Makeup Guide: How to Make Your Eye Makeup Last Longer

Eye makeup is almost always an essential when it comes to any cosmetic routine. Most women make wearing eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara as part of their daily regimen. Eye makeup can become problematic when you're wearing it practically all day. Smearing, smudging, and budging are common problems associated with wearing eye makeup for more than a few hours. Because I generally have oily skin and wear contacts (which makes my eyes water more than usual), my eye makeup rarely stays. Over the past few years I've picked up a few tips for keeping eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara on my eyes for the entire day. So the next time you put on makeup, check out these helpful tips.

Eyeliner:

It's obvious that eyeliner is a girl's best friend. No matter what color or shade you choose, eyeliner can really bring out your eyes. I usually go with a matte black or brown eyeliner. The only problem is eyeliner rarely stays on my eyes for more than an hour due to the fact my eyes water from my contacts which causes my eyeliner to run or smear off. I desperately wanted my eyeliner to last longer and I came up with a great idea.

All you need is a few Q-tips. Simply grab a Q-tip and use one of the cotton ends to swipe it over the areas you're going to be applying your eyeliner too. This includes your upper and lower lids, as well as your inner lid. This will get rid of the oil on your skin before you apply your eyeliner and will make your eyeliner last much longer. You can even use this tip after you've showered or washed your face. It works in any case! And if you need to reapply in the middle of the day or night, bring some Q-tips with you to get a fresh surface.

Eyeshadow:

This part of the makeup routine is probably the most essential. Whether you're more into matte neutrals or glittery colors, eyeshadow is top priority. If you're like me, then eyeshadow is your best friend and worst enemy. I'm in love with my neutral eyeshadows in rich browns, but after wearing eyeshadow for a few hours, it smears horribly. I start to look like a raccoon with my eyeshadow smudging across my eyes and sides of my face.

There are a lot products out there that help keep your eyeshadow on your eyelids. One of my favorite products is Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This is literally a miracle product and for around $25, you can have flawless eyeshadow all day. You simply swipe the product over your eyelids, let it dry, and then apply your eyeshadow. It completely prevents your eyeshadow from moving and it also makes the color even richer.

Mascara:

Because we always envy men with their long, dark eyelashes, mascara is one of our best friends. A good tube of mascara can easy enhance your eyelashes and make your eyes stand out beautifully. Mascara can be your worst enemy though. If you use cheap mascara, something as simple as a rainstorm or watery eyes can make your mascara run down your cheeks (which can be horrible on your wedding day or any other special event!).

A great way to keep mascara on your eyes is by using a waterproof formula. This will make sure your mascara doesn't run. You can also use mascara primer (such as Urban Decay's mascara primer potion). This will make sure that it's sealed to your eyelashes and won't run off. Finally, you can also sit in front of a fan on "low." This will dry your mascara on your eyes and also help keep it waterproof.