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It’s one of those things that every beauty lover dreads. You’ve perfected your look, taken some awesome Instagram shots and you’re headed out ready to turn heads. But suddenly you realise that, horror of horrors, your makeup has begun to pill. Unfortunately, it’s a surefire way to turn a glowing, airbrushed look into a flaky disaster. So what exactly is going on – and how can you stop it from happening?
According to experts, there are actually a number of different explanations for this frustrating phenomenon. One of the most common, it turns out, is incompatibility between your pre-makeup routine and your foundation. Sometimes, the wrong primer or moisturiser can react badly with other products, preventing things such as foundation and highlighter from sticking properly to your skin.
But that’s not all. Apparently, the problem can sometimes lie with the formula itself – particularly if you’ve been cutting corners and opting for a cheaper brand. With more expensive, long-wearing foundations, the effect will have been thoroughly tested to ensure that pilling does not occur. But cheaply made formulas aren’t likely to have been put through the same rigorous processes, making them more likely to peel and flake over time. And even if you have managed to avoid all of these potential pitfalls, you can still fall victim to pilling simply by applying your makeup in the wrong way.
So what’s a girl to do? Well, the first step is to check the labels on your products. Essentially, you want to make sure that the ingredients in your moisturiser or primer are not hugely different to what’s in your makeup, reducing the risk of the products interacting with each other in a negative way. In other words, don’t try and layer an oil-based foundation on top of an oil-free primer, or vice versa.
Finally, when it comes to applying, avoid slathering on too many layers as that can prevent products from drying – and cause them to flake. So stick to a light layer and, if you want more coverage, choose a product that offers that instead. At the end of the day, you will get a much better effect with a lighter touch, and be less prone to pilling too.
While there is no magic wand that will help you wave goodbye to this troublesome issue for good, these tips should help you avoid any unexpected makeup disasters – and leave you looking your best.
