My Makeup Never Slides, No Matter the Temps—10 Products I Can Thank
Even a 100-degree heat wave won’t convince me to go bare-faced.
As much as I was looking forward to summer during the long, dark, frigid days of winter, the heat wave striking New York City is taking me down. Even a quick jaunt to get coffee across the street from the office leaves me with dribbles of sweat down my face, while my hair clings to the back of my neck like an unwanted wool blanket. Sure, I could give into the 100+ temperatures and just walk around with a bare face (plus plenty of sunscreen, of course) and my wavy hair pulled into a messy top knot at all times. But where’s the fun in that? The sun is shining, the sunsets are gloriously late, and all I want to do is sit on a shaded patio with a few friends, eating chips and guac and sipping a margarita or two—without my face melting off. No heat wave is going to steal my glam, which is why I’ve discovered a few essentials to still look extremely hot without feeling hot—as long as there is a quick escape into some A/C nearby, of course.
Whether I’m prepping for a day at the office or a night out, my makeup must feel lightweight, breathable, and resist the pull to melt down my face in a few hours. I also keep a few extra essentials in my summer tote to cool me down as I’m walking around the city—hopefully on my way to the ferry to reach the beach for the rest of the day. So, if you’re also battling brutal summer temperatures, here’s everything I swear by in my heat wave beauty routine.
Prep Is Everything
I never leave my apartment with deodorant in the summer, and I similarly always apply a longwear primer to keep my makeup locked in place until the end of the day.
Ciele makes the most beautiful complexion products with loads of extra SPF protection, and the primer has quickly become a must-have to keep my summer makeup looking fresh during the heat wave. I lean towards the natural finish but the radiant options are also divine for a bit of extra glow.
My ultimate ride-or-die primer, this affordable formula is the key to a flawless base, no matter how hot it gets outside. 25,000 reviewers feel the same way, just saying.
Lusciously Lightweight
While there are plenty of beautiful summer foundations to choose from, I tend to lean towards a skin tint in this type of heat. I want that blurring finish without covering up my freckles or clogging my pores.
To know me is to know that I’m never without this skincare-meets-SPF-meets-skin tint in my beauty bag. It’s foolproof to apply, blurs any lingering dark spots or breakouts, and it feels like I’m just adding on an extra layer of moisturizer—it’s that creamy and delicious.
I’ve loved this formula ever since it launched six years ago, and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. This provides a bit more coverage while still feeling delightfully breathable, and the added hydrating ingredients ensure my stressed summer skin feels comfortable and looks flawless.
Set It and Forget It
A setting spray is non-negotiable when it’s this hot outside. The current best-sellers on the market are so freaking good that I can’t believe I used to skip this step. Never again!
This new formula has quickly become a must-have in my makeup routine. The added witch hazel helps soak up excess oil while still mattifying and preventing my products from slip-sliding all over my sweaty face.
Marie Claire Beauty Editor Siena Gagliano convinced me to give this new setting spray a try, and I’m so glad I did. Developed by WNBA player Lexie Hull, this no-nonsense spray has zero stickiness and provides non-comedogenic yet long-lasting hold for my base makeup.
Powder Power
When the temps hit the upper 90s, a little excess shine is inevitable by midday. That’s where a powder sunscreen comes into play. Fresh SPF protection and mattifying benefits? Perfection.
I’ve considered this powder SPF a secret weapon in my summer beauty lineup for years. It’s so easy to apply and store in my bag for easy touch-ups throughout the day.
For a bit of extra mattifying power, I turn to this TikTok-favorite formula. I also use it to powder my hair part, which is one of those sneaky spots that often sees sun damage, especially in the summer.
Keep It Cool
Sometimes, there’s only so much that makeup products can do to keep you feeling cool in the heat. That’s when I turn to a few extra tools to lower my body temp and keep my glam looking fresh.
Marie Claire Beauty Writer Ariel Baker convinced me to give this personal fan a try, and wow, how did I ever survive a New York City summer without it? The fan is smaller than you think, so easy to use, and the cooling plate is a nice high-tech touch when I’m stuck in the boiling hot subway waiting for the train.
There are so many facial mists on the market, but I always return to this option to help cool down in the summer. The hypochlorous acid formula battles acne-causing bacteria and delivers a refreshing spritz of hydration when the heat is at an all-time high.
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