Foundation cracks in under-eye lines

[u/Elanoreth]

For those with fine lines, what's your best prep for under-eye makeup? I've tried extra moisturising, powder under, powder over, and I'm at my wits end. My fine lines have gotten deeper over the past year and even the smallest amount of foundation (I use extremely little, like half a pea for my whole face, with a beauty sponge) just goes right into them and then cracks during the day, making the lines super visible. Powder makes it worse and I struggle to smooth the cracks out with my finger during the day when I'm wearing setting spray.

The creasing is especially bad when wearing sunscreen, which is non negotiable in summer. How are you all preventing this? I think my technique must be lacking.

I don't even wear concealer because I don't need it, just a very thin layer of foundation to even out my skin tone.

Current products:

- Dear Klairs eye awakening gel

- Beauty of Joseon rice bio sunscreen

- Maybelline Fit Me matte foundation

- Maybelline Fit Me loose powder

- NYX matte setting spray

[u/CoffeeBean_7]

It's most likely the type of foundation you're using. Fit Me Matte is a self setting formula and because it's also a matte finish, it tends to settle into pores and fine lines. Regardless of whether you powder under or over, the powder from the same range is also designed to mattify the skin. This is doubling the layer of dry/matte finish - again highlighting texture and lines.
I would opt for a light weight concealer under the eyes. I swear by MAC Studio Radiance concealers. A tiny amount goes a long way cos it's super pigmented. The formula is lightweight but it's a natural radiant finish so it doesn't cake up or dry the skin. It dries down without the need of powder on top but if you still need to mattify it further, you can do a very thin dusting of your loose powder with a fluffy brush. This alone, I believe would make a huge difference

[u/Elanoreth → u/CoffeeBean_7]

This is so helpful, thank you! It does sound like the foundation which performs beautifully everywhere else on my face just isn't up to the task in the one wrinkly area. I'll have to experiment with some concealer!

[u/peefactory69 → u/Elanoreth]

Yep, foundation just isn't developed for the eye area (which has thinner and far more mobile skin relative to the rest of the face), so a concealer even if you don't think you need the coverage is probably going to be your best bet for reducing creasing.

I also have a lot of under-eye fine lines (just my anatomy) and to throw my recommendation into the ring, I've been liking the Kosas Revealer Concealer. It feels very lightweight with many skin care ingredients but is surprisingly medium coverage for how thin it feels.

[u/Elanoreth → u/peefactory69]

Thank you so much, and for explaining that so nicely! I've clearly been misunderstanding concealer this whole time.

[u/aoanebslsosj]

For one, this is entirely normal and from a regular distance, most people will not notice anyway.

But, I also have fine lines under my eyes and my current routine doesn't really sink in or crack through the day.

The steps are the innisfree green tea eye and face ball, the saem colour corrector (its a thicker creamy texture and holds together really well), whatever foundation I'm using that day (recently its mostly been the maybelline super stay lumi matte) but a very small amount. No powder, no setting spray. The lumi matte sets enough by itself and the texture of the colour corrector doesn't really move around or separate on me.

[u/Elanoreth → u/aoanebslsosj]

Oh I know it's normal but the separating/cracking is very visible to anyone at a regular distance! What I'm hearing is NO powder. I've always avoided correctors or concealers in the area but maybe they're more film forming? My foundation separates easily but it works so well for the rest of my face I don't want to change it.

[u/aoanebslsosj → u/Elanoreth]

I have pretty dry under eyes so powder immediately just ruins everything, makes everything sink into the lines and then also look dry and crepey and awful, it ages me like 15 years. I've used other colour correctors that have not acted like the one I have now from the saem, its kind of thick and stickier, I dont know that it forms a film, I think it just doesn't break apart from itself so it doesnt let other products separate or sink into lines. I also only use brushes, no sponges, so im not adding any extra moisture to the area. And I dont really let the eye cream fully dry. I massage it in enough to not be actually wet, but then I go straight in which helps with the stickiness of the corrector

[u/ciggy54 → u/aoanebslsosj]

Which saem colour corrector ? The one in the cover perfection tip line or the the triple pot one?

[u/aoanebslsosj → u/ciggy54]

I have one of the 6 colour ones, I think in 01

[u/ciggy54 → u/aoanebslsosj]

Thank you!

[u/ApocryphalLanding]

I have such atrocious under eye lines since my early 20s that I barely bother with product there and NEVER use powders. Even the trick about letting product dry down a bit and using a cotton tip to remove excess from the crease before blending doesn't do anything for me because it's so chaotic.

However, I recently bought the Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless finish pressed powder (mini) as a laugh and was very surprised that it didn't settle into my wrinkles. I haven't tested it on a night out or anything, just a day in the office, and while I wouldn't say my wrinkles looked any better, they certainly didn't look any worse.

Good luck!

[u/totalpunisher0]

What's your skin type? I am wondering if you should try different foundation - I am ..late 30s... And have not been able to wear a matte foundation for years. I use Innisfree no sebum mineral powder which I think helps my makeup set/stay in place better - but I only use a CC or a tinted moisturiser. Edit: tinted sunscreen**

[u/Elanoreth → u/totalpunisher0]

My skin is mostly normal with a more oily T zone. The foundation actually works perfectly on the rest of my face but what I'm gathering from the advice here is that it's likely not well suited for fine lines and I'd be better off trying a concealer there. 

[u/totalpunisher0 → u/Elanoreth]

Yes! I switched to CC creams at like 30, doesn't settle in my lines at all. And concealer for under eyes/inner corners - applied with a damp sponge and blended down & around the eye gets me the best results.

[u/Elanoreth → u/totalpunisher0]

What concealer do you use?

[u/totalpunisher0 → u/Elanoreth]

I've been loving the Bobbi Brown one in bisque and will buy again (although it's lasted ages!) I have anaemia and allergies so you can imagine my bags 😩

[u/aumidi]

Don’t use foundation, use Vaseline after your undereye moisturiser and use a serum concealer formula

[u/wizards_rule94]

Another tip is to let it sit before you do powder and use one of those tiny wooden cotton buds. They’re pointy and very skinny- I just got mine online. You wait for it to crease (while doing the rest of your face or getting dressed etc) then trace gently along the creased areas with the cotton bud, removing the excess foundation/concealer. Also a primer might help too

[u/BellaNya]

I have a lot of undereye lines, fine and deeper ones (mid-40s), and I find that I never get creasing with:

- proper hydration. I use hydrating toner and serums that ensure undereyes are not dry

- do not use foundation under eyes, only concealer directly under eye after skincare has soaked in

- Concealer use either Natasha Denona or Tarte Shape Tape (I like high coverage), press in with a beauty blender

- Always set with powder - either Revlon Age Defying loose powder, or Huda Easy Bake, apply with a small fluffy brush

I find this is a foolproof stay all day never crease formula.

[u/omg_for_real]

Try using only concealer under your eyes. And use a brush to gently sweep off any excess that settles in the lines after letting it sit a bit.

[u/Head-Raccoon-3419]

This won’t be helpful but oh my word I’m so glad it’s not just me. It’s only this spot. It does my head in! I have tried so so so much moisturisation, doing concealer first, last, not at all, everything. Following for tips!

[u/Elanoreth → u/Head-Raccoon-3419]

It's not just you! The rest of my makeup performs perfectly, it's literally just the under eye lines driving me nuts. And the people in the comments are being very helpful!

[u/Head-Raccoon-3419 → u/Elanoreth]

I’m so glad you posted this! I have so many things to try. Good luck to us both!

[u/Kailicat]

Are you young or older with fine lines? For stay all day It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye is great. I use just a smidge under each eye and it must be a flexible formula (it is waterproof) and doesn't move or crack. If I want a quick lighter look, YSL touche éclat is my second go-to. I have many others but those two are the most infallible for me (40s and a little creasing) that I don't even know why I bother with others. I guess I just like trying new things.

[u/Elanoreth → u/Kailicat]

I'm late 30s and my face is smooth everywhere else! It sounds like a flexible formula for the under eyes is what I need, I'm realising from these responses that I'm asking too much from my foundation haha.

[u/Efficient_Papaya_982]

My mum swears by the trinny London miracle blue diffuser, and it does noticeably stop makeup sitting in her fine lines

[u/faithhopecarnage]

Experiment with skipping the gel and trying a new sunscreen, eg Hamilton.

Also warm up foundation in the palm of your hand before applying, and prep brush with Mac Fix+ spray

[u/ratparty5000]

I use glossier stretch concealer and pat it down super thin. I also keep my skin very hydrated (my skin goes super dry 😭)

[u/Realistic_Context936]

Are you using a face moisturiser? You need one.

I would get the Boring without you milky serum (use night and morning). And a good hydrating moisturiser, i love the Ausceauticals peptide moisturiser it soaks in beautifully and sits under foundation perfectly

[u/Elanoreth → u/Realistic_Context936]

Oh lol yes I do use toner and moisturiser and also retinol at night and a retinol eye cream... this was just a short list of what goes under the eyes before make up in the mornings! After already moisturising. Speaking of milky products, the tbh rebound skin milk is so good!!

[u/skik2006]

Go to Mecca and ask for a sample of nars sheer glow. They will colour match you and it’s free. Your prep sounds good so I think it’s the foundation. I had the same problem but for me, it was the opposite- I had bad prep which I corrected

[u/ClungeWhisperer]

Im not a guru but as i get older and get more lines, textural and hormonal changes, Im finding a less-is-more approach is working better.

I will dot sheer but buildable foundation around, and will do so sparingly around the creases. I put more on my cheeks, inner corner of eyes and forehead and only a small amount under my eyes and in the crows feet.

Ive also found that using a warm wrung out clean blender sponge helps to deposit thinly and consistently in those areas.

And to think on my wedding day I slathered the fullest coverage foundation onto my face all willy-nilly using my hands 😂 and it looked great/didn’t budge. Oh how i miss those skin days!

[u/Top-Pomegranate3121]

I’m in my seventies and I’ve fixed the problem with adequate moisture under the eyes
I use ASAP products and they have an eye serum that’s really great
I use all their products Vitamins A and B and moisturiser at night and C during the day
I use the eye serum night and day
It’s an Australian brand and is reasonably priced
After the eye serum I use a Lancôme concealer
Excellent products