How to Stop Your Makeup from Settling into Your Fine Lines (for Good)
Main Image – Victortorres/Stocksy
You’ve finished your makeup, your hair’s done and you’re ready to take on the day. But an hour later, the fine lines you spent ages cleansing, hydrating and plumping are back with a vengeance thanks to your makeup making a comfy home in there.
So how on earth do we stop this from happening? Because what was once a flawless finish can become riddled with accentuated fine lines and we’re just not here for it.
Don’t worry, makeup artist and co-founder of Pilar BLLaC, Pilar DeMann is here to share her tips and tricks for how to avoid the dreaded fine line makeup look. Get ready to be flawless for longer!
Where are the most common areas for fine lines?
“The most common areas for fine lines are around the eyes and on the forehead,” explains DeMann. It’s usually around facial features that move the most so some people also experience fine lines around the lips too.
Why does makeup tend to sit in fine lines?
Imagine fine lines as slightly indented tracks. “Fine lines are little creases in the skin,” says DeMann. “Product can settle into these places because they are just slightly deeper. Or, the product used sits on top of the skin and the crevasse doesn’t hold the product so you create what looks like a crack.”
Image – mellisandra/Adobe
What should you use before applying makeup to prevent it from settling in fine lines?
DeMann says this is where primers come in. “It creates a bond with the skin and makes a smoother area for the makeup to adhere to,” she explains.
Sometimes overloading fine lines with your skincare regime can encourage makeup to gather and sit in fine lines. So, you could also use a lightweight moisturiser in the areas where you experience fine lines and your usual, heavier-weight one everywhere else.
How do you stop your makeup from settling in fine lines?
“Use very sheer, lightweight formulas,” DeMann advises. “I like to avoid full coverage foundations over the entire face too as I like to be able to ‘see’ skin. I use full coverage only where I need it – deep corners of eyes, around the nose, on the chin. The rest can be covered with something very sheer.”
She also says you don’t have to apply makeup on certain areas at all if you’re sneaky. “You can also use foundations and concealers in strategic places to give the illusion of a smoother complexion without applying it in your fine line areas. For example: place product in the very inner corner of your eye to brighten.”
A cream bronzer, which isn’t typically applied around the eyes, is great for evening out the skin too and should be lightweight enough not to settle anywhere else.
Image – Marevgenna/Adobe
Should you use a setting powder to stop makeup from gathering in fine lines?
“Anything that is heavier, like a powder, will settle especially over time,” she warns. Use a setting spray instead. “You can start with a primer, let that hold, apply your foundation or concealer, let that settle, and top with a setting spray. If I use a powder, I am very careful and do not use it around the eyes.”
My absolute favourite setting spray is Vieve Invisiveil Setting Spray (£28) which presses pause on your makeup and keeps it from settling in fine lines.
Some people also prefer to steer clear of liquid and cream highlighters as these can sit in, and therefore accentuate, fine lines underneath the eyes.
The takeaway
So your main secret weapons are a primer and a makeup setting spray.
There is a common misconception that a setting powder will help makeup stay put and not encourage it to gather in fine lines, however, DeMann says it could actually do the opposite. Remember not to overload the area with products and try to go for lightweight formulas where you can.
Meet the expert
LA-born Pilar DeMann is no stranger to Hollywood life. Her roles in the box included makeup artist, producer, and manager. Leaving her roots, Pilar moved East with her family and rekindled an old flame, makeup. Unlike most with her 30 years of experience, this makeup maven is shunning the celebrity circuit and sharing her expertise with the rest, real-world people of all ages.
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