How to Avoid Makeup Creases

A handy guide to getting an impeccable, crease-free look from your makeup

Co-authored by Yuka Arora and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 14, 2022 References

Using makeup to hide blemishes and even out your skin tone helps you create a flawless look. However, creases around your mouth, eyes, and nose can ruin that picture-perfect effect and make your foundation seem cakey. Fortunately, taking good care of your skin and using the right makeup products will keep your skin looking smooth all day.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Prepping Your Skin

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1
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry. Use cold water and a mild face cleanser to gently rid your skin of dirt and oil. Pat your face dry with a towel to remove the water gently. ^{[1]
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Research source}
- Oil and dirt sit on top of your skin and make your makeup look more creased.
- Exfoliate your skin once a week to get rid of dry and flaky skin.
^{[2]
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Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Use your fingers to gently rub in a face moisturizer all over your skin. Pay special attention to your laugh lines, around your eyes, and the area under your nose. Let the moisturizer soak into your skin for at least 30 minutes before you apply your makeup to smooth out the creases in your face. ^{[3]
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Research source}

Tip: Even if you have oily skin, it’s important to moisturize to keep your skin healthy and smooth.

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3
Prepare your skin with a hydrating primer. ^{[4]
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Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Dab a pea-sized amount of face primer onto your fingers and gently rub it into your face. Pay special attention to your laugh lines and the area under your nose to make them look and feel more smooth. ^{[5]
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Research source}
- You can find hydrating primers at most beauty supply stores.
- Primer helps to close your pores and keeps your skin looking smooth to create a good base for your makeup.
4
Pat setting powder into the lines on your face. Pat a fluffy brush into some translucent setting powder and carefully dab it onto your laugh lines, eye area, and underneath your nose to absorb any excess oil that is on your skin. Wipe away any excess powder with your brush. ^{[6]
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- Make sure you use translucent powder so that there is no product buildup on your skin.
- Setting powder absorbs grease and oil from your skin and makes your makeup application more smooth.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Applying Foundation and Concealer

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1
Use a liquid matte finish foundation. Look for a foundation that says “matte finish,” “photo finish,” or “long-lasting.” These foundations are made to dry with fewer creases on your face and stay matte as the day goes on. ^{[7]
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Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} ^{[8]
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Research source}
- Dewy foundations have a tendency to hold in moisture and crease more, and powder foundations tend to sit in the lines on your face and make creases more noticeable.
2
Put on your foundation with a blending sponge for lighter coverage. Dab a blending sponge into a small bowl of water to get it damp. Squeeze out the majority of the water. Pick up a pea-sized amount of foundation and use the sponge to dab it over your entire face. ^{[9]
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- Blending sponges spread out foundation better and provide a lighter coverage than makeup brushes.
3
Apply less foundation to the lines in your face. As you reach the areas around your eyes, mouth, and nose, use a light touch to put on your foundation. Try to avoid going over those areas more than once with your blending sponge. ^{[10]
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- Building up a ton of foundation on your face makes it more likely to crack or crease over time.
4
Blend in a liquid concealer with a blending sponge. Dab a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your foundation underneath your eyes and on any areas you have blemishes. Use your blending sponge to gently tap the concealer into your skin. Try not to put more than 1 layer of concealer onto any areas to avoid product buildup. ^{[11]
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- Liquid concealer blends better than powder concealer does, so it’s less likely to crease.
- It can be tempting to add multiple layers of concealer, especially on any blemishes. However, this can make your makeup crease and draw attention to those areas.
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5
Set your makeup with a setting powder. Use your blending sponge to pick up some translucent powder. Tap the powder over your whole face, paying special attention to your laugh lines, the area under your eyes, and the area around your nose. Gently swipe off the setting powder with a stippling brush to remove the excess. ^{[12]
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- Setting powder locks in your makeup and removes moisture to prevent your makeup from creasing over time.
- Finish your look with blush, eye makeup, and lip color.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I stop my concealer from creasing wrinkles?

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Yuka Arora is a self-taught makeup artist who specializes in abstract eye art. She has been experimenting with makeup art for over 5 years, and has amassed over 5.6K Instagram followers in just 5 months. Her colorful and abstract looks have been noticed by Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Kat Von D Beauty, Sephora Collection, among others.

Yuka Arora

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Try putting moisturizer and primer on your face before you apply any concealer to help fill in any fine lines or wrinkles.

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Question

How do you keep makeup from settling into fine lines?

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Yuka Arora is a self-taught makeup artist who specializes in abstract eye art. She has been experimenting with makeup art for over 5 years, and has amassed over 5.6K Instagram followers in just 5 months. Her colorful and abstract looks have been noticed by Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Kat Von D Beauty, Sephora Collection, among others.

Yuka Arora

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

In addition to moisturizing and using a primer, go with a liquid matte finish foundation. The label might say “matte finish,” “photo finish,” or “long-lasting” and will dry with fewer creases on your face and stay matte as the day goes on.

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Tips

The less foundation and concealer you use on your skin, the more smooth it will look.

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Keeping your skin clean and hydrated helps your makeup go on better and stay longer.

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Everything takes practice, and it might take you a few tries to get these methods right at first

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[1]

[2]

Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist

[3]

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[5]

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How to Avoid Makeup Creases

Steps

Prepping Your Skin

Applying Foundation and Concealer

Expert Q&A

Tips

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References

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