How to Keep Your Makeup from Melting This Summer

How to Keep Your Makeup from Melting This Summer Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

If your makeup is melting faster than your chocolate-vanilla swirl soft serve, welcome to the dog days of summer — they’ll be here for awhile. But that doesn’t mean greasy foundation and mascara smudges have to be an undeniable fact of life until September. You might just have to change up your technique a bit. “You change your wardrobe with the seasons and your makeup should change too,” says makeup artist Vanessa Scali, who counts Anna Kendrick and Christina Hendricks as clients. “Textures should be lighter, application should be cleaner, and summer is a great time for multiuse products like sheer foundations with SPF and cream blushes that double as lip color.” Here’s your ultimate guide to making your face last as long as the days do this summer.

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summer, Makeup tips

Eye Do’s Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

Smeared eye makeup is the quickest way to go from “hot” to “hot mess,” so you’ll want to take measures to keep yours in line. As with most makeup, the base layer is as important as the color you put on top of it. “Summerize your skin care,” Scali advises. “Opt for penetrating formulas like gels and serums instead of your winter, highly emollient eye creams. These are highly efficacious and will provide moisture and treatment without the extra slip that makes your mascara and eyeliner misbehave.” Try a gel eye treatment like Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel.

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summer, Makeup tips

Prime Time Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

I’ve always thought eyelid primer seemed like an unnecessary extra step, but the pros I spoke with for this story swear by it. Ever get that stripe of black mascara or eyeliner under your brows after staring at a computer screen all day? “Applying a little bit of primer on the eyelid, followed by a swipe of powder will help from transferring on the brow bone,” says makeup artist Gianpaolo Ceciliato.

Primer also helps shadow stay put, says makeup artist Desirae Cherman. “To keep your eyeshadow from smudging, running off, or just disappearing start with an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion and then use powder shadows to stay on all day.”

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summer, Makeup tips

Powder Room Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

Skip the cream eye shadows, says makeup artist Tsipporah Liebman, who works with cool girl Chloë Sevigny. “In humid weather, powder eye color stays much longer and won't run. If you like a wet look on the eye, find a powder with finely ground sparkle; it gives the look of moisture but won't run and crease as much in the humidity,” she says. “Kevyn Aucoin Loose Shimmer Eyeshadow is amazing for this. It's finely ground and not glittery, so it provides a shimmery look that appears to be wet but is a powder that is applied with a roller, so it's super easy to put on.”

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summer, Makeup tips

Walk the Line Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

Stick with gel or liquid liners that dry quickly, Liebman advises. “The greaser or creamier a formula, the more likely it'll run in humid weather. MAC Fluidline works really well and comes in a wide variety of colors.”

“To help prevent eyeliner from transferring onto the brow bone, after you put on the liner, set it with a black powder. Bobbi Brown makes a great matte black shadow that works really well for this purpose,” she says.

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summer, Makeup tips

Lash Lesson Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

“If you powder your lid, it helps keep mascara from transferring,” says Liebman. “Try Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder for this. It's very light and gives a soft brightness to the eye.” Then use a waterproof mascara like Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant, which creates length and volume without clumps.

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summer, Makeup tips

Lip Service Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

“For lips it’s best to use products that work more as a stain than a creamy texture, which will run,” says Cherman. “Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stain gives the perfect hint of color yet is buildable for a more pigmented look.”

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summer, Makeup tips

A Solid Foundation Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

“When it’s hot and humid out the last thing you want to do is have your foundation sweating off your face. The key is to use a foundation formula that is more powder based than liquid,” Cherman explains. “The powder helps to absorb the excess oils. They come in many types such as pressed powder, liquid to powder, and mineral makeup.” Try L’Oréal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup, which dries to a matte, powderlike finish, in place of your usual liquid foundation.

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summer, Makeup tips

Touch and Go Wendy Rodewald-Sulz

The truth is, no makeup looks perfect for hours on end without a touchup (this is the reason why makeup artists often accompany their clients to award shows, or at the very least stock their clutches with touchup essentials). Even with the right makeup, “Maintenance tools are important too,” says Scali. “Blotters for humidity, moisture for dry climates, and prefilled swabs for serious touchups.” I'm partial to Muji’s ultra affordable Facial Blotting Paper Linen ($2.25 for 100 sheets!).

If all else fails, take Ceciliato’s sage advice: “Try to stay in a cool place.”

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summer, Makeup tips

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