12 Tips for Melt-Free Makeup This Summer

The ultimate guide to setting makeup in summer

When summer rolls around, the heat and humidity can wreak havoc on your carefully applied makeup. The blazing sun and rising temperatures are not forgiving, and keeping your makeup intact can feel like an impossible task. But fear not! With the right products and techniques, you can maintain a flawless, streak-free look from June through August. Whether you’re heading to a beach party or just navigating a sweltering day in the city, these 12 summer makeup secrets are your best bet for a long-lasting, gorgeous face.

1. Wear a primer

A primer is the key to long-lasting foundation and color. All you need is a pea-size dot of a lightweight, oil-free formula. Apply it before you apply foundation and concealer. A favorite is Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer.

2. Use a tinted moisturizer

Whatever you do, avoid liquid foundation; it can become caked on, or worse, melt altogether. Tinted moisturizers with SPF are lightweight enough that they won’t make you look like a clown. Check out ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Skincare Foundation, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with tinted color correction!

3. Apply powder

You should use a setting powder only in your t-zone. That way, you can maintain a summer dewy look. Lightly dust some loose powder on your nose, chin, forehead, and upper lip. We recommend By Terry Hyaluronic Powder for an extra hydrating set.

4. Be picky about your concealer

The wrong concealer can leave streaks across your face if you start sweating. Opt for densely pigmented cream concealers, and apply to blemishes with a small brush. We love Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer for perfect placement and staying power.

5. Check out multipurpose products

If you don’t want to look overdone, then use a multipurpose product that you can apply to your cheeks, lids, and lips for a simple put-together look. Try ILIA Multi-Stick Cheek & Lip for great colors with endless wearability.

6. Use oil blotters

Because the summer heat can make your skin excessively shiny, you should use blotting papers throughout the day to keep your skin looking nice and matte. Check out Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers that absorb oil without disturbing makeup.

7. Apply lip stains

To prevent your lipstick from bleeding, use lip stains instead of fussing with lipstick and liner. Try Benefits Cosmetics Benetint Liquid Lip + Cheek Blush Stain for another stain that pulls double duty.

8. Go sheer on the shadow

When sweat and powders mix, the results aren’t pretty. Luckily, sheer cream eye shadows tend to cake less in hot weather. You’ll love Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow that’s longlasting, creamy and lightweight.

9. Apply liquid eyeliner

Kohl pencil eyeliners tend to smudge and melt in the heat, but liquid eyeliners stay put. Try L’Oreal Paris Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner that is clump-resistant.

10. Choose waterproof mascaras

This is a no-brainer. Heat and sweat can easily smudge and fade regular mascara, but waterproof mascara can withstand all the summer heat and beach waves. A favorite is Maybelline New York Define-A-Lash Lengthening Waterproof Mascara that’ll stay put.

11. Skip the powdered blush

Once again, powdered blush and sweat don’t mix. The combo often leaves you with streaky skin. You can avoid this pitfall by using a gel blush like Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream.

12. Choose a lip balm

While lip gloss is great to wear, it can get runny and sticky in the sun. Instead, wear a lip balm with a high wax content. That way it won’t melt in your bag or on your mouth. A popular balm is Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15 that protects your lips from the sun’s harmful rays.

BONUS: Wear your hair up

If your hair is down, you’re just asking for sweat and oil to accumulate near your face. So by wearing it up, you reduce the risk of excessive moisture disturbing your makeup.

These colors don’t run

Summer makeup requires a different strategy to combat humidity, sweat, and sunshine. With these hot-weather makeup tips, you’ll maintain your look effortlessly and stay cool all the way to Labor Day. Embrace these secrets, and enjoy a summer of beautiful, melt-proof makeup.

Reference

1. “7 Melt-Proof Makeup Tricks To Know For Summer,” Byrdie, May 25, 2014.
2. “13 Pro Secrets to Sweat-Proofing Your Summer Makeup,” Good Housekeeping, May 26, 2016.
3. “How to Not Sweat off All Your Makeup This Summer,” Teen Vogue, June 4, 2015.
4. “The Rules of Melt-Proof Makeup,” Glamour, June 23, 2014.