It’s Not You, It’s Your Eyelid: Why Your Liner Skips Out on You
by Jenna Rosenstein
You know that scene in Mean Girls, where The Plastics stand in front of the bedroom mirror and criticize their weird hairlines, bad morning breath, and sucky nail beds? If I was in that scene, you would see me with one eye shut, whining about my oily eyelids. (Hey--don't laugh. They constantly sabotage my makeup.) Last week, I learned from makeup artist Chrisanne Davis that the right eyeliner could change everything. Let me explain.
See more: Find the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape
It turns out that choosing the right liner isn't just about your skill level, budget, or formula preference. You have to look at your entire complexion. "Ask yourself: do you have an oily lid or do you have dry skin?" says Davis. "It's the key factor in determining how long the liner is going to last without being retouched."
See more: The 10 Best Drugstore Anti-aging Products
Those with dry skin can use all the oil-based pencils and cream liners they want, she says. But oily people like me need to take a quick look at the ingredients list--basically treat choosing eyeliner as we would face lotion--and seek out formulas that have water listed first. "If you're oily, immediately edit down your liner choices to gel- or water-based," says Davis. "Or use a cake liner: the powder sops up the excess oil." My current favorite is Mally Beauty Ultimate Performance Ink Liner--I swear, it lasts all day. Even on my sucky eyelids.
More from Allure:
The 13 Prettiest Date-Night Hairstyles
34 Hair Ideas for 2014
50 Beauty Products to Try Before You Die
Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger
