Make-up recommendations for watery eyes, sparse brows and patchy foundation

[Supersensitive]

Please help me with make up recommendations!

EYELINER - My eyes are always watering. I like black liner in my waterline but it just goes almost instantly and even if I’m having a day where my eyes aren’t watering , within an hour the corners of my eyes and under my eye is all black and smudged . Please tell me there is an eyeliner to solve this? Almost got the wonder skin one after seeing it on tik tok, but found some reviews that weren’t an Ad and it didn’t seem too good going by the comments .

BROWS - they do not grow . I have the tiniest , thinnest bit of hair that I can do nothing with . They won’t grow , I’m 40 and they’ve been like it since my shaving off and drawing phase when I was a teen. I have mastered drawing them but they look too “blocky” - the start of the brow I can’t master - there is no hair there at all. I also can’t seem to get them not looking black ( I’m blonde ! ) because a lighter brown shows up the bits of hair underneath

FOUNDATION AND CONCEALER- I always used NARS and it was perfect but in the past year it just hasn’t looked right. Around my nose is dry , the rest of my face isn’t. My forehead is very smooth ( Botox ) so it glides on there but under my eyes the skin is quite loose .. my main issue is that it goes very dry and patchy through the day. I have been using maybelline skin tint recently which is fine it just doesn’t last and that , with my eyeliner , means I look awful by mid day . Concealer , I’ve tried a few under my eyes - L’Oréal , ELF , NARS and all goes the same. I’ve tried putting it on top of my foundation and under .

My current routine - I use aveeno every night before bed and then in the morning ( as well as pears soap , a cleanser and a toner ) will then put some Nivea on my nose for moisture . Maybelline grippy primer , maybelline skin tint foundation- I use a foundation brush and then go in with a blender - I’ll put some concealer under my eyes , sometimes under foundation and sometimes over the top. My brows I’m using a revolution pencil and an NYX brush stroke. I wear a bit of eyeshadow and some powder highlighter ( I have loose skin on my eyelids and hooded eyes , so it’s not great ) . Mascara I don’t have an issue with. I’ve been using a rimmel eyeliner but it’s no good. I then put a liquid contour stick on my cheekbones , nose and top of forehead and blend and finish with a dusting of NARS bronzer and a loose translucent powder.

Will try to attach photos !

These are the brows !

This could be a skincare problem and your skin is just chronically dehydrated. What products are you using?

If your eyes are watering it means they are dry, use drops or get the hayfever injection.

Use an eyeliner that is waterproof and let it set a bit if you can. Try and prod it into the base of your lashes so it doesn't go too much in the "wet" part. If that doesn't work maybe you will just have to stick to above your eyelashes rather than tight line.

Eyebrows...Use a brow growth serum, get Hair and Me prescription for Minoxidil, take Vitamin D and iron. All else fails get a thyroid test.

Sounds like your day cream is too thick. I wouldn't use aveeno in the day personally. Just use a hydrating toner like the Byoma one and maybe Vitamin C serum. And then let it sink in before using foundation. I don't actually use foundation any more as past a certain age I think it ages you but Erborian cc cream is good. Or a tinted balm. A different primer could be good such as a mattifying one.

Stop using Pears soap on your skin. It will dry it out. If you have to use soap the only one Id use is Dove.

Exfoliate using glycolic acid so the dead skin is removed and your skin care can actually get in and hydrate your face.

I have never found any better eyebrow pencil than the Rimmel original one. I am pale and light auburn hair, and have used the 002 Hazel one for years. To soften them off at the start just take the very edges off the 'square' bit and round it out. Could use a tissue corner or a q tip (or finger). I am also thring castor oil to improve growth - not been using it longer on browse, but its seems to having some effect on lashes.

I use the tiniest amount of foundation and put it on with my finger tip. I found a brush just used too much (and got messy). I don't even use a full pump

Would you consider putting your eyeliner under your bottom lashes instead? I did my waterline for years but found that putting it underneath the lashes from the outside of the eye to the middle, then smudging a bit looked so much better as I've got older.

Brows - I would look at microblading as it'll give them a bit more shape and perceived fullness. I don't have this done personally as I have reasonably decent eyebrows atm, but would definitely consider it when they become sparser.

Foundation - I have dry skin. I never drink enough water, drink too much wine and I'm always borderline dehydrated. I find Nivea Q10 Power SPF15 the best under my foundation. The SPF30 version of the same cream is too thick and the foundation doesn't sit right. I've also tried loads of expensive other creams but imo Nivea trumps all of them, and is so cheap. I use Clinique Even Better and have for years. I'm 46, have Botox, but I also exfoliate in the morning (on the days I wear make up, which is not everyday) using Liz Earles gentle exfoliator on dry skin in the morning.

Invest in a good night cream too. I slather on L'Occitane Ultra Rich plus a bit of Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream when I have dry patches.

Eyeliner- AYU, there are two sorts, not the pencil sort, the felt tip sort. Amazing for water line and doesn't irritate.

Foundation- Revlon Colourstay

Eyebrows- Elf , white one with pencil one end and spoolie at the other.

Just forget about the eyeliner!!! Trying to get it to stay in your waterline is pointless!! Your eyes will react to it as a foreign substance. Same with any powdery eyeshadow especially with shimmer particles.

Lose the browbone highlighter too - both it & the eyeliner in the lower eye are ageing (& the latter makes your eyes look piggy).

For daytime I really like the Elf no budge shadow stick (in Magnetic Pull). If I want to make it more intense for evening, I use Satin Taupe shadow by Mac, applied very very slightly damp.

Eyebrows. I think you're trying to hard & using too much product. And the inner start points of your brows are too close together (also ageing) & too drawn-on/regimented. Less is more.

What really helps pick up any fine hairs is a tinted brow mascara & volumiser. I use Benefit's Gimme Brow, & I use it on both directions to pick up any wee hairs. It makes a HUGE difference! And then I use a fine brow pencil to feather in some strokes where there are gaps, & towards the ends where my brows are starting to vanish.

@DrEmilyCrabtree I am strawberry blonde & pale & am also a fan of Rimmel Hazel! Though I've just started using Nyx Micro Brow pencil in Taupe for finer strokes. I use a bit of both.

For staying power, as well as translucent loose powder, I use a Benefit setting spray.

• Foundation - Armani Luminous Silk.
• Moisturiser - Simple Green Tea with SPF!! Make-up goes on beautifully on top of it.
• Clinique green corrective primer.

Also agree with @RazorsAtDawn that Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish is great for gentle exfoliation. I haven't had facial eczema since I started using it 20+ years ago!

It might be worth looking into getting an eyeliner tattoo done by a good PMU artist. I had this done 5 years ago in my waterline on upper lid and it’s lasted so well. I also got my eyebrows tattooed and that hasn’t lasted at all well and I wouldn’t repeat it. I find the brush stroke pens you can get now that do 2 or 3 hair strokes on brows are great.

that skincare routine sounds really drying and I would upgrade those products first, as NARS is a good brand and should go on nicely.
i would go to a makeup counter re your brows and get them to show you a soft technique for shaping them

First of all, stop using Pears soap. It is possibly contributing to your eyes watering.
Secondly, for your eyes get yourself some sterile eye wipes. I use the Blink ones and put then in the fridge. Used first thing they really have helped my watering eyes. As have Theoloz eye drops.
Finally, Aveeno moisturisers are pretty good. They contain oats which are soothing. I’ve worked in the industry, know every formulation going, and these formulations are great. I know some posters recommend Liz Earle but it makes my eyes water!

for eyeliner, i'd recommend not putting it on the waterline but instead filling in the gaps. I think it's called tight lining. I like rimmel eye pencils.

For your eyebrows, can you afford to get them tattooed? would make a bit of a difference. I have mine done because i couldn't draw and you wouldn't be able to tell. If not, nyx do a good thin pencil.

your foundation and concealer won't sit correctly if your skincare/prep isn't done properly. I'd reccomend looking for hydrating cleansers, toners and moisturises. Soap will be drying you out.

Look on instagram for erica taylor, she's the best for talking make up skills and hydration etc - i swear by her tips

I came to recommend Wonderskin eyeliner. I don’t use on my waterline (just wings on my lids), but have been getting by with the Mac kajal eyeliner that only seems to come in Christmas sets and compromising with other apparently great eyeliners that were just substandard and would rub off or smudge during the day.

I ordered the Wonderskin one alongside their lip stain (which is useless, don’t buy) and it’s amazing - stays put, not smudges. I won’t use another eyeliner again while I can get my hands on that one.

It sounds like your skin care isn’t right either. I went to a local dermatologist who specialises in skin care and she tailored a whole regime for me. I use an IS Clinical face wash and la Roche posay moisturiser, she said I was just irritating my skin with toners and serums, and she was right, my skin is so much better now I follow the regime she recommended. If you can find someone local who does that I’d highly recommend (my lady operates in Manchester and Cumbria).

I think your brows look really nice! Anyway
EYELINER-you need to get to the bottom of why your eyes are watering. Go and see your optician and they can check if you’ve got dry eyes. If so use a plug in heated eye mask every night and moisturising eye drops. This should sort out the watering. Do you put black eyeliner on your bottom waterline? I think this is quite a dated look and I would switch to tightlining your upper lashes and use maybe a soft brown eyeshadow on your lower lashes. I use the product in the photo to tightline my upper waterline and it doesn’t budge all day.
BROWS-try minoxidil on them each evening and they should grow. I prefer a fluffier brow look and I use this Eyeko product each day. It holds the brow in place and adds some volume with little fibres.
FOUNDATION-lots of recommendations here but you need to sort out your skincare routine first. OMG drop the Pears soap! You need some actives in your routine like glycolic acid or tretinoin to increase skin cell turnover.

Unless you get semi perm eyeliner and brows?

Pencil almost always smudges with tears. Look for waterproof gel pot liner applied with a tiny brush or a waterproof liquid liner with “film-forming” polymers. For brows use taupe pencil or a similar shade (not darker like brown or black), and for the front "blocky" issue just try micro-strokes and brush upward. And if your eyes are constantly watery it could also be a dry eye issue.

As I have got older (now 50) I have really focused much more on skincare and much less on makeup and that has worked well for me. I have a fairly elaborate skincare regime aimed at smoothing texture and diminishing redness, and then I just use cc erborian cream instead of foundation and maybe a little mascara. Black eyeliner in particular no longer works on me and in the lower waterline (a) doesn't stick and (b) feels quite ageing, on me at least. I use brown mascara and, if I am using eyeliner, brown only and only on my upper lid to fill in the gaps between lashes.

My complexion is much more even than when I relied on foundation or powder to disguise lines and redness. I used to think skincare and serums were just snake oil and marketing but my skin definitely thinks otherwise!

Also, find a really good brows beautician. Someone who does lamination and dyeing. I went to one because my brows are very fine and terribly sparse at the outer edges and she was brilliant. We didn't do lamination in the end as she thought a subtle dye would be enough and I was very happy with that.

Do tell what your regime is!! I think my skin has become slightly more sensitive post-menopause (I'm 59), plus even though I'm on HRT the hormonal changes mean I get teen-style acne around my chin/jaw every so often!!! Probably exacerbated by the beard hairs that I have to pluck out daily ... it's a never-ending battle!!!

@EleanorMc67 Every morning and evening I use: a cleanser (either micellar water or a glycolic acid exfoliator), glycolic acid toner, HA serum and eye cream followed by (am) Vit C serum and eye cream or (pm) retinal serum and eye cream. Then Trinny's Elevator for my neck and jaw. Then either a peptides moisturiser and UV serum (am) or a heavier night cream (pm). If I'm doing makeup, the cc erborian cream (which also has SPF) over that. I didn't start with all this, though, I started with a cleanser, toner, moisturiser, then an all in one serum from No 7 on a whim, and the rest of it sort of developed over time.

Ah, so you were relatively late to a skincare routine when you started out?

Oh god yes. I think my skin changed radically in my 40s. Up until then even moisturiser just made me really greasy, so I tended to choose very astringent soaps and cleansers to keep it vaguely normal!

Hi OP,

I am a watery eye sufferer. It got so bad last summer. I have it mostly under control now using Blephasol cleanser with lint free cleansing pads and dry eye drops morning and night. Both available on amazon and they have made a huge difference. My eyeliner stays on!

Oh and also, shampoo was a trigger. I have to use a sulphate free one.

Do you wear glasses at all? Opticians will tell you the reason for the watering eyes. I was told by a colleague who had the same,it was blocked tear ducts. Turned out "dry eye syndrome causes watery eyes! I use blephasole lotion for cleaning my eyes,it says it removes all eye makeup...it doesn't. I wear waterproof mascara, Finnish off cleaning with petroleum jelly,(not only made under the Vaseline branding, tube is more hygiene)it was recommended by a plastic surgeon I worked with! Hypermelose eye drops. Mis water or cleansing milk.weekly gentle exfoliator. Eucerine moisturiser with SPF of 30... Make up ranges from max factory,elf Avon... pension,serious budget! I use khol liner just under eye.. pencil in brows,cheap ones from superdrug just as good. The most expensive thing I have is a Givensy lipstick they don't make the colour anymore, and it doesn't last on,you have to keep retouching it. The eyebrows now refuse to grow but the chin hair is attempting to compensate!