Let’s talk about sweat, baby. ‘Tis the season of high temperatures, humidity, sun, sun, and more sun — and, therefore, loads of the best sweat-proof makeup the world wide web has to offer. With summer comes the return of sweat, the sometimes pesky but ultimately useful process by which our bodies cool ourselves down. Even though sweating is totally normal and good for you, it also makes wearing makeup (and keeping it on) a bit of a tricky endeavor. Luckily, Allure editors and makeup artists have got your back, as we’ve compiled a list of sweatproof makeup products to get you through the steamy months ahead.
In general, less is more when it comes to makeup in sweaty times. Although there is evidence that skin benefits from sweating, leaving sweat and makeup on your skin for too long can lead to breakouts. “Sweat [prompts] your pores to flush out oil and dirt — when sweat collects and dries on the skin, this dirt, oil, and bacteria can become trapped under your skin, therefore causing breakouts,” Kathleen S. Viscusi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Marietta, Georgia previously told Allure. So, if you’re going to wear makeup on a hot day, make sure you wash it off completely before heading to bed.
Not every product included here is 100 percent waterproof, but they’ll get you through pretty much any perspiration-provoking activity, sparing the fact that you’re not fully submerged in water. Heatwaves are no match for the best sweatproof makeup products on the market, so keep scrolling to see our picks.
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Our Top Picks:
- Best Base: Danessa Myricks’ Yummy Skin Serum Foundation, $34
- Best Blush/Bronzer: Rose Inc Divine Clean Dewy Cream Blush, $32
- Best Eyes: Mac Prep Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base, $28
- Best Lip: Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue, $45
Base
That said, don’t sleep on hybrid skin-care-makeup foundations when it comes to staying power. Allure deputy digital director Kara McGrath recently tried out Danessa Myricks’ Yummy Skin Serum Foundation and it surprised her by outlasting her waterproof eyeliner that day. This non-cakey, buildable formula delivers a radiant finish that’ll make your skin look healthy and glowy, even if you’re actually glowy from sweat.
Think about primer and setting spray as bookends to an ideal, sweat-resistant makeup routine. To start, you need to give your makeup something to cling to once you step outside and are faced with muggy, 90-degree weather. Enter Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer, an O.G. in the makeup game and a must-have, according to Southern California-based makeup artist Elaina Badro. “I use this on my clients before their red carpets and their makeup lasts all night long,” she says, noting that this primer conceals pores, lines, and blemishes in seconds. Badro says this formula gets brownie points for being oil-free, making it a great mattifying pick for oily skin types.
Sweat-proof concealer is serious business and Benefit’s Boi-ing Cakeless Waterproof Concealer isn’t joking around. This liquid concealer is available in 30 easy-to-blend shades that are totally full-coverage, so you’ll only be needing one layer of this water- and sweat-resistant formula.