hi everyone, i was wondering if anyone has any great solutions to the makeup smear that happens under your eye?

i am using primer for my lids, and that works great, but i still find that throughout the day, things will start to head south. even right after i put on my makeup - any sort of eyeliner/mascara/dusting of shimmer will make a bit of a wreck of my already dark-from-bags undereyes.

i dont always use waterproof mascara or eyeliner, but even when i do, there is still always a bit of a southward migration.

i would appreciate any suggestions you all might have.

thanks!

Hey mrbeebe!!
Do you put your primer along your lower lash line too? That really makes a difference for me, you just have to make sure blend it well :)

Ha. My, I'm a dork! Its so obvious! I kept wondering why noone ever mentioned putting primer there, so I just assumed that it was totally verboten, being terrible for your eyes or something.

I THINK (not sure) you mentioned in one of your tutorials, not to get the primer too close to your upper lash line - what is the reason for that, can you tell me, and also, on a related, but slightly different topic -

- Is there anyone who puts their mascara on first?

I feel like everywhere I go, people put it on last, but as I have THE most jittery hands, and can often make a mess of mascara application, I feel like its easier for me to put it on first, let it set, and then deal with the rest of my eye makeup. What do you think?

Thanks for your help! Your site is fantastic!

Not a lot of people put it on the bottom, I am trying to spread the word!!! Lol. You don't want to put it too close to your lashes, because it can clump up your lashes and then you have stringy little bits of primer in there looking like eye boogers - I know this from experience!! So just go right up to your top lashes, and on the bottom lash line, go under the lashes with your finger, a brush or a q-tip. I put the primer a bit past the lower lashes, so there can be no smudging, smearing or running. I am sure some people put their mascara on first ... but their are other solutions for you, but only if you want, if you like putting it on first, go ahead. There is no wrong way to do it ... it's just when you put it on first, the powders from your shadow will stick to the mascara more. OK, other solutions include the Mascara Shield http://www.bestmascarashield.com/mascarashield.... someone on here (I think it was Skyler), held up business cards between her skin and the lashes and just combed the mascara on and I have heard of people using Post-It notes. I totally heart this Makeup Eraser Pen by Revlon http://www.revlon.com/ProductCatalog/ProductDet... for any mistakes what do happen, it is pretty much magic ;) What mascara are you using?

Awesome suggestions! Thanks so much!

As to the mascara I am using - when i'm not using whatever Clinique thing I steal from my sister (:P), its pretty much drugstore brands for me (I tend to save my money for my ongoing search for the perfect red lipstick). These are the three i have on hand now:

-Maybelline define-a-lash: I tried it for a while, but I was finding that gave me total spider lashes
- Rimmel Volume Flash: This is the one that gives me the most trouble - mostly because the mascara is SO liquidy and no matter how much I wipe off the brush, its like I have dunked my eyes in mascara
-NYC: Totally working out great so far - its got just a regular mascara brush, but its really thick and I find that it goes on easily, no clumps, not too much, not too little (and I don't have to spend 20 minutes cleaning off the brush before I use it either)(How much do I love it that my fave mascara is the cheapest of the cheapo drugstore brands!)

Also, i realized what I said earlier was not really my problem - its not so much my spazzy hands, as it is that my eyes are really twitchy, and no matter how clean I put the mascara on, I almost always blink a mess above and below my eyes. I think thats why the Rimmel is so crappy for me - it just takes FOREVER to dry and I can't keep my eyes still that long.

I'm dying to try the Bourjois "Oui Au Volume..." mascara - I have a friend who swears by it (plus, how cute is that name?!) - have you tried it?

It sounds like you would be the perfect candidate for the Post-It note application. just keep the notes on until the mascara dries and you can twitch to your heart's content! Who uses the Post-It notes? Was it Lolita? I have never tried any of those mascaras, I am smitten with Cover Girl Lash Blast right now ... and Sephora seems to be clearing out Bourjois, so unless you are in Europe, you will want to stock up! I am so interested to hear if the Post-it notes help you out!!!! :)

hahaha Critty, you're sooo lovely! yeah, i'm a big fan of the post-it.. thing method, but i've no idea whether it's good or not for avoiding mascara smears.. i use it when I put on loose eyeshadows, but i'd love to see if works for mrbeebe too! hehe.

by the way mrbeebe, I have the Oui to volume non aux paquets.. i got it pretty recently, I'm a total total sucker when it comes to pink+black mascara packages.. and i like it. but knowing your story, this kind of has the fluid-y texture that you don't like.. it's really good if you have voluminous lashes, but short! it's soooo lenghtening and.. defines them so well.. makes you look like you have more lashes, but is not thickening.. hope it helps!

Oh that is right Lolita uses post-it notes for fallout. here is the article I read about post-it notes and mascara - http://www.ebeautydaily.com/mascara-smudge-much...

You guys are super! Thanks for all the advice! I am totally going to try the post-it thing tomorrow - I will keep you all updated as to the results.

Also, Lolita, thanks for the heads up about the lengthening v thickening issues in the Bourjois "Oui...non..." mascara...though...

...I have to admit (sheepishly) - I ordered the purple and blue ones today anyway, just cuz I too am a sucker for adorable packaging and naming, but I am glad, considering your advice, that I didn't order the black one, as that is more my everyday color (these will be just for fun) and for everyday I really need thickening rather than lengthening. I think I actually have pretty long lashes (something I have only realized recently), its just that they about halfway to the end, they get SUPER blond so you can't tell how long they really are, and they are also not the thickest on the block.

Sorry to go on and on, but one more thing...

...Having used the NYC Maximum Boost Volumizing mascara again today, I really need to make a plug for it as a great drugstore brand - it goes on really nicely and easily, without alot of wand wiping or post application futzing - which is nice for insanely lazy girls like me. And also, while it doesn't say waterproof anywhere on it, I just got caught in a total downpour, and it really stayed pretty intact without giving me awful raccoon eyes.

Whew! think this post was long enough?!! :P

You're welcome, I hope you're gonna like them.. I'm on a quest for finding the best volumizing mascara also :P
By the way, I use loose powder on my eyelids as a primer.. And my makeup stays intact from morning till late at night.. the colours may fade, but they stay in place!

Post-it results:

Overall assessment: pretty good
Pros: does a good job at preventing my insanely blinky eyes from blinking a mess over my top and bottom lids
Cons: it felt a little weird and sort of constricted my movements, but I think it just takes a bit of getting used to.

I am go glad it worked and I won't ask for a picture of you in all of your post-it note regalia! ;)