Eyes Before Foundation or Foundation Before Eyes?

Jan 21, 2012

Carmella P.

I used to do foundation first and just dust fallout away with loose powder (which I find is wasteful in product and can sometimes make you look like a reverse-racoon in photos, sometimes the fallout doesn't completely dust off) but upon further exposure to youtube and to the MUA's at MAC I have seen them do the eyes first (especially if doing a dark smokey eye) to avoid re-doing any foundation/concealer due to fallout. I have since took this into practice including applying makeup to myself and I have found that it is better in terms of time management as I usually take longer to do the eyes than foundation/countour/highlight/set etc. As I grew deeper into my youtube guru addiction, I have found the likes of Lisa Eldridge and the Pixiwoo sisters doing foundation first. That made me question my method of doing eyes first. But I would never change it, in fact I always explain this to clients that it is better because I can avoid doing double work and can clean up fallout easily. What do you do first, eyes or foundation?

Jan 21, 2012

Angela s.

I use to have the same issue with fallout. I always use to do my foundation 1st, but lately i've switched to doing foundation 2nd and eyes first and I like it alot better. Its way easier to remove the fallout when you dont have foundation on. But in the case of cream shadows I just do my foundation first. The one thing I get confused about is are you suppose to do foundation or concealer 1st? Cuz I feel like everyone says something different about that as well.

Jan 21, 2012

Joyce S.

You can always place a tissue underneath your eyes to catch any fallout. Or place loose powder at the same area to catch the fallout, and brush them off when you're done.

@Angela - (liquid) foundations first so you can gauge how much concealer you'll need afterwards, assuming your foundations provide coverage. But if you're using powder/mineral foundations, apply concealer first.

Jan 21, 2012

Landrey S.

Ive always done eyes first to avoid fall out etc. Whether it be myself or someone else its awesome to watch it all come together with the application of the concealer/foundation/contour/highlight at the end.

Jan 21, 2012

Mindy R.

It depends for me. If I'm doing a more dramatic/colorful eye look I do my eyes first, it's just a lot easier. The powder trick plus a fan brush is nice to dust away fallout as well.

Jan 21, 2012

Angela s.

@Joyce- Thanks hun I mainly use liquid or Loreals magic mousse foundation. But concealer is the only thing I ever really questioned if its suppose to go before or after foundation. So thanks for the help :)

Jan 21, 2012

Carmella P.

thank you all for your answers. it's nice to know how other people can do things differently.

Jan 21, 2012

Carmella P.

@Jordan, yes I have tried the powder under the eyes. I did this method when I first started doing makeup on clients and my looks didn't come out as flawless in photos. I used every kind of loose powder imaginable. One that I used a lot was MAC's invisible powder (before MUFE and Youngblood HD came out) which cast a white film in flash photos-so never again MAC invisible! Not to mention that the loose powder is not always flattering and that no matter what amount I put there are some pieces of fallout that just wont budge.

Jan 21, 2012

Natalie B.

For me it depends on if the look is going to be more natural or more dramatic!!! On my clients, I like to always do the foundation first and just wait to do the concealer.. that way if I do get fallout (which I normally do not since I place a tissue beneath their eye), I can just wipe it away and put the concealer on!!! I like for my foundation to have time to set, so that is why I do it first.

Jan 24, 2012

Kendra S.

It depends of what I am doing. If it is a dark eye and I know that a mess might happen + I don't want to clean it up and take off additional foundation/concealer I just put on. I might opt for putting on the foundation after the eyes. 

Feb 1, 2012

Andrea S.

I prefer doing eyes first on myself because I wear a lot of eye makeup on a day to day basis. On clients it totally depends on the look

Mar 19, 2012

Bianca T.

It's all up to personal preference. I always do my face before my eyes, but I've never had a problem with fallout (except for the glitter in Urban Decay shadows, but that's fixed with tape).

Mar 19, 2012

Theresa K.

I keep meaning to do eyes first, but I can't break the habit of foundation first. Then I end up swearing if I have to clean up an undereye mess.

Mar 19, 2012

Elizabeth V.

eyes first than foundation its alot easier to do that way.

Mar 20, 2012

Amanda J.

Why are you guys having so much fallout? O.o Dayum. I do foundation first. I never really have a problem with fallout. Unless it's cheap ass eyeshadow... I think fallout has a lot to do with your eye primer too. But if I do have fallout, I make sure I use a fan brush. Those suckers whip it off like nothing. It doesn't blend it in, it takes it off. And if I'm doing someone elses makeup I blow it off. But foundation first. always. It's all technique and the products you use.

Mar 20, 2012

Amanda J.

Oh, and I agree with everything Jordan L. said. He pretty much nailed it. I don't understand why everyone is making it so complicated. >.< I never have this big of a problem with fallout. haha Oh dear, I feel bad for you guys.

Mar 20, 2012

Deanna R.

I usually do my foundation first because I feel like its easier, but now some of you have me wanting to experiment and try to do my eye shadow first for a change.. lol.

Mar 20, 2012

Lisa S.

Amanda, do people mind that you blow on them? I don't think I could do that! Why don't you use a fan brush on other people like you do for yourself?

Mar 20, 2012

Courtney A.

I generally always do foundation first and I never really have a problem with fallout. Occasionally I will and this is usually do to the eyeshadow I'm using, If I use one of urban decay's glittery shadows for example it's all downhill from there lol

Mar 20, 2012

Shelley W.

Eyes first and any fall-out I use scotch tape to pick it up and then I follow with my primer and foundation. 

Mar 20, 2012

Amanda J.

@Lisa S. I don't know why I don't use a fan brush on everyone else. But they don't tend to have a problem with me blowing on their face because it smells good, lol. >.< I have really good oral hygiene. My yellow teeth are just hereditary... haha But yeah, I guess I should use the fan brush on everyone else, huh? I don't typically have to use them at all though, because I hardly ever have fallout... :P

Mar 20, 2012

Victoria D.

I've always, always, always, done eyes first! It's just so much easier to get rid of any fall out of correct mistakes without having to worry about foundation or anything.

Mar 21, 2012

Amoure J.

It really depends on the look I'm doing. If they eye is pretty simple then I'll do my face makeup first , however if they eye is more demanding I'll do my face makeup second. A fan brush is designed to do a lot of jobs but often times fall out still sticks to the foundation and you end up having to wipe it away with a makeup wipe of sorts. There are plenty of ways to avoid fall out including: using under eye strips, or a tissue to prevent a huge mess. Blowing on your clients face is a definite no no though. 

Apr 21, 2012

Stacy N.

Yes, it is all on how you do it. I do my eyes before my foundation to avoid ruining my face makeup if there was any fallout that came from the eye makeup. :)

Apr 21, 2012

Vesna V.

It really depends. If I'm doing something simple I'll apply foundation first, but if I'm creating something smokey I'll apply my foundation last. :)