A photo from my vacation in Mexico
Hola, CF readers! I’ve just returned from a wonderful week in Mexico, where July temperatures can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit and beyond! Therefore, I have some first-hand experience to share with you all about wearing makeup on hot and sunny days. Whether you’re on a tropical vacay yourself or enduring the heatwave at home, continue reading for some tips to prevent makeup meltdown.
1. First Things First: Protect Your Skin.
No post about cosmetics for warm weather would be complete without a sunblock mention! We should all be aware of the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, so if you haven’t already, please check out SkinCancer.org to learn about protecting yourself. These days, there are just no excuses – lather on the sunscreen! And remember to reapply every two hours or after sweating or going in the water.
- My personal favorite:Aveeno Sunblock SPF 30 For Face. I cannot rave enough about this product. I have fair skin and it did not burn once during my week in Mexico. The lotion maintained its protection through sweat and water, plus it never felt greasy.
- Also try:Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 30. This is a big CF favorite – it gets rave reviews across the board and offers extra protection from harmful UVB rays.
2. Invest in Primer.
To ensure a long-lasting makeup look in hot weather, it is essential to begin with a good base. After allowing your sunscreen to soak in, apply a thin layer of makeup primer – this will create a smooth skin surface and give your makeup something to adhere to, allowing it to stay all day.
- My personal favorite:Make Up For Ever HD Primer. This product goes on super smooth and lasts forever. If you don’t feel like wearing foundation, just wear this over your sunblock for smooth, practically pore-less skin.
- Also try:L’Oreal Magic Perfecting Base. If you’re on a budget, this primer is available at your local drugstore, and has received decent reviews on MakeupAlley. It’s great for filling in pores and creating a smooth, luminous canvas for makeup.
3. For Your Face, Think Light and Sheer.
Just as you don’t pile on thick layers of clothing during the summer, you should also refrain from piling on on heavy layers of makeup – it will likely melt right off, or worse, clog your pores. Ditch the heavy concealer or cakey powders and opt for sheer foundations and blushes.
Tinted moisturizers, such as CG Smoothers are a great option for summer, many even include extra SPF protection, too. If you want more coverage, try sheer foundations, such as COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation, which contains a hint of cooling cucumber water.
When it comes to blush, save the powder versions for when the temperature drops. Instead, try cheek stains or cream blushes. I have combination skin that can be dry or sometimes oily and I find cream blush to be perfectly moisturizing without feeling greasy.
- My personal favorite:Mary Kay Cream Blush. I adore the Cranberry shade – it’s flattering on my fair skin, but also looks great on my friends who have more of a natural tan.
- Also try:Tarte Cheek Stain and Almay Smart Shade Blush. The former is a well-reviewed Sephora pick, while the latter is available at drugstores and adjusts itself to your natural coloring for a flattering shade.
4. Stock Up on Waterproof and Long-Lasting Eye Makeup.
Even if you’re not going to spend the day at the pool, it’s a good idea to break out waterproof and long-lasting eye makeup formulas during the summer because they will last all day even when you’re sweating.
First up is waterproof mascara – a total essential if you’re going to be doing any swimming. It’s very likely the mascara you normally use is also available in a waterproof formula, so it should be easy to find the best one for you.
- My personal favorite:COVERGIRL LashBlast Waterproof Mascara (in Very Black). I put this mascara through the ultimate test in just 24 hours: It lasted through an early morning downpour, a very splashy boat ride, and a swim in the ocean. When I made it back to dry land that afternoon, this mascara was basically the only thing left on my face, and I still received a compliment that my eyes looked good. How’s that for a recommendation?!?
It’s also useful to stock up on some long-lasting and waterproof eyeliner. If you’re an eyeliner addict like myself then they will definitely be used year round.
- My personal favorite:Maybelline Unstoppable. This eyeliner will last through just about anything, and comes in an easy-to-apply pencil.
- Also try:COVERGIRL Liquiline Blast. This line has received great reviews, and includes more shades than just your basic black or brown.
Bonus Tip: Leave your eyeliner stick in the freezer for a few minutes before applying. Not only does it feel refreshing, but you will be able to create a more defined line.
5. Protect Your Pucker, Too.
Lipgloss addicts, you’re not gonna like this: Really shiny lipgloss can actually increase your chances of getting sunburned lips. So if you’ll be out in the sun, your best bet is to stick with lip stains and lip balms. As an added bonus, lip stains also last much longer than glosses.
- My personal favorite:Stila lipstain. This versatile stain comes in many flattering shades and also doubles as a cheek stain.
- Also try:COVERGIRL Outlast lipstain or Revlon Just Bitten. Both are more affordable options in comparison to the Stila.
After applying the lip stain, keep a tube of lip balm handy all day to reapply for protection – and make sure you find one that includes SPF!
- My personal favorite:Burt’s Bees. This balm is all natural and includes SPF.
- Also try:Chapstick. An oldie but goodie – this stuff moisturizes your lips and provides SPF 4 protection.
My Final Advice:
As always, it’s definitely not necessary to follow all of these tips verbatim. As with any makeup or fashion advice, you’ve got to make it work for you. However, don’t forget the most important step – sunblock lotion, for your face and body. That one is just non-negotiable.
Your Thoughts?
What do you think of this melt-proof makeup advice? Will you be adding any of these tips to your beauty routine? I’d love to know how they work for you, so be sure to share. Also, what are your favorite summer products? I always learn so much from your comments so be sure to leave one!
i love using aloe vera gel as a make-up primer because it hydrates my skin yet also keeps it slightly matte….plus it’s cheap too! tinted lip balms are also great for summer, it’s not too heavy and has the right amount of moisture too š
I go super simple for summer makeup. š Just foundation, blush, mascara and eyeliner. Its an easy 5 minute beauty routine. Even though it’s not very hot in Washington, I feel like summer requires less makeup. š Once I get more freckles/tan I’ll probably end up skipping the foundation.
I’ll have to start remembering my chapstick a little bit more often though!
This is what I don’t understand: you’re supposed to put sunscreen on every 2 hours, so you have to keep reapplying it on top of your makeup? Doesn’t that turn into a smeary mess or at the very least, doesn’t your makeup just wipe off?
I’m trying to take care of my skin this year and I haven’t been wearing makeup since I found out you have to keep piling sunscreen on your face all day. I used to think that you could just put a layer of it on in the morning, put your makeup on top of it and not have to worry unless you sweated/wiped it off. I like to wear blush and mascara but I really don’t want to have to wash my face every couple of hours if I’m spending time outside!
thanks for the tip jnnfrchn! I will definitely try using aloe vera gel as a primer. I imagine it would be very refreshing
Casey– I love the primer idea! As someone who never wears make up when being outside in the heat, but always wishes she could, that’s a great tip! (Wish I had it, along with the rest of these tips when I was in Israel!) I will be sure to try out the primer idea as soon as I get a chance to pick some up!
Great post! I don’t own a primer yet, but I think I should really invest in one right now, especially in this heat! š Also I reccomened Evian Facial Spray if you ever feel like you need to cool off, it’s great to put in your bag when you’re out in the sun and is so refreshing! Sephora sells them for $12 for two bottles! š
my best advice? urban decay’s deslick in a tube. seriously. i’ve taken it to music festivals and concerts and for outdoor work and on days when it’s been 110 degrees. it keeps your face basically matte. sometimes it doesn’t rub in easy and for a few minutes it feels like you can’t move your face that well, like you applied a really thin mask, and it’s totally overprice, but SO WORTH IT.
I love Burt’s Bees! They’re tinted lip balm is amazing! I’ve always wanted to try the Revlon Just Bitten.. I’ll have to try some out.
Urban decays primers are awesome too. I also use their deslick in a tube. It’s great for touch ups to absorb oil/sweat that accumulates on your face.. In fact I also use the deslick makeup setting spray before and after my foundation and I think it helps a lot.
Hey, FYI – regular Chapstick does not moisturize lips. It’s basically wax and will trap moisture (or lack of it) under its layer of petroleum. It feels nice, but there’s nothing in it to moisturize! The original formula (what most people have) has a “hydrophobic base that forms a barrier to prevent moisture loss and to protect lips from the drying effects of cold weather and wind, which cause chapping” (from Chapstick’s website) – it doesn’t let what’s outside in, but that includes moisture.
Such good makeup tips! Im so getting that sephora HD primer tomorrow. looks awesome.thank you once again CF š
Great tips! Personally, I go super light on makeup in the summer…if I wear any at all. For those who want to, I suggest tinted moisturizer, mascara, bronzer or blush, and lipbalm. can’t go wrong š
@Sloane- I’ve talked to some friends about organic/all-natural/animal friendly products and I will definitely try to come up with an article in the near-future. I just want to do some more research and test out the products so I can give honest recommendations. I just want you to know that I definitely take these comments into consideration when brainstorming article topics!
Great post! Summers in the city are killing me! As for lip glosses and lipsticks, I just can’t deal with them in the summer when I’m constantly wiping the sweat off my face. I use Tony Moly lip stain in Cherry Pink, which is fabulous! Tony Moly is a lower end cosmetics brand here in Korea. I don’t know if you can find it in the States (maybe online?), but I prefer it to the CG and Revlon options. I’m going to have to stock up before I come home next month! I’ve heard good things about Stila’s, but it’s on the pricier side.
Ahh, thank you for this article! I’m getting ready to go on a two week trip out west with my boyfriend and almost forgot that I needed to buy new waterproof mascara and eyeliner. I hadn’t thought about using a cream blush, so I’ll probably try that when we go, too. And I’ve been looking into a primer for awhile, so I’m definitely going to take your recommendations into consideration.
It’s great to see a fellow UC girl on CF, go Bearcats!
Thanks for this beauty tips. I need a sunscreen lotion…
These tips are great! I just got back from a warm vacation too and when you’re out swimming or tanning on the beach, you don’t want to have to worry about smearing makeup. I use covergirl lashblast waterproof mascara too and it’s never failed me! Great article, Casey!
I love this post! It’s true that makeup should be much lighter over the summer…who can stand all that glob on your face in warm weather? I usually wear eyeshadow all the time during the other seasons, but I haven’t worn it once this summer!
I liked the part about lips the best; one product I just tried is CoverGirl’s new natureluxe gloss balm. It goes on smooth like a balm but has a nice touch of color! It also has SPF 15 on it. First I put a moisturizing lip balm then the gloss balm on top. I tried mine in no. 265 sandstone and it looks really nice on! There are tons of shades to choose from, too.
Oh no now I need to buy even more make up! I don’t have any of these!
I’m Not A Collage Student, (More Like The Age Of Many College Moms, lol) But Mineral Foundation Satisfies Both The Sunscreen, AND The Natural Makeup Requests. I Love Bare Escentuals, But There Are Many Choices.
i have been developing my summer-proof makeup routine for years now, & i think i have it down to a science. all of these tips are A+, but the products i would reccommend aren’t the same.
as far as sunscreen goes, my top pick for the body is kiss my face sun spray lotion spf 30. i use this year-round, but it’s water-resistant, so it can be used at the beach as well (note: i don’t look for sunscreen claiming to be waterproof. sunscreen is meant to be re-applied thoughout the day anyway!)
i also like jason natural sunblock mineral spf 30 for the face. the sunscreen ingredients in this one come from minerals, which don’t irritate sensitive skin (disclaimer: this type of sunscreen is extremely ashy! blend well)
my favorite primer is victoria’s secret vs pro airbrush fx face primer spf 20. it’s a bit pricey for the amount of product you get, but with all of the promos and coupons the store sends me, i can usually find a way to get it for cheaper. it’s a no-frills product, but it does the job (and expertly at that!)
for most of the year, i use a tinted moisturizer for everyday & a liquid foundation on occasion. but, during the summer i find it easiest to use a powder foundation. if i use a liquid type of makeup on my face in the summer, it WILL run off every time, without fail. i find that using laura mercier mineral pressed powder spf 15 keeps this from happening, & it prevents that “reapplying sunscreen when you have makeup on” issue from the above comments. it’s expensive, there’s no denying it. but it is my holy grail summer product, & a little goes a long way with it.
as far as blush goes, i like the sonia kashuk creme blush. it’s as good as drugstore brands get, & it lasts. i love it.
my favorite waterproof eye products are the maybelline lash discovery waterproof mascara, & the rimmel london exaggerate waterproof eye definer. they do not budge.
i agree that lipstains are your best bet for long lasting lip wear, my fave is nyc (new york color) smoochproof lipstain 16h. there’s a great range of shades & the price is fantastic. i wear this everyday!
i would encourage anyone to try these great products! you won’t be disappointed!
I would love it if you offered makeup options that were all natural or organic. I’m really trying to be as natural as possible with my skin products but I do love makeup so it would great to have those options with a little advice!
I used to love cover girls waterproof mascara, but I stopped using it after I found out they test on animals.