Heat-Proof Your Makeup! Insider Tips for a Long-Lasting Look
Consider this your no-melt makeup guide! We've got expert tips and product recommendations to keep your makeup looking fresh from sunup to sundown. Image: iStock
Summer in the South packs a double whammy of heat and humidity that can make your makeup melt faster than a popsicle on the pavement. Don’t sweat it! We spoke with the experts at The Cosmetic Market for summer makeup tips (and their favorite products) to help you achieve a flawless look that stays. Think light layers, creamy formulas, and products that multitask as hard as you do.
Flawless Makeup Starts with Skincare
Just as every masterpiece starts with a high-quality canvas, a flawless makeup application starts with great skin. “To keep makeup fresh during the summer months, it is all about skin prep,” says Mary Kathryn Hudson, VP of Sales and Marketing at Therapy Systems in Nashville — the umbrella company for The Cosmetic Market and Private Edition. “Keep skin hydrated, but potentially adjust your moisturizer to something a little lighter.”
Oily skin especially needs a product that leaves skin looking glowy, not greasy. Mary Kathryn likes Therapy Systems Oil Free Moisturizer in the warmer months for hydration without heaviness.
For mature skin or skin that naturally leans dry, The Cosmetic Market makeup artist Leslie Moore recommends layering on moisturizing products rather than slathering on one heavy cream. Look for toners, essences, and even foundations and powders with hydrating properties to add to your routine.
“Nothing is more important than skin,” Leslie says. “The rest of the makeup doesn’t make sense if the skin’s not right. Try this Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Tonic to add an extra layer of moisture.”
Make SPF Your BFF
Don’t think of SPF as a fair-weather friend — think of it as your BFF who shows up for you all year long. Sunscreen should always be the final step in your daily skincare routine, so you want one that plays well under makeup. To avoid the dreaded “white cast,” or a blotchy, spackled look, Mary Kathryn suggests Caudalíe Vinosun Protect, a weightless mineral SPF 50 that gives the skin a “slightly filtered” look.
Mary Kathryn is also loving Good Weather Skin for everyday wear. The skincare-forward ingredients deliver a beautiful finish. “It is so gorgeous and glowy without being oily, and it gives you a fresh-faced look,” she describes.
Forgo Heavy Foundation
While nothing beats a fresh face for summer, we know some occasions require a little more polish. However, before you apply a layer of heavy foundation, consider two things: texture and technique. A little goes a long way in the summer months, so try to lighten up. Try tinted moisturizers and serums that nourish the skin while creating the illusion of a flawless face.
Leslie likes the HydroPure Tinted Serum from Jane Iredale for its sheer coverage and slight plumping effect, thanks to ingredients including hyaluronic acid. The Super Tinted Hydrator from U Beauty is another pro favorite for its ability to deliver a wash of color that looks like your skin — only better!
If you can’t break up with your heavier foundation, use a light hand and a good brush, like this one from Trish McEvoy, to apply it only where you need it most. “A dense brush will push the makeup into the skin for an airbrushed finish,” says Leslie.
Choose Creamy Consistencies
When it comes to eyes and cheeks, think sheer washes of summer colors that melt into the skin — not off it. “Use creams all day every day,” says Leslie, who sometimes combines two or three products to get the look just right. “They absorb rather than sit on the skin.”
Mary Kathryn agrees and says she turns to cream blushes in seasonal shades of coral and bronze to create a look that’s both sunny and sophisticated. Her go-to for looking radiant? The cream Stick Blush from Therapy Systems.
“Two things I am going to be wearing all summer are the Therapy Systems Stick Blushes in Companion or Initial Spark,” she says, adding that they are both summery shades of coral. “They go on so nicely and wear well.”
To complete the look, glide on a neutral cream eyeshadow for a “one and done.” The 24-Hour Shadow and Liner from Trish McEvoy in shade Bliss has earned a prized spot in Mary Kathryn’s makeup bag. “It stays put and is so versatile,” she says. She is also fangirling over RMS Eyelights Cream Eyeshadow for the wide range of colors and the matte and shimmer finishes.
“These stay in place so well without creasing,” Mary Kathryn adds.
For a fashion-forward look, embrace the summertime blues. No, these aren’t the electric blues of the ’80s. These hues fall more into the navy, gray, or silver-blue category and are a perfect way to make eyes pop.
“The look is really easy to achieve with an eyeliner — and keep everything else simple,” advises Mary Kathryn. She likes Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eye Liner in Arabian Nights, an inky dark blue, for nailing the trend in a way that’s not over the top. When the occasion calls for something more dramatic, the Jane Iredale Pearl Eye Shadow Stick in Riviera brings a smoky blue heat.
Lighten Up Your Lips
Kiss your long-wear lip stains bye-bye, and get ready to let your lips shine in coral, pink, or nude glosses. “Gloss is like the perfect white tee,” says Leslie, and adds that it isn’t as drying to the lips as the opaque or matte stains. “You don’t need a mirror or brush to apply it, and it always looks good,” she says.
To get a perfect pout, she starts by lining lips with a nude pencil to create the illusion of fullness, and then adds gloss in a shade that complements the cheek color. “That’s a sure-fire, rapid way to look pulled together,” she says.
Mary Kathryn’s summer favorite is Therapy Systems Lip Gloss in Mimosa, a gorgeous light coral (that plays well with her above-mentioned coral blushes). Or she grabs Good Weather Skin Daily Lip Sun Gloss in Ripe Berry, not only for its juicy color, but also for its SPF that keeps lips soft and sun-protected.
Fake a Golden Glow
One of life’s cruel ironies is that nothing makes you look better than a sun-kissed face, but nothing is worse for your skin than too much of the sun’s harsh rays. Luckily, there are plenty of products to help you fake that just-back-from-vacay look.
One buzz-worthy bronzer that lives up to the hype is Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Crème, which imparts a beautiful, natural “I’ve been at the beach all day” glow. Use it all over, or just “toast the edges” in areas where the sun naturally hits.
For a look that’s less “tanned,” try the “slightly sunburned” trend by applying a warm-toned, terra cotta cream blush across the bridge of your nose and onto your cheeks to mimic the look of a day at the beach without the damage.
“Therapy Systems Cream to Powder Blush in Nude Stiletto is great for this trend,” says Mary Kathryn. “I also like the Jane Iredale Colorluxe Liquid Blush in Cinnamon Girl.”
Set It and Forget It
Once you’re ready to put your best face forward, there’s one final step: set it and forget it. Setting sprays are having a moment for a reason — they work! They can help your makeup stand up to heat and humidity and are less drying to the skin than a setting powder, which can settle into fine lines and wrinkles.
“We love RMS Radiance Lock Setting Mist,” says Mary Kathryn. “It helps to hydrate and maintain radiance while keeping makeup in place and is not sticky.”
Apply a quick spritz before heading out the door, or, if you want a little extra insurance, Leslie offers a no-fail hack.
“Setting spray doesn’t have to be just a topper,” she explains. “I like to mix it into concealer or other products to make sure makeup stays put.”
Rotating your makeup seasonally should be as routine as rotating your seasonal wardrobe. Embrace one or all of these tips to look cool and chic, no matter how high Mother Nature cranks the heat!
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Bonny Osterhage
Bonny Osterhage is a professional journalist with more than 25 years of experience in both print and digital media. An avid fitness fanatic, when she isn't exploring the next trending topic, Bonny can be found cycling, running, and leading classes at SolidCore. Find more of her work at Mind Body Green, The List, Business Insider, and more.