5 Tips for Wearing Eye Makeup When You Have Oily Eyelids

People with oily eyelids know the struggle of applying eyeliner only to have it smear less than an hour later. If it’s not your eyeliner smudging, then it’s your eyeshadow creasing and let’s not forget the mascara that transfers onto your top lid, ruining your eye makeup. There’s a surplus of guidance and expert tips when it comes to addressing oily skin, especially when it comes to makeup application but the same can’t be said for oily eyelids. 

If you find yourself constantly dealing with smudging eye makeup and nothing seems to work, it’s time to put an end to that. Below, we're sharing five tips to help your eye makeup last when you deal with greasy, oily lids.

Makeup Tips for Oily Eyelids

Long-lasting eye makeup for your oily eyelids doesn’t have to be a fantasy. Choosing the right products, avoiding the wrong ones and using the right application methods, together, can all help to make a big improvement in the end result. Check out our five expert tips below to help your eye makeup last on your oily eyelids.

1. Don’t Prime With Concealer

Priming your eyelids with concealer and powder is a common beauty hack, but it’s not a great idea for those with oily lids. Stay away from putting something so emollient like a concealer on your lids and instead opt for invisible primer. Another option is to go in with liners or eye kohls as a base because they adhere well, and then pack eyeshadow on top of them. It's the way many pro makeup artists do it.

To try this suggestion, grab an eyeliner to prime the lids, such as the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in the shades Bronze or Ivy. A shade that’s similar to your skin tone will help create the perfect, lasting base for any eye makeup look. 

If you’re using a waterproof liner to prime your lids, the experts at L'Oréal Paris recommend applying the liner to the lid and immediately blending it in with your fingers or a brush to avoid patchiness and streaks. Once you’ve successfully blended the waterproof eyeliner, you can continue with the rest of your eye makeup routine.

2. Be Wary of Your Eye Creams

If you have oily eyelids and your mascara isn't staying on or your eyeshadows are creasing a lot, it could mean that something around your eye area is too rich. For an easy fix, use the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum in lieu of a thick, creamy treatment. This quick absorbing eye serum instantly depuffs. It's also equipped with a roller ball applicator that serves as a little massager for your under-eyes. Opting for an eye serum with a lightweight finish over a rich, emollient cream can make a huge difference for your eye makeup’s lasting abilities.

3. Carry Blotting Papers

To minimize excess oils on the go, keep blotting papers at arm’s reach. Instead of redoing your eyeshadow, just dab your eyes with a blotting paper throughout the day. It'll absorb all the oil off your lids, but it'll keep your shadow intact. Similar to the way those with oily skin blot their face to keep excess oils at bay, the same can be done for your lids.

4. Try Waterproof, Smudge-Proof Formulas

A long-wearing, infallible formula is always going to help when you don’t want your makeup to smudge. As we mentioned, using a waterproof, pencil eyeliner as a primer is a great start but the rest of your routine can follow. 

If you have an affinity for sharp, winged eyeliner, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner with its 24-hour wear and waterproof, smudge-proof formula. It’s the perfect answer to your oily eyelids dilemma and it comes in shades like Green, Blue, Gray and Brown.

For smudging mascara, if switching up your eye cream doesn’t do it, consider a waterproof mascara. For voluminous lashes, we love the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara or the L’Oréal Paris Air Wear Air Volume Mega Mascara Waterproof, Lightweight. If wispy, long lashes are more your speed, try the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Waterproof Lengthening Mascara. 

5. Avoid Cream Formulas

Much like the way concealer and eye cream create an emollient environment for your oily lids and exacerbate issues like smearing, so can cream eyeshadow. A long-wearing, waterproof, formula may be the outlier but using a waterproof eye pencil as a base and applying powder eyeshadow on top is single handedly, the best hack for oily lids. If you’re looking for a long-wear eyeshadow, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow for waterproof and crease-resistant wear.

Next: 6 Makeup Tips For Hooded Eyes 

Written by: Reece Andavolgyi, Photo credit: Chaunte Vaughn