What Is Snail Trail?

Snail trail is slang for one of the most common makeup mistakes: applying a product in a line or shape and forgetting to blend the edges. The term is typically used for under-eye concealer that's been placed but not diffused, leaving a lighter streak running down the face, or for highlighter that's been drawn on in a stripe without being softened. It's called a snail trail because the unblended line looks like the shiny path a snail leaves behind. Snail trails are most visible in harsh lighting, natural daylight, and photos — which is why they're the first thing a professional makeup artist checks before calling a face finished. The fix is always the same: go over the edges of the product with a clean, slightly damp sponge or a soft brush until the line disappears into the surrounding skin. Snail trails are usually the result of rushing or not checking the face in multiple lighting conditions. Professional makeup artists will often step back from the client and look in daylight before finishing.