8 Ways to Sweat-Proof Your Makeup for a Snatched Summer

1. Wash Your Face Thoroughly

A clean canvas is the first step to a sweat-proof makeup look. Washing your face removes any leftover product or impurities and sets the stage for flawless makeup. For an extra clean, choose a gentle exfoliating cleanser with AHAs or BHAs, or stick to a mild cleanser to refresh your skin without stripping it. We recommend GROWN ALCHEMIST Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser with Geranium Leaf, Bergamot, and Rose-Bud for a refreshing cleanse.

2. Prep Your Skin With the Right Products

“Swapping rich moisturizers and eye creams for gel, gel-cream hybrids, and serum formulas containing ingredients like glycerin, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid is an effective way to prep skin for sweat-proof makeup,” explains makeup artist Azesha Ramcharan. 

When prepping the skin, you want to minimize the amount of products you’re using and opt for fewer products with more skincare ingredients packed inside. Think “toners that act as serum and primer or sunscreen that’s also a moisturizer and primer,” Ramcharan adds. 

Try CIRCCELL’S Dew PH Perfector, which is an oil free pH balancing toner, serum, and primer. Ramcharan also loves CHARLOTTE TILBURY’S  Invisible UV Flawless Primer with SPF 50, thanks to its hydrating properties and SPF production, plus, “it doesn’t leave a white cast or flashback in photographs.”

3. Always Apply SPF

Yes, SPF is non-negotiable—especially in summer. Whether your primer has SPF or you use it as a separate step, make sure to apply it as the final skincare layer before makeup. SPF protects your skin from harmful UV rays and prevents your makeup from melting in the heat. Ramcharan can’t stress this enough: Don’t skip it!

4. Apply Liquid Makeup First

Ramcharan is a fan of applying any liquid makeup first, like foundations, concealers, and CC creams so they can dry by the time it’s time to set your entire makeup look. However, she also notes that she sets any liquid application with a small amount of powder as soon as it’s applied. 

5. Know Your Makeup Ingredients

Ramcharan suggests looking for a few ingredients in your products that have even more sweat-proof abilities. “Film forming ingredients such as dimethicone as well as polymers and cross polymers contribute sweat-proofing qualities to makeup,” she says. “Also isododecane and hydrogenated polydecene are emollients with waterproofing capabilities used in many sweat-proof formulas.”

6. Apply Setting Powder…Sparingly

“I recommend using a minimal amount of powder to set makeup,” says Ramcharan. “A puff can be used but for self setting makeup formulas a light dusting of powder applied with a brush is fine. I think one of the biggest mistakes people make when attempting to sweat-proof their makeup is applying too much powder. The effect can be heavy and it won’t actually improve the longevity of the makeup.” We love how lightweight the MORPHE Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder is–it’s almost impossible to overdo. Plus, the silky, talc-free formula glides on seamlessly, helping to blur pores and fine lines for a flawless, natural finish that lasts up to 16 hours..

7. Finish with a Setting Spray

When it comes to setting sprays, we love The Setting Spray by SHADES OF SHAN. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid for hydrating and ginseng to help minimize the appearance of pores. 

“​​I spray the product onto the face using an X formation,” explains Ramcharan. “Doing this ensures both sides of the face get coverage from top to bottom. Just like with sweat-proof foundations, look for film forming ingredients like polymers such as acrylate copolymer, VP/VA copolymer and PVP.”

8. Dab, Don’t Wipe

“Never wipe or rub your face to remove sweat. Lightly dab,” says Ramcharan. “No makeup will withstand rubbing and wiping.” You can use blotting sheets periodically to help keep skin oils from breaking down makeup, she adds. 

“When adding blush, contour, highlighter, or bronzer I recommend liquid formulas that contain similar ingredients to those found in sweat-proof foundation,” says Ramcharan. “They’ll be the longest wearing and least susceptible to fading and streaking in sweaty conditions. Eyebrow makeup is particularly susceptible to the degrading effects of sweat. Using waterproof eyebrow formulas will ensure brows stay as you intend them to look.”