How to Apply Long Lasting Makeup for the Summer

Co-authored by Luca Buzas

Last Updated: November 3, 2021 References

Seasons change, and so should your makeup routine. Summer weather can cause sweat, which can lead makeup to smear or come off easily. Luckily, a few tweaks to your regular routine can leave your makeup looking flawless all day. Opt for a solid foundation, sheer lips and eyes, and waterproof varieties of eyeliner and mascara. When you're done, you'll have a stunning look that should withstand the heat and humidity.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Setting a Solid Foundation

Wash your face with your regular soap or cleanser before applying any makeup. Makeup will stay on a clean face longer. This will also help remove any sweat that's already stuck to your face.
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Apply an oil-free moisturizer before putting on makeup. Moisturizing can help your skin stay hydrated throughout the day. Healthier skin will retain makeup easier. Go for an oil-free moisturizer and apply it to your face in the morning before adding your makeup.^{[1]
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- Check any products you're buying to make sure they're catered to your specific skin type. If you have oily skin, for example, opt for a moisturizer aimed to help with that.
- As you want to protect your skin from the sun in the summer, look for a moisturizer with built in SPF for optimal protection.
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Opt for a cooling primer. Not only does primer make makeup go on easier, it can help you stay cool. The less you sweat, the less damage is done to your makeup. Look for a primer that hydrates the face and helps cool down skin.You can find these primers online, at a salon, and in some department stores.^{[2]
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- You can also try adding a splash of a naturally-cooling essential oil, like peppermint, to keep your face cool. Just make sure to dilute any essential oil you use with a carrier oil, like olive oil, before applying it to your face.
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Choose a liquid foundation. Liquid foundations hold up much better under the heat than powder varieties. In addition to opting for a liquid foundation, look for a sheer and light brand. This will minimize sweat and keep your makeup intact longer.^{[3]
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- Consider a matte finish, as matte tends to reduce shine.
- Look for liquid foundations labeled as "long lasting," as these may stay on easier during the summer months.
Only apply a light layer of foundation to keep your face cool. Instead of applying foundation across your face, focus on covering things like blemishes and discoloration.
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Conceal lightly. If you use concealer, only use a small amount. Focus on areas that aren't covered adequately with foundation, such as discolored spots or blemishes only.^{[4]
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- For best results, use a tinted concealer.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Doing Your Eyes and Lips

You can purchase waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow at most salons and department stores. These items are vital if you want to keep your eye makeup from running during warm days.^{[5]
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Before applying eye shadow, opt for a smooth primer over your lids instead of eye cream. This helps minimize creasing. It also provides something for eyeshadow to stick to. In the heat, it can be difficult to get eyeshadow to adhere naturally to your eyelids.^{[6]
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Use cream eye shadow. In general, the less eyeshadow you use the better during the summer. Go for a light layer of a cream-based shadows. Creamy eye shadows tend to stay on better than powder varieties.^{[7]
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- If you're comfortable, you can ditch the eyeshadow altogether and skip straight to the eyeliner.
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Use a lip liner first. Before applying your lipstick, go for the liner. Lip liner helps your lipstick look neater, which can help your makeup look intact in the event of sweat or smudges.^{[8]
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- It's a good idea to add a lip balm before applying a liner, as this will help lip products better adhere to your lips.
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Keep your lip makeup nude. Big, bold colors don't always look great in the summer months as they can look heavy. Opt for soft nude shades that mimic your natural lip color. You can also try invisible lip liner or lipstick, which makes your lips look smoother without altering the color.^{[9]
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- Make sure your choice of lipstick matches your lip liner.
- Go for matte formulas over creamy glosses/formulas, as mattes look less shiny. Finding lipstick labeled as "long lasting" can also help it stay on despite the sweat.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Adding the Finishing Touches

Bronzer shows up more dramatically in the sunlight, so don't go overboard with contour lines. Keep your bronzer light and natural by applying a light layer to the places where the sun naturally hits your face. Dust some bronzer on places like your forehead, cheekbones, chin, and nose.^{[10]
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Highlight only where it's needed. Too much highlighter can cause caking and creasing. Only apply a light layer of highlighter to areas where it's needed, like to cover circles under your eyes.^{[11]
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- For best results, use a tinted concealer.
Powder is generally not a great choice for the summer months. Instead of using a powder blush, add some cream or gel blush to brighten up your cheeks.^{[12]
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Spray or dust on a setting powder or spray when you're done with your makeup. This will add some extra protection to help prevent your makeup from smearing or caking in the hot sun.^{[13]
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What kind of eyeshadow is best for very humid environments?

Devorah Kuperland
Makeup Artist
Devorah Kuperland is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Glam By Dev, a New York City-based business specializing in bridal, special events, and editorial campaigns. Devorah has over five years of professional makeup consulting experience and her work has been featured in New York's Bridal Fashion Week.

Devorah Kuperland

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Try using a cream, stick, or liquid eyeshadow. They have a really nice consistency and a lot of times they're waterproof.

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How can I make my makeup last in the summer?

Luca Buzas
Makeup Artist & Wardrobe Stylist
Luca Buzas is makeup artist, wardrobe stylist and creative coordinator based in Los Angeles, California with over 10 years of experience. Luca focuses her work on photo shoots, films, commercials, and web content. She has worked with brands such as Champion, Gillette, Disney, and The North Face and with celebrities such as Magic Johnson, Julia Michaels, and Chris Hemsworth. She has a Bachelors in Wardrobe Styling from Mod'Art International Hungary.

Luca Buzas

Makeup Artist & Wardrobe Stylist

Expert Answer

The key to wearing makeup during the summer is setting spray and powder. The summer heat will affect your makeup quickly, so I use a lot of setting spray and powder to make it stick.

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How do I apply long-lasting base makeup?

Community Answer

First primer, then a waterproof or water-resistant foundation. Then you can use setting spray.

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Warnings

Your makeup may get a little sweaty during the day, so you might want to carry around eyeliner, powder, bronzer, and extra mascara with you in case you need a touch-up.

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