Glue that shadow!

Ever bought an eyeshadow because of its magical, vibrant colour and were then disappointed upon applying it because despite its high price and quality brand name, the colour just does not give off like it promised? Ever applied an eyeshadow with great success only for it to crease and fade three hours into your day?

It might be because you did not prime your eyelids.

When you apply your eyeshadow to your naked, clean lids, you are exposing it to your natural oils and eye cream.  The natural oils on your lid makes for a slippery canvas and gives the eyeshadow a transport medium to those fine lines and eye crease. It is therefore necessary to prepare your canvas as follows:

-  Absorb the oil from your lids.
Whether your oily lids are from your freshly applied eye cream or natural oil producing skin, blot your eyelids with a tissue. If you are particularly oily, try oil control paper. It is inexpensive and you can carry it in your handbag to also use it during the day on your T-zone.

- Apply primer.
There are many different products you can use to prime your lids including concealers, eyeshadow primers, eyeshadow bases and cream eyeshadows.

You can use a liquid concealer that does not crease to conceal the veins on your lids and match your foundation. The best type of concealer for this function would be one you'd usually use for the under-eye area. Try:

MAC pro longwear concealer (MAC stores, R240.00)

or LA Girl (Cruelty-free) pro concealer (Dischem, R45.95). 

If you are wearing shimmery or glittery shadows or an eyeshadow that is very powdery, you want something with a stickier texture, like an eyeshadow base or cream eyeshadow. Cream eyeshadows and bases will conceal any discolouration and veins on your lids as well as create a base colour that you can wear by itself or apply shadow over. Try:

MAC paint pot in Stormy Pink (MAC, R220.00)

NYX Eyeshadow base (Clicks, TBA)

Eyeshadow primers are colourless and is therefore perfect if you don't want your eyeshadow colour altered which above mentioned products tend to do. When I am in the mood to go all out on my eyes, I apply a concealer and a primer for coverage and intense colour. Try:

Smashbox Shadow primer (Woolworths & Foschini, R230.00)

Palladio (Cruelty-free) eyeshadow primer (Dischem, R74.95)

And if you are in need of magic but you have none of the products above? Use eyeliner. 

Just try it:

NYX Jumbo eye pencil in Milk (Clicks, TBA)