Summer has well and truly arrived and you know what that means. Long, hot days followed by sizzling nights, sunshine, laughter and plenty of good times. Oh – and makeup that slides right off your face the moment you put it on. At least that’s how it used to be, but follow the handy tips and tricks below and that particular problem will be nothing but a bad memory.
We love the summer season but the steamy weather can wreak havoc with our beauty routines. It needn’t though, says skincare guru and founder of Paula’s Choice Paula Begoun. In fact, Paula says as long you do the following your perfectly-applied makeup will stay right where it should.
Once you’ve cleansed apply your usual moisturiser and give it some time to absorb fully. Next, pop on a serum so that makeup has something to cling to. Try one that has oil-reducing properties or is designed to promote long-wear. We like Paula’s Choice Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish Primer, $22.
Next, apply your foundation.
Start with a thin layer, then build more coverage if needed.
“A thick layer of makeup is more prone to sliding off your face throughout the day because it just can’t adhere as well to skin,” says Paula.
If you have oily skin, try an absorbent shine-control product before you apply your foundation.
“This can go a long way toward keeping excess shine in check, so your makeup lasts (and looks better) longer. Also consider a matte-finish foundation for longer-lasting wear,” she adds.
Try Covergirl TruBlend Matte Made Foundation, $19.95.
Next concealer. Again it’s a good idea to start out light and build until you get the coverage you want.
Pat the concealer in place with your fingers, brush, or wand.
“Do not use a back-and-forth or rubbing motion, as that basically just wipes the concealer away as soon as you apply it, leaving you with spotty coverage,” says Paula.
One thing to note – you can apply concealer before or after foundation. It’s entirely up to you.
Finally, and this is important: set your makeup with powder. We like Models Prefer Finale Matte Loose Finishing Powder, $15.
“No matter what type of concealer you use, your makeup will last longer with powder over it,” says Paula. Again, don’t over-do it.
“A thick layer of powder can emphasise fine lines and dry spots on the face,” she warns. “Just a soft dusting brushed on areas where you’ve applied foundation and concealer. You can brush on a bit more over oil-prone areas.”
You can try a makeup fixing or setting spray but check the ingredients first. You don’t want to spray your face with anything that might harm your skin especially when in all likelihood, it won’t do much as far as promoting longevity. In fact, many makeup artists believe setting sprays speed up the process of your makeup sliding off your face. Not what you want. Final tips, consider carrying blotting paper (to reduce shine) and do your best to not touch your face.
Doing so is a surefire way to remove all of your hard application work.