Don’t Sweat It
Makeup Essentials to Survive the Heat
Nothing makes college students happier than a sunny, warm day. Any green space is immediately filled with kids doing work, blasting music, and playing sports. Unless you’re me. Today, the temperature passed 80°F and I spent the day running from class to class all over campus. As you can imagine, I was a sweaty mess by the end of the day. This got me thinking, “How can I prevent my makeup from falling victim to this weather?!” Here are my recommendations to look flawless in the summer heat.
Courtesy of Bumblebee Skincare
As you could’ve guessed, your base is an integral step in your makeup routine. The very first product that should touch your skin (after washing and moisturizing) is an SPF. My personal favorite is Supergoop! and their Unseen Sunscreen. It applies smooth and transparent, without leaving you oily like some others. The next step is primer, the one product that will prevent your makeup from sliding off your face. A matte one, like Make Up For Ever’s, will help to minimize your sweaty glow. As you continue to layer products, keep in mind that the most sweat-proof makeup is no makeup at all.
Courtesy of Sephora
My next hack for surviving the heat is using a mix of liquid and powder-based base products. When it comes to waterproof makeup looks, a balance between cream and powder products is essential. The over-application of powder products will cause them to crack with the addition of sweat while the formulation of cream products allows them to blend with sweat. However, this also means that your cream products can be sweat off easily. The best solution is to use a cream base and top with a light powder layer. Less is more in this case. I personally use Tower28 or Rare Beauty liquid blush as my base and top with BeautyCounter powder blush. The same principle applies to bronzer and contour. If you really struggle to keep your makeup looking nice, stains for your cheeks (like this Tarte one) and lips can be beneficial. Your final step should be a setting powder, applied minimally, to lock all of your products to your skin.
Courtesy of Cosmopolitan
We have all been personally victimized by smudged mascara, absolutely ruining our makeup look after a day or night out. It may seem like a no-brainer to reach for your waterproof mascara in the summer months. DON’T! Waterproof mascara can cause serious irritation, damage to your eyelashes, and even impact your vision. The staying power that convinces you to buy the product is also its worst trait. Recent innovations have led to mascara that will not smudge without damaging your eyes. My personal favorite is the Thrive Causemetics Mascara. This mascara has a tubing formula that slides off your lashes with a wet washcloth but does not stain the skin around your eyes. Therefore, even if you lose some mascara to your sweat, it will not smudge or remain apparent on your face.
In the end, fighting nature pretty much always ends in a loss. However, there are many hacks and products that will help to save your face from the heat. Remember that reducing the overall amount of product applied is the best way to keep your makeup fresh. That being said, definitely wear sunscreen, apply liquid and powder products in the correct ratio, and throw away your waterproof mascara to look gorgeous all summer long!
Featured Image Courtesy of Self