My makeup is melting... melting...!
October 9, 2020 12:32 PM Subscribe
Question for people who live in hot climates: how do you keep your makeup from melting off your face when you could fry an egg on the pavement?
I live in a hot, humid climate that stays that way pretty much all the time. I like wearing light makeup. I haven't for a long time because of this problem. Now that I have resumed makeup use, I find it more melty than ever. On a normal day, I apply serums and lotions, foundation (lately that means powder) and eye and brow makeup. Unfortunately, on a normal workday, by 3 pm my face is unpleasantly greasy due to the heat. The only way to get rid of it is by thoroughly washing my face, which of course washes away most of my makeup or leaves me looking like a sad raccoon. My question is what products or techniques can you folks who also wear makeup in hot climates recommend, to minimize or mitigate this problem?
I live in a hot, humid climate that stays that way pretty much all the time. I like wearing light makeup. I haven't for a long time because of this problem. Now that I have resumed makeup use, I find it more melty than ever. On a normal day, I apply serums and lotions, foundation (lately that means powder) and eye and brow makeup. Unfortunately, on a normal workday, by 3 pm my face is unpleasantly greasy due to the heat. The only way to get rid of it is by thoroughly washing my face, which of course washes away most of my makeup or leaves me looking like a sad raccoon. My question is what products or techniques can you folks who also wear makeup in hot climates recommend, to minimize or mitigate this problem?
I have very oily skin and also like to wear light makeup.
I bought Australian Gold tinted face sunscreen just to use as sunscreen, but inadvertently discovered that it does a great job keeping oil at bay and acting like a primer for my makeup. I apply it post-moisturizer, pre-makeup. That and I also recommend oil-absorbing sheets/blotting papers.
posted by desertface at 12:56 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
I bought Australian Gold tinted face sunscreen just to use as sunscreen, but inadvertently discovered that it does a great job keeping oil at bay and acting like a primer for my makeup. I apply it post-moisturizer, pre-makeup. That and I also recommend oil-absorbing sheets/blotting papers.
posted by desertface at 12:56 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
I sweat a truly bonkers amount, and setting spray is the only thing that's really helped me. I think I used one by urban decay (it was a sample in Sephora's old subscription box). That, plus a good primer, plus baking with translucent powder.
(That said I don't wear full-face make-up that much, and I wonder if you could get away with just the setting spray. But for real, there's a reason drag queens use it.)
posted by kalimac at 1:52 PM on October 9, 2020 [8 favorites]
(That said I don't wear full-face make-up that much, and I wonder if you could get away with just the setting spray. But for real, there's a reason drag queens use it.)
posted by kalimac at 1:52 PM on October 9, 2020 [8 favorites]
I use a silicone based primer, that I found really helps. Also switching from a heavy moisturizer, to just straight hylaraunic acid could also help keep the moisturizer without the oiliness. Definitely recommend a CC cream or tinted sunscreen too!
posted by something_witty at 1:54 PM on October 9, 2020
posted by something_witty at 1:54 PM on October 9, 2020
Setting powder or spray! You should absolutely try Urban Decay's setting spray, or if you want something less expensive you could grab the ones by NYX.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 3:41 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitchen Witch at 3:41 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
This. Primer.
It is the single best primer that I have ever used. A full face will last forever with it - even with face masks on, in Texas, in July. Follow the directions exactly - wait 2 minutes before putting product on over it.
Setting powder - I like the CoverFX pressed powder, doesn't seem to dry me out the same way that Laura Mercier seems to. Their setting spray is also great.
posted by honeybee413 at 4:07 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
It is the single best primer that I have ever used. A full face will last forever with it - even with face masks on, in Texas, in July. Follow the directions exactly - wait 2 minutes before putting product on over it.
Setting powder - I like the CoverFX pressed powder, doesn't seem to dry me out the same way that Laura Mercier seems to. Their setting spray is also great.
posted by honeybee413 at 4:07 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Setting spray is what you're looking for. It makes a huge difference for me.
posted by quince at 4:21 PM on October 9, 2020
posted by quince at 4:21 PM on October 9, 2020
silicone-based primer, blended with my foundation instead of doing 2 steps, and a fix spray (i really like UD's spray)
posted by megan_magnolia at 5:34 PM on October 9, 2020
posted by megan_magnolia at 5:34 PM on October 9, 2020
Hello, Queensland Australia here, home of the 39c 75 percent humidity summer.
You need to be as light handed as possible with oils of any type in the am before you put your makeup on, and if you can leave an hour or two between them. I understand that's tough if you've got a limited timeframe in the morning to get ready, but the more time you leave your skin to "rest" between applications the more will sink into your skin rather than slopping about on your face. Save serums, eye creams, oils, whatever for prebed and non makeup days. Your skin wants different things in different weather, and super oily skin in the summer suggests you can probably cut back on the lotions you use during the hotter months.
Look at what you can combine. I only use product with an SPF factor already included so I can skip sunscreen on my face. Tinted moisturizers or tinted sunscreen, or BB or CC creams with an SPF instead of foundation, and as lightly as you can get away with. Less makeup that stays on will always look better than heavier coverage sliding off your chin. If you can stick to things that are a "matte" formula. You may look like an unfired bisque cup leaving the house but your skin will fix that in like five minutes out of the house. Consider it the same as leaving foundation to oxidize to true.
Waterproof wherever you can for things like eye liner and mascara. I'm a tightarse so Rimmel is about as fancy as I go but I've almost never been let down by drugstore waterproof mascaras. Only use foundation on areas of skin you won't be building on. So around your eyes just prime and apply, no foundation. The primer will keep it on your skin.
I like powder foundation, so I'll often carry a small compact of mineral powder and make-up wipes in the very heavy part of summer for periodic touch ups or so I can just go "fuck it" and re-apply the worst parts at that horrible 3pm window. I also take a nude setting powder on days that I am wearing too much for patchups as mentioned above, and just powder over any shiny bits as I go. Just a translucent powder, no color.
Primer and setting spray is a must, too, for heavier faces. I really like the Ben Nye Final Seal spray, it's got peppermint in it and feels really lovely on a hot day. I'm between primers at the moment - I was using the amazing matte primer from The Body Shop but it's been discontinued, so I'm reading recommendations with interest. The translucent powder mentioned above is great for setting too.
I am a full scale tragic Goth and have had some epic makeup stay put, including a full face of corpsepaint in an airconditioning free nightclub in a 40c heatwave. With dancing! It's totally doable, it just requires some substantial preplanning and tactics.
posted by Jilder at 5:52 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
You need to be as light handed as possible with oils of any type in the am before you put your makeup on, and if you can leave an hour or two between them. I understand that's tough if you've got a limited timeframe in the morning to get ready, but the more time you leave your skin to "rest" between applications the more will sink into your skin rather than slopping about on your face. Save serums, eye creams, oils, whatever for prebed and non makeup days. Your skin wants different things in different weather, and super oily skin in the summer suggests you can probably cut back on the lotions you use during the hotter months.
Look at what you can combine. I only use product with an SPF factor already included so I can skip sunscreen on my face. Tinted moisturizers or tinted sunscreen, or BB or CC creams with an SPF instead of foundation, and as lightly as you can get away with. Less makeup that stays on will always look better than heavier coverage sliding off your chin. If you can stick to things that are a "matte" formula. You may look like an unfired bisque cup leaving the house but your skin will fix that in like five minutes out of the house. Consider it the same as leaving foundation to oxidize to true.
Waterproof wherever you can for things like eye liner and mascara. I'm a tightarse so Rimmel is about as fancy as I go but I've almost never been let down by drugstore waterproof mascaras. Only use foundation on areas of skin you won't be building on. So around your eyes just prime and apply, no foundation. The primer will keep it on your skin.
I like powder foundation, so I'll often carry a small compact of mineral powder and make-up wipes in the very heavy part of summer for periodic touch ups or so I can just go "fuck it" and re-apply the worst parts at that horrible 3pm window. I also take a nude setting powder on days that I am wearing too much for patchups as mentioned above, and just powder over any shiny bits as I go. Just a translucent powder, no color.
Primer and setting spray is a must, too, for heavier faces. I really like the Ben Nye Final Seal spray, it's got peppermint in it and feels really lovely on a hot day. I'm between primers at the moment - I was using the amazing matte primer from The Body Shop but it's been discontinued, so I'm reading recommendations with interest. The translucent powder mentioned above is great for setting too.
I am a full scale tragic Goth and have had some epic makeup stay put, including a full face of corpsepaint in an airconditioning free nightclub in a 40c heatwave. With dancing! It's totally doable, it just requires some substantial preplanning and tactics.
posted by Jilder at 5:52 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
I’m amazed by the creative responses here! When it’s hot and humid, if I’m determined to wear makeup, it’s limited to waterproof mascara and (spare) powder foundation, with blotting whenever necessary (I just use TP). Maybe lipliner (no lipstick).
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:32 PM on October 9, 2020
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:32 PM on October 9, 2020
When I’ve traveled to hot and humid climates, I’ve relied on Urban Decay’s All-Nighter makeup setting spray. A light misting, allowed to dry, kept my makeup in place all day in a Florida summer.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:29 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:29 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Powder makeup lasts a lot longer than liquid or cream on hot, humid days. Seconding setting sprays if you are looking for full day coverage. ELF cosmetics has an affordable effective option.
posted by donut_princess at 4:22 AM on October 10, 2020
posted by donut_princess at 4:22 AM on October 10, 2020
I grew up in the Southern US so I thought I knew from humidity until I visited the Philippines in the Summer, during monsoon season. Urban Decay's All-Nighter setting spray and waterproof powder saved my butt when I needed to look professional, which was most days I was there.
posted by rhiannonstone at 4:22 PM on October 10, 2020
posted by rhiannonstone at 4:22 PM on October 10, 2020
Blue Marble setting Spray is what a lot of pros use.
posted by WeekendJen at 5:47 AM on October 13, 2020
posted by WeekendJen at 5:47 AM on October 13, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mekily at 12:53 PM on October 9, 2020