Never put concealer or foundation on your eyelids as a base, it will cause your eye makeup to crease.
Foundations are meant to make skin even and either luminous or matte, depending on skin type, and both of these formulas will do nothing to help you under your eyes. While it doesn't hurt to put foundation under your eyes, it certainly doesn't help. Skip this move and only add concealer and/or corrector under the eyes.
Start with an eye shadow primer: "It's good to set your eye shadow by starting with a primer. This helps to not only hold the shadow in place, but also preps the eyelid, getting rid of discoloration," Cherman said.
Foundation and Powder
This trick isn't a time-saving one, but it can really make a difference in your smokey eye routine. Apply liquid foundation and let it dry. Next, set with your favorite powder. Your eyelids will be primed to handle whatever you put on them and keep oil at bay.
WHAT CAN BE USED IN PLACE OF EYESHADOW PRIMER? The best news is, there's no need to buy another product. Concealer works just as well as any store-bought eyeshadow primer. You want a light, liquid concealer that smooths on lids easily, but isn't too moist.
In the class of makeup best practices 101, makeup artists recommend applying eye makeup first before moving on to face makeup with foundation first and then (and only then) concealer.
You shouldn't apply eye cream to your eyelids or too close to your lash line. This puts you at risk of getting the product into your eyes, which can be super uncomfortable. "As your body temperature rises, the product can travel on its own," explains Dr. Chimento.
Blot before setting.
Once you've applied your concealer and blended it out, take a sheet of your go-to blotting paper and gently press it on your under-eye area, over your concealer. This will help any excess product or lingering oils from settling into fine lines and creases for a more flawless finish overall.
Apply a lighter eyeshadow shade over the lid, up to your transition color. It's good to use a lighter satin or even slightly shimmery color on your eyelids. This will reflect light off your eyelids, which in turn will make the fold above crease seem less prominent.
The Takeaway
While the majority of experts recommend applying a light layer of foundation before concealer, we admit there are instances where you benefit from a concealer first—if you're getting photographed, your concealer shade isn't the same as your foundation, and if you're color-correcting discoloration.
So, do you use concealer before or after foundation? The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
If you have dark under eyes, you need to use a concealer. Face foundations have liquid formulas that might not be suitable for the under-eye area. People who have an even skin tone but need to hide some blemishes can use concealer and skip foundation.
Women often swipe foundation or concealer over their lids to minimize darkness and to create a base for their shadows and liners. This is a bad idea. First off, you never want to put anything on your eyelid that is not meant to go on the eyelid.
Yes, serums, creams and other products can be used around the eyes, but it's important to ensure that whatever you use is safe for that area. Some items have ingredients that may be too harsh to use around the eyes, especially for those with sensitive skin or certain conditions.
“Swap your black eyeliner (especially for day) for brown, navy or plum. Sometimes black eyeliner can be very harsh on mature eyes and draw attention to dark circles and lines around the eye. Experiment with colour for a softer look that compliments your eye or hair colour.”
Opt for a lighter eyeshadow rather than a dark, smoky shade on your eyelids and around the eyes, like Jenna Dewan Tatum. "Highlighting the corners makes eyes look brighter and fresh," says Ahnert. "Use a light color shadow in matte or shimmer to inner corner, lower lash line in outer corner, and the inner lid."
Simply put, it's easier to clean up any eyeshadow fallout from bare skin as opposed to trying to do so without ruining your base makeup. “If it is an eye makeup look that I know will have fallout, then I do the eyes first.
Correct Order of Face Makeup
Foundation. Concealer. Powder. Bronzer/Blush/Highlighter.