I have pretty hooded lids and whenever I do eyeshadow, it either disappears completely when my eyes are open or it creases really badly by the end of the day. I've tried setting it with primer and different formulas but nothing seems to work. Any tips from people dealing with the same thing?
my lids fold pretty heavily when my eyes are open and i was constantly frustrated watching my eyeshadow vanish the second i looked up. the key thing i figured out is that you've gotta work with the space you actually have visible, not the space that exists when your eyes are closed. apply your shadows higher up than you'd normally think - basically aim for where your brow bone is, because that's what people see. use a matte shade in a slightly deeper tone on the area that gets hidden, and save your shimmer or lighter shades for the part that stays visible. this creates depth even if half your work disappears.
the creasing issue usually comes down to too much product or using formulas that are just too slippery. a good eyeshadow primer helps but you also want to consider the actual shadows you're using - cream shadows tend to shift more on hooded lids, while powder formulas with a bit of grip tend to last way longer. don't layer too thick either; build it up gradually instead. setting spray at the end makes a real difference too, just a light mist over everything.
also experiment with your eyeshadow application technique itself. some people find that using a damp brush instead of a dry one helps the shadow stick better and last through the day without creasing as much. and honestly, sometimes it's about accepting that your eyeshadow will look different on you than on someone with open lids - that's just biology. focus on making what's visible look good rather than trying to recreate looks designed for different eye shapes.
The trick is placement rather than formula. Put your shadow where it'll actually show when your eyes are open - that usually means higher up on the lid than you'd normally apply it, almost into the brow bone area. You're essentially compensating for the fold by working above where it disappears. Test it with your eyes open in the mirror as you go, not closed.
For the creasing issue, primer helps but the real fix is using less product. Hooded lids trap moisture and product, so a light hand actually lasts longer than piling it on. If you're used to a full lid of shadow, you might be surprised how little you actually need when it's positioned right. Cream shadows can work better than powders here because they don't settle into creases as easily, though some people find the opposite - it depends on your specific skin.
One more thing: if your lids are really heavy, skip the full lid look entirely and do a cut-crease or just a liner with maybe a wash of color on the inner third. Sometimes working with your eye shape beats fighting it.
I'd actually push back a bit on the idea that it's purely about placement or formula - creasing and disappearing are two separate problems that need different solutions. The disappearing part, yeah, placement matters, but the creasing suggests your primer or base isn't holding up, and that's where most people get stuck. You can put shadow exactly where it'll show, but if it's breaking down by afternoon, you're still frustrated.
The real issue is that hooded eyes create extra friction and movement. When you blink and your lid folds over itself repeatedly, regular primers sometimes just can't hang on. What actually works is using a *thicker* primer base - think of it more like a cream or putty consistency rather than those thin liquidy ones. Apply it and let it set for a solid minute or two before touching anything else. Then, and this is the part people skip: use an eyeshadow formula that's slightly grippier. Cream shadows or those hybrid cream-to-powder ones tend to hold better than loose powders on hooded lids because they've got actual binding agents. If you do use powder, pat it on rather than swiping, and consider a setting spray after you're done.
For placement, work higher than feels natural - aim for the mobile part of your lid that you can actually see when your eyes are open. But also think vertically: take your shadow slightly higher up toward your brow bone than someone without hoods would. You're essentially working with less visible real estate, so every millimeter counts. The other thing: skip overly thick application. Ironically, piling on shadow makes it more likely to crease because there's more product to move around with each blink.
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