HOT 🔥 Tips & Product Recommendations to avoid a Makeup Meltdown

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Beat The Heat!

Avoid a Makeup Meltdown with these Hot Summer Makeup Tips & Product Recommendations

Great for all experience levels - Even the Pro’s!

Photography by David White

It’s Summer. You’ve just completed a flawless beat for a swanky night out and you are lookin’ HOT 🔥 Your makeup is on point. You finish getting ready and walk out into basically a sauna in hell. Ugh! Gross. But that’s ok! We love a dewy look and that powder needed a lil help settling in anyway.

But a few hours later you’re in the bathroom, look in the mirror as you begin to wash your hands and have a straight up HOT MESS staring right back at you! Your makeup is literally melting off your face. 🥵 The foundation separated and is all broken up, your eye makeup envies the neighborhood raccoons natural look, the glare on your forehead could second as a mirror it’s so reflective, and the creasing…oh the creasiiiing!

Let’s avoid future disasters with these:

5 Steps for Long Lasting Makeup in Summer Heat

1. Skin Prep

This is key. If you’re not using the right skincare suited for you then your makeup will end up melting off due to the skincare being too heavy, too drying - stripping away too much oil - which leads to over production of oil to compensate, or just not using anything.

Think of your complexion like a house. Everything a house is, is because it’s built on top of the mighty and strong foundation first - aka Skincare. Then we build walls and floors on top of that - Foundation/Concealer, Color Correct, Highlight/Contour. Next we prime those walls, and then we paint, install facilities and decorate - Blush, Bronzer, Illuminating Highlighter, Shadow, Lashes, Lips, Brows. Finally we lock it up tight and secure it - Finishing Spray.

2. Primers

Eye primer is an absolute NECESSSITY no matter what time of year but especially on hot, humid days where we’re more likely to sweat and produce even more oil on the lids. Eyeshadow primer helps smooth out the eyelid, blocks oil production, creates a blank canvas, helps colors blend evenly and prevents creasing.

Foundation primer is a hit or miss for me to be honest. I’m not a huge fan of it because it can create an extra layer of product that can feel heavy on the skin for some people, cause skincare products to ball up, or just don’t work. They’re a gimmick. I’m a big fan of prepping skin properly and then following directly up with foundation. For those of us with large pores or excessively oily skin then using a foundation primer in addition to the correct skincare could be beneficial.

3. Choosing the correct Foundation

Making sure your foundation matches up with your skincare is very important. Make sure your pairing water based skincare with water based foundation. Silicone with silicone, oil with oil, wax with wax etc.

Using a “Matte” or “Satin” aka “Skin Like” Foundation is best for hotter weather. Avoid using anything with the title “Dewy” “Hydrating” “Serum” or “Moisturizing” - unless you have dry - flaky/textured skin.

4. Powder

You’ll need to use powder to set your makeup and throughout the day to reduce shine. You must set the areas around the eyes, nose and mouth as well as the forehead cheeks and chin of the T-Zone area. These places get the most action throughout the day due to facial expressions, eating and drinking, kissing, singing, scratching an itch, and the use of napkins and/or tissues.

Once you’ve completed all your makeup try to stick to translucent powders to set everything. Powder with color such as a foundation powder will keep adding coverage and pigment resulting in cakeiness and oxidization - aka darken - throughout the day which could create too much difference between your face and neck. Think pumpkin head…. not cute. You can also use pressed oil blotting powders or papers throughout the day to sop up any oil too.

4. Setting/Film Forming Finishing Sprays

Setting sprays are helpful between layers of powdering. Sometimes people “bake” or like to layer creams and powders for depth and longevity. Using a setting spray will help them settle in faster, prolong wear and are great for those of us with dry skin.

A film forming finishing spray is the crucial last step everyone needs to do to help your makeup stay in place and last for many hours. (See product recs below)

🔥 HOT TIPS 🔥


🔥 Stay hydrated! Your skin is the largest organ of your body. When it’s stressed in hot weather you’ll begin to sweat to cool off, burn which will contract and distort the skin, and/or produce more oil to protect itself. Staying hydrated and cool will help your skin stay calm and less reactive.

🔥 Dust your sunglasses nose pads with loose powder - lightly - to avoid sticking to your face and pulling off makeup.

🔥 Use Waterproof products wherever possible. My fav waterproof products to use are on the brow, eye liners, mascara, and finishing sprays. Choose products that use the words “Matte” “Long-Lasting” “Waterproof” “Water Resistant” “16 or 24 Hr Wear” “Smudge Proof” “Transfer Proof/Resistant”

🔥 Don’t use SPF of 25 or higher under makeup if you’re going to be professionally photographed. It causes “Flashback” or a white cast on the skin giving you a ghostly gray appearance.

🔥 Wear a wide brimmed hat, light colors/fabrics, use an umbrella, or use mini fan if you’re out mid day sun for prolonged periods of time.

🔥 Skip the “Illuminating” or “Dewy” or “Glow” products all together if you tend to get shiny throughout the day. Especially for foundations and in areas such as the center of the forehead, nose, apples of cheeks and chin. Try to stick with just the brow bone, tops of cheekbones near eye, and cupids bow.

🔥 Introduce one new product at a time. This way if you have an allergic reaction or it doesn’t mesh well with another product you can deduce what product may have caused the problem.

🔥 Ask for samples to try stuff out and check your stores return policy. Most companies will accept used product returns. Just don’t abuse the system. ; )

🔥 Your makeup is not bulletproof! Creasing, sweating, and separation are very common and NORMAL.

🔥 Keep a mini touch up kit with you that includes:

  • a compact mirror

  • Powder and Puff

  • Concealer or Foundation (try dispensing into a pill jar for travel)

  • Mini beauty sponge

  • Mini setting spray - this will freshen makeup to re-work it

  • Retractable lip brush with matte lipstick pre-loaded on brush

  • Assorted brushes for touch ups