The Expert Guide to Making Your Makeup Last in Summer

January 22 | 5 minute read

Words by Izzy Wight

When it comes to beauty, the line between sweaty and glowy begins to blur (or rather, smudge) around the 30-degree mark. Heat and humidity generally don’t play well with makeup, which means sliding lipstick, shiny foundation and melted mascara are often symptoms of a Southern Hemisphere summer.

The good news? There are plenty of hardworking, heat-proof products and techniques out there – you just need to know where to look. To avoid a season of S.U.L.A. (sweaty upper lip alert, as Wild Child’s Poppy Moore would say), we tapped our beauty industry experts for their top shine-free makeup tips.

Prep and prime

“To ensure your makeup stays on in the summer heat, you need to prime and set everything,” says Steve Kassajikian, Head of Global Artistry at Urban Decay. “Use the All Nighter Setting Spray in layers when applying your base, or spray it on your brush/sponge before blending it out. You can also mix a pump of the All Nighter Face Primer in with your foundation to ensure long-wear power. Another tip if you experience creasing in your concealer: use the Eyeshadow Primer Potion under the eye after skincare prep to avoid creases.”

For Emily Patterson, Senior Marketing Manager at Polite Society, summer makeup is all about the right skincare. “Let me tell you – prep is everything! Always start with your usual summer skincare routine (preferably using lighter lotion formulas) and finish with sunscreen,” she says. “Even something as simple as a moisturiser (yes, even if you have oily skin) creates a nice base to apply your makeup.”

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Sunscreen is only one form of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply as directed.

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Less is more

While it is possible to achieve (and maintain) flawless full glam in soaring temperatures, hot weather is also a great opportunity to take a more natural approach. Jane Richardson, Global Artistry Director for NARS, suggests using bronzing drops before applying foundation. “Any opportunity where I can get warmth and radiance prior to foundation application works to help me create makeup that feels lightweight and natural,” she says.

“Simply mix the desired amount of drops into your moisturiser and apply all over the face and neck, or apply directly to the high points of your face after moisturiser and blend,” Jane says. For the eyes, she suggests a thin layer of concealer and powder to prep, followed by a long-wear gel liner. And lips are simple – just hydrate and protect with a balm or treatment before applying a longwear lip pencil or matte lip colour. “Keep in mind any sheer, glossy type finishes won’t last as long,” Jane says.

Steve reiterates the importance of making sure your skin prep is fully absorbed before applying makeup “to avoid transferring.” To create the perfect sweat-proof eyeshadow, he recommends mixing the 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil with a little Eyeshadow Primer Potion to create “a crease-free, long-wear cream shadow.”

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Set yourself up

“One of the best tricks to summer-proof your makeup is setting it with the perfect powder,” Emily says. “To lock in your foundation and concealer, add a thin layer of Polite Society’s talc-free, vegan hyaluronic acid-infused More than a Pretty Powder Loose Setting Powder. Apply it to your undereye and T-zone for all-day wear. This powder locks everything in place while blurring texture and imperfections without ever looking cakey or dry.”

Jane agrees – powder is a hot weather makeup must. “I am a firm believer in loose powder being used and would even recommend dusting it through the brows before pencil application and the lashes before mascara application (please keep your eyes closed) if you don’t have a waterproof one,” she says.

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Sweat-proof staples

If you’re in need of some new products to achieve a sweat-free summer glow, start by updating the essentials. Steve recommends looking for formulas with longevity – like the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder and 24/7 Glide-on Pencils. For cheeks, Polite Society’s Polite Pops Powder Blush Sticks are Emily’s hot-weather favourite – “they’re blendable like a cream, but instantly transform into a soft, diffused powder finish”.

Jane recommends the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation for its natural-looking, 16-hour coverage, the Air Matte Lip Colour for its buildable, comfortable, long-lasting formula and the Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist “as it locks in hydration for an impressive 24 hours… as well as ensuring that the skin has a beautiful, radiant glow”.