Why does eyeshadow fall out under the eyes?
Fallout is loose powder pigment dropping onto the under-eye area - mostly a product and order-of-application issue.
Short answer
Fallout is loose flecks of eyeshadow pigment dropping from the brush or lid onto the under-eye and cheek during application. It's most common with darker, more pigmented, and more shimmery shadows.
Why it happens
Powder eyeshadow is pigment bound with a small amount of binder, pressed into a pan. Highly pigmented and shimmer formulas generally use a looser, less compacted mix so the color and shine show up fully on the lid - which also means more loose particles are available to drop off during blending, especially with a heavily loaded brush.
How to prevent or fix it
- Do under-eye makeup last. Applying concealer and setting powder under the eyes after eyeshadow, rather than before, means any fallout gets removed along with brushing away loose product instead of setting into finished concealer.
- Tap off excess product before applying. Loading a brush and tapping the handle once before it touches the lid removes most of the pigment that would otherwise fall.
- Use a "fallout shield." A folded tissue or a dedicated under-eye shield pressed against the cheekbone catches fallout before it lands on skin.
- Work with a slightly damp brush for very shimmery shadows. A lightly dampened brush picks up more pigment per swipe and drops less loose powder than a fully dry one.
- Sweep away, don't rub, any fallout that lands. A clean fluffy brush or a dry cosmetic sponge lifts fallout off the skin without smearing it into the concealer underneath.