Summer is the season of sunshine, pool parties, and outdoor adventures, but it’s also prime time for sweat, humidity, and shiny skin to wreak havoc on your makeup. The good news? With the right tips, tricks, and products, you can create a makeup look that doesn’t just survive the heat but thrives in it. Here’s your guide to summer beauty secrets for long-lasting, melt-proof makeup—even during the hottest days.

1. Start with a Solid Base

Before putting on any makeup, it’s essential to prep your skin properly. Your base sets the stage for everything that follows and determines how well your makeup withstands the summer heat.

Cleanse and Moisturize

Always begin with a clean face to remove excess oils or residue. Choose a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen to keep your skin hydrated and protected. Look for non-comedogenic formulas if you’re prone to breakouts.

Product to Try: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

This oil-free moisturizer is lightweight, absorbs quickly, and provides a burst of hydration without feeling greasy.

Prime for Longevity

A primer is your secret weapon for long-lasting makeup in summer. It creates a smooth surface, minimizes pores, and prevents your foundation from sliding off. Choose a mattifying primer if you have oily skin or a hydrating primer if your skin tends to feel dry in the summer.

Products to Try:

  • Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer (perfect for oily skin and high humidity)
  • Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer (a long-lasting, hydrating option for dry or combo skin)

Bonus Tip

To combat excess shine, consider applying a small amount of translucent powder after primer and before foundation. This adds an extra layer of oil control, especially helpful for those with oily skin.

2. Lightweight Foundations for a Natural Finish

During summer, less is more. Heavy, full-coverage foundations are likely to crease and melt in the heat. Instead, choose lightweight formulas that provide breathable coverage while evening your complexion.

Best Types of Foundations for Summer

  • Tinted moisturizers and BB creams: Perfect for light, dewy coverage.
  • Powder foundations: Ideal for reducing shine and staying matte.
  • Long-wear liquid foundations: Great for oily skin or special events where more coverage is needed.

Products to Try:

  • IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream (SPF 50, light yet buildable coverage)
  • Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (a fan favorite for its staying power in high humidity)
  • Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector (sheer coverage with added SPF)

Application Tip

Instead of using a brush (which can sometimes move product around in humid conditions), apply foundation with a damp beauty sponge. This helps blend the product seamlessly into your skin and gives it a natural finish.

3. Waterproof is Your Best Friend

Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hitting the beach, or sweating it out on a summer hike, waterproof makeup is a must to avoid smudging.

Eye Makeup That Lasts

Eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara are especially prone to smudging in warm weather. Swap out regular formulas for waterproof or long-lasting options. Eyeshadow primers are also a great way to ensure your colors stay vibrant all day long.

Products to Try:

  • Urban Decay Primer Potion (prevents eyeshadow creasing and fading)
  • Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara (voluminous and smudge-proof)
  • Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (precise lines that don’t budge)

Eyebrow Products

Your perfectly sculpted brows can withstand heat and sweat with the right products. Choose a waterproof brow gel or a long-wear brow pencil.

Products to Try:

  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel (adds definition with waterproof staying power)
  • Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil (ultra-thin and long-lasting)

Lip Colors That Stay Put

Say goodbye to sticky lip glosses that vanish after an hour. Opt for matte liquid lipsticks, lip stains, or lip crayons for all-day color.

Products to Try:

  • NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment (lightweight with bold, long-lasting color)
  • Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick (drugstore favorite for intense staying power)

Pro Tip

If wearing a bold lip, blot with a tissue, then apply a light dusting of translucent powder to make it even more smudge-resistant.

4. Set It and Forget It

Setting your makeup is just as important as the products you choose. A good setting powder or spray locks everything in place and keeps shine at bay.

Setting Powders

For a smooth, matte finish, use a lightweight, translucent setting powder. Focus on areas prone to oil production, like your T-zone.

Product to Try: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

This cult favorite offers a flawless finish and controls shine, even in the most humid climates.

Setting Sprays

A setting spray adds an extra layer of insurance for your makeup, ensuring it stays in place all day. Bonus if it has mattifying properties to reduce the appearance of sweat and oil.

Products to Try:

  • Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (locks in makeup for up to 16 hours)
  • NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray (affordable and effective for a shine-free look)

Pro Tip

For maximum longevity, lightly mist your setting spray onto a beauty sponge and press it into your skin. This helps your makeup meld seamlessly with your skin for a natural, locked-in finish.

5. Combat Shine Throughout the Day

Even with all the right prep, summer heat can still make skin look shiny after a few hours. Instead of piling on layers of powder, use touch-up tools specifically designed to combat shine.

Oil Blotting Sheets

Blotting sheets are a quick and easy way to remove excess oil without disturbing your makeup.

Product to Try: Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets

Compact and effective, these are a staple for summer touch-ups.

Pressed Powders or Compacts

For on-the-go touch-ups, a lightweight mattifying powder compact gets the job done.

Product to Try: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Affordable, portable, and perfect for midday shine control.

6. Protect Your Skin

While makeup is important, don’t forget to put skin health first. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher should always be the first step in your summer beauty routine. If layering sunscreen under makeup feels heavy, look for multitasking products that merge makeup and sun protection.

Products to Try:

  • Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 (lightweight and invisible under makeup)
  • EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 (non-greasy and perfect for sensitive skin)

SPF Touch-Up Tip

Reapplying sunscreen over your makeup doesn’t have to ruin your look. Use a setting spray with SPF or a powder sunscreen to top up your protection during the day.

Product to Try: Brush On Block Mineral Sunscreen Powder

Summer makeup doesn’t have to end in a melty mess. With the right tools, products, and techniques, you can achieve a fresh, flawless look that stands up to the heat. Focus on lightweight, waterproof, and long-lasting options while ensuring your skin stays protected from the sun.