How to Get Flawless Summer Makeup to Stay in Place

We all love makeup. It gives you a chance to express your style, change up your look, or boost your confidence. But it can be a huge bummer if your summer makeup looks perfect at the beginning of the day but melts off in the heat by the end of the day. I was always under the impression that this was unavoidable. Even if you aren’t planning to get wet or jump in the pool, the sweat and oils on your face can cause some serious issues.

Luckily, I did a bunch of research to figure out the best tips, tricks, and products people are using to keep makeup in place during the summer heat. There are plenty of products you can use to get your skin ready. Even more to lock it in place. Not to mention a few tricks to fix it if there is a little buildup in your fine lines.

To give you a complete rundown, I’m going to divvy out the summer makeup options in a few categories. That way you can find the tips you’re looking for! Just remember, there’s no need to live with constantly smudged makeup or go without. You merely need the right summer makeup to keep your face looking flawless all day.

Prepping and Priming All Areas of Your Face

Preparing to put on your makeup is a crucial step. In the summertime, most of us have oily skin. Even people with ordinarily dry skin start getting oil buildup in a few key areas. If you don’t take the necessary steps to remove oils, hydrate, and prepare your face for makeup, there is a huge chance it won’t be staying in place. It could end up looking cakey, patchy, or smudged. So here are a few steps you can take to prevent that from happening when applying your summer makeup and preparing for hot weather.

Clean Your Face

Before you apply any product, you should wash your face with an oil-free cleanser. Doing this before and after you wear makeup will keep your skin clear of acne. But using it before makeup is essential because it will remove excess oils before you start the day. That way, even if your skin gets oily throughout the day, you at least controlled the oils to start.

I recently started using Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Cleanser and that works well for me. It removed oils and cleansed my skin to help clear up some problem areas. I have to be diligent with moisturizer after I use it. Otherwise, my skin gets extremely dry.

Moisturize Your Skin

Once you remove the extra oils, your skin may feel too dry. My skin is naturally very dry and only gets a little oily in the summer. After using any type of face wash, I need to use a light moisturizer. I would recommend finding the right moisturizer for your skin. Everyone needs a different moisturizer depending on whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin. Nivea Light Creme Moisturizer works for most skin types because it is not heavy.

You could also consider using a hydration boosting mist if you haven’t been able to find the perfect cream moisturizer. Many makeup lovers prefer MAC Prep and Prime Mist to hydrate and replenish their skin. Just remember that this is not meant to be a primer even though it has the word “prime” in the name.

Primer

If you don’t typically apply a primer before you put on makeup, that could be where you are going wrong when applying summer makeup to prepare for hot weather. Makeup primer helps smooth out your skin and gives your pores a layer of protection before you use any makeup.

There are also eyelid primers you can use before you apply eyeshadow. An eyeshadow primer can be a massive help if you have issues keeping your eyeshadow in place throughout the day.

If you have issues making your eyeshadows very pigmented there is another trick you could try. All you have to do is get eyeshadow on your makeup brush, spritz the brush with finishing spray to make it a little damp, and apply to your eyelids. It will go on more pigmented, like a cream eyeshadow! But make sure you do not use a finishing spray that contains any alcohol. That will burn!

How to Keep Your Face in Place

Setting spray is the key to keeping your gorgeous makeup in place! The first step is finding the right one for your skin. There are setting sprays geared towards dry skin and oily skin. Most of them will work for all skin types, especially if you have applied a moisturizer, primer, and all your makeup first.

Setting sprays that do not contain alcohol won’t work as well to keep your makeup in place. I recently wrote about the . I would recommend checking out that article if you’d like to learn more. It could be helpful if you are new to makeup or have never used a setting spray.

The setting spray would have to contain a ton of alcohol to dry out your skin at that point. If you are concerned about the product containing copious amounts of alcohol, make sure to pick one that lists alcohol as the second ingredient, not the first. See the best ways to use a setting spray for additional tips!

Embrace Waterproof Makeup

Most makeup users are familiar with waterproof eyeliner or mascara. They are a staple in any summer makeup routine. But did you know there is a wide range of makeup that comes in waterproof or long-lasting formulas? There are a lot more than I thought and most of them have been tested to their limits. The vloggers who tried them tested them in the shower or the pool, and they didn’t budge. So there are quite a few products you could add to your summer makeup routine.

Full Face Coverage: Foundation, Concealer, and Bronzer

Now, in the summer heat using a simple tinted moisturizer is a fantastic option. It covers any blemishes and evens out your skin tone. The tinted moisturizers usually are very sheer products that run less of a chance of creating build up in any area. Dusting a little finishing powder over the moisturizer would give you a beautiful matte finish.

Foundation

But if you are determined to look your best and get full coverage, you could try a waterproof foundation. They are a great option if you wear makeup in the heat all the time. I would highly recommend them if you are going to have a summer wedding and need makeup that will hold up the entire day. You will want to look your absolute best, and the waterproof foundation would be a tremendous help.

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Concealer

Many of us need a little concealer for those troublesome areas. I have issues with acne scars and under-eye circles, so I always try to keep some concealer on hand. The summertime is no exception! The Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer has been tried and tested. So many customers recommend this product as a summer makeup. But remember there are plenty of brands out there, and you should find the perfect one for your skin!

Bronzer

Who knew there was such a thing as a waterproof powder bronzer? Yes, it is a thing and it blew my mind too. I had no idea that powder bronzers, or any powder products, could stay in place so well. But the Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer even holds up when you go swimming! So a little sweat or humidity would be no problem for this bronzer!

Skip the Lipstick for Lipstain

Lipstick, in general, can be a little tricky. Everyone has different preferences and opinions on what works the best. That’s understandable because there are so many different formulas. Some people like matte, some like glossy, some people like nude tones, others like bold colors. No matter what your preference may be, lipstick is probably too heavy to use in the heat and may not stay in place as well as it usually would.

Instead, you could try a lip stain as an alternative summer makeup option. They don’t budge, are super lightweight, and will even hold up in the water. You can apply chapstick over the color for a little shine. They may fade over time, but they won’t smudge or get on your teeth. So lip stain is a great summer makeup option in the heat and humidity.

Blush

If you usually use powder blush, you may have decided to skip it in your summer makeup routine. Powder blush is not known to stay in place very well in the summer heat or when you sweat. Rather than staying on the apples of your cheeks, it probably ends up making your cheek look ruddy and flushed.

Try using a cream blush in your summer makeup routine instead. It will stay put and comes in just as many different shades!

Eye Shadow, Eyeliner, and Mascara

If I don’t end up wearing anything else, you will hardly ever catch me without some eyeliner. I love trying different looks, but I almost always opt for a cat-eye style liner. It’s hard to get just right, and if you don’t use the right product it will not stay in place, especially in hot weather!

A trick to applying eyeliner is to use a waterproof gel or cream liner to your waterline and close to your lashes. Then go over that liner with a waterproof liquid eyeliner to create a cat-eye style if you choose that style. Doubling up helps keep your eyeliner looking bold and precise, without making it look heavy or overdone. It will also help this summer makeup stay in place all day! I do this all year round, and I rarely have issues, as long as I use waterproof eyeliners.

Eyeshadows can wear off quickly in hot weather. Or worse, they can spread around your eyes. If you’re looking for the perfect eyeshadow that sticks around, you could try Maybelline Color Tattoo. It is not listed as a waterproof product, but plenty of people have told me it doesn’t budge. They also mentioned that you would need a serious waterproof makeup remover to get rid of it entirely! Talk about summer makeup that stays put.

Mascara is the last product that is super important to every look. It is also the first thing that will run and make you look like a raccoon if you don’t get it right. There are plenty of great waterproof mascaras out there so you should have a problem finding the perfect one! Covergirl Lash Blast is something I use all the time, but Two Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara is a highly recommended option as well.

Fixing Your Makeup

It can feel pretty hopeless in the summer when your makeup starts building up in specific areas or even smudging. Never fear, there are a few ways to fix the problem! All of them are simple and will keep your summer makeup looking fresh all day. They can all be taken on the go for a quick fix whenever you need it!

The first fix is if you have issues with foundation or concealer caking into your fine lines or smile lines. There is an easy way to smooth everything out! All you need to do is spritz some setting spray on a beauty blender and blend out your makeup. It will redistribute the product and help it lock in place.

Another great trick is for oily skin. If your makeup starts smudging or moving around, it may be caused by oils building up on your skin. You could try using blotting papers to remove the oils in the problem areas. Then use the first trick to fix and set your makeup!

If you can avoid a full face of makeup, that is a great option. Sheer makeup will still look great, but it won’t run as much of a risk of moving around or caking into any fine lines. will also be a lot less noticeable when it does get messed up, so you can fix any problems before anyone else would even notice.  

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For more tips check out more Sheer or natural makeup tips. 

Summer Makeup Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

In this article, I gave you a little bit of everything because I know everyone prefers different products. I don’t use half the products myself. But for the sake of covering all my bases, I’d say you have all the information you need! You certainly don’t need to try using all of these!

Summer makeup isn’t as hard as you might think. You need to opt for natural or waterproof makeup. Neither one will ever fail once you find the perfect products for you! It may take some time and a few trial runs, but it won’t be too hard to find what works. Good luck!

Last update on 2023-04-18 at 02:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API