What Should I Do If My Eyeliner Smears?

Line your eyes with shadow.

Photo: Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images

Traditional wax eyeliner pencils don’t always hold up. This is especially true if you have oily skin or a bad habit of rubbing your eyes. Eyeliner smears can ruin your whole look, so finding a way to make it stay put may mean the difference between looking hot -- or not.

The Quick Fix

If you happen to glance at yourself in a mirror and notice raccoon eyes, just grab a cotton swab -- there is no need to panic. Soak the tip of the cotton swab in oil-free makeup remover and wipe the eyeliner smear away. If you do not have a cotton swab handy, a tissue should suffice. An alcohol-free toner will also remove the eyeliner smudge. Reapply the eyeliner if necessary, but this time, why not switch to a powder?

Powder Stays Put

Switching to powder eyeliner can put your smearing problems to rest. Eyeshadow makes for great eyeliner, and the color choices are endless. Simply dampen a fine-tipped makeup brush with water and coat the brush with your favorite shade. Line your eye just as you would with the eyeliner pencil. The great thing about using eyeshadow as eyeliner is the ability to overlap colors and fan the shadow out for a sultry, smoky look free of unsightly smears.

Powder It Up

Translucent powder was made for the girl who smears. Well, not really but it does work for this purpose. Dusting on a translucent powder using a fluffy makeup brush will ensure that your eyeliner stays where you want it. Choose a translucent with a slight shimmer or even go all out and choose one with some glitter. Finish-off your look with a mascara of your choice and watch your eyes pop with color.

Waterproof

Waterproof eyeliner is another option for the woman who ends up wearing more eyeliner under her eyes than on the lid line. Using waterproof eyeliner may take some getting used to but once you get the hang of it, you may be hooked. Just keep in mind that you cannot blend waterproof eyeliner, so do not apply it too thickly. What you see is what you get, and when it comes to waterproof eyeliner -- less is definitely more.

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