying these tricks if the eye shadow doesn’t last, then try a primer.

 

5 – Primer Problems

Ironically eye shadow primer can be ineffective if it is not used right.

One of the biggest mistakes is to over prime. This can create a greasiness on the eyelid. It also makes it more difficult to apply eye shadow and decreases the likelihood that the shadow will stay.

Primer that comes in a pot is often trickier to use. This type of product tends to be very drying which can lead to the dry eye problem mentioned above.

 

I experienced all of these issues at one time or another while working as a professional makeup artist.

And while most of those are the reasons eye shadow doesn’t stay put, I find that many women mistake smudged eye shadow for smudged mascara.

No way, right? Not possible?

But it’s true. Half of the time if people just change their mascara, the “smudging shadow that doesn’t stay in place” goes away.

So if you feel like none of these five scenarios above are you, perhaps try a new mascara!