Is there anything worse than a hot summer’s day where your makeup has completely sweated off and your face looks so oily and feels icky? It’s such an uncomfortable feeling. As someone with an oily nose, chin, and cheeks, I’ve been in this position so many times.
If it’s hot outside, you’re going to sweat. The truth is, you’re never going to completely stop your makeup from breaking down if you sweat. But with a few tried and tested hacks, there are simple ways to prevent your makeup from sweating off and minimise your face from looking greasy.
We’ve had quite a few heatwaves in the UK recently, so I put together this simple guide that will prevent your makeup from sweating off with some excellent product recommendations that will keep you looking and feeling fresh all day long.
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1. Open the windows and turn on a fan
First things first, if it’s hot outside, it’s probably going to be hot inside. Make your room cool and bearable by opening the windows and turning on a fan or AC. The best way to stop your makeup from sweating off is to prevent sweating in the first place!
2. Go light with skin prep
One of the last things you want to do when prepping your skin for makeup on a hot day is apply lots of products. The more product on your skin, the more product there is to sweat off or break down throughout the day.
Go in with a lightweight serum moisturiser, and SPF. Opt for formulas that are hydrating, absorb quickly, and do not pill. Skip facial oils and any additional skincare products you might normally apply, such as toners, ampoules, and extra serums.
After applying a layer of skincare, wait for the product to fully absorb and dry before applying another layer of product. This prevents products from moving around on your face.
I love the Active Drip Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Moisturising and Antioxidant Cream as it’s a lightweight and refreshing gel-cream moisturiser that keeps my skin hydrated all day long but doesn’t feel heavy. The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh SPF50 (get money off at YesStyle with code CONFIDENCE10) is one of the best sunscreens I’ve tried as it doesn’t pill, feel greasy, or leave a white cast.
3. Apply the right primer
After you’ve prepped your skin, apply a gripping primer, which will help your makeup stay put all day. Priming the skin appropriately boosts the longevity of your makeup.
Alternatively, apply a mattifying primer if you like a matte base, as it will prevent excess oil throughout the day, which is great for when the weather is hot.
The e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is an excellent, affordable primer that helps your makeup stick in place. After a mattifying primer that still feels comfortable? The Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer is top notch.
4. Less is more
If you apply heavy layers of foundation and concealer, it’s just more product that can end up sweating off your face, which can lead to your makeup looking oily and cakey.
Go in with thin layers of light-coverage foundations and concealers. These will last longer on your skin and won’t look anywhere near as bad if your makeup does start breaking down throughout the day. Lighter base products also allow your skin to breathe, which is a must in warm weather.
I’m obsessed with the flexibility of the YSL Nu Bare Look Skin Tint (15% off at Sephora with code SARAHSSPH). It’s buildable, long-wearing, and has a natural finish.
5. Use a setting spray
After you’ve applied your primer, foundation, and concealer, spritz a setting spray over your face. This technique locks in your base products and prevents them from sweating off.
I’ve recently picked up the ONE/SIZE On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray, and it’s excellent at setting makeup.
6. Apply a setting powder
Once your setting spray has dried down, apply a setting powder all over your face, paying particular attention to areas that go greasy, such as cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead. Again, thin layers work best. It’s important to opt for a setting powder and not a finishing powder, as a setting powder sets your makeup in place.
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Fair is my holy grail setting powder. This finely milled powder is light, smoothing, and makes my skin look poreless, all while extending the longevity of makeup.
7. Use cream products
It may seem counterintuitive, but once I’ve applied my primer, foundation, concealer, setting spray, and setting powder, I use cream products thereafter.
In my experience, even though cream bronzers, blushes, and highlighters don’t last as long as their powder counterparts, when they inevitably start to break down on a hot day, they look way better. When powders become oily throughout the day, they can congeal and look really patchy and cakey, which isn’t flattering.
Topping up cream products once they’ve started to break down or wiping off any excess oiliness from cream products is way easier and nowhere near as messy.
The NARS Bronzing Cream (20% off at LookFantastic with code LFTFBLOGSARAH) is an excellent, buildable cream bronzer that stays put throughout the day. For an extremely pigmented cream blush where you don’t need to apply much product at all, the iconic Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo is totally worth the hype.
8. Prime eyelids
It’s not just your face you should prime. Using an eyeshadow primer also extends the longevity of your eyeshadows before they begin to crease. If it’s hot, an eyeshadow primer should be an essential for long-wearing eyeshadows, especially if you’ve got oily eyelids.
The MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eye Shadow (20% off at LookFantastic with code LFTFBLOGSARAH) is still the GOAT. I wear this primer every time I do my eye makeup without fail, regardless of the otuside temperature.
9. Blotting powders or papers
Ultimately, completely stopping makeup from sweating off is impossible. It’s all about prevention and minimising the oiliness of your makeup throughout the day. If you’re out and about and need to touch up some oiliness on your skin, it’s a good idea to have a blotting powder or paper to hand to freshen up your skin.
The Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder (15% off at Sephora with code SARAHSSPH) is ideal for touching up your makeup throughout the day. This blotting powder helps to blur and mattify any unwanted shine.
Sarah Sarsby is the owner of Honest Reviews Woman. With over 7 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has combination skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.