Summer Beauty Basics: 5 Easy Ways to Melt-Proof Your Makeup

The summer sun is so much fun. In theory, that is, because nothing kills a freshly made-up face like heat and humidity.

Avoiding shiny skin and smudged shadow is no easy feat, especially when the weather is so sticky and icky. I rely on the following five tips for melt-proofing my makeup.

Forget the Foundation

Thick foundation is a definite no-no when temperatures rise. Opt instead for a tinted moisturizer with SPF (I love Laura Mercier’s), or a BB Cream such as Garnier’s. If you really need the coverage, choose a foundation with a lightweight formula, like Make Up Forever’s Face & Body Liquid Makeup.

Prime Time

Lock in lid color by applying a primer before you put on your eyeshadow.  Urban Decay’s Primer Potion is excellent—it stops smudging, prevents creasing and keeps color bright. It’s also a good idea to trade powder shadows for cream (I’m obsessed with this one by Benefit), which will last much longer and smear a lot less.

Waterproof It

It’s the simplest of summer tricks: Always use waterproof mascara. Regular formulas are just too susceptible to warm-weather melt-off, especially if your lashes are long and they tend to brush against your brow bone. Dior’s Diorshow is my summertime standby; L’Oréal also has an awesome, less expensive option.

Stain Your Smackers

Lip stains and tints stay put while creating natural-looking color. My favorite is Fresh’s Sugar Tinted SPF 15 Lip Treatment (try the coral shade, which is perfect for summer). Stila also has a sweet line of lip stains; just be sure to blot some nude SPF on top.

Bring Blotting Papers EVERYWHERE

Seriously. I never go anywhere without Clean & Clear’s Oil Absorbing Sheets, which—in my opinion—are the best you can buy for five bucks. If you like pretty packaging, check out Tatcha’s Original Aburatorigami Blotting Papers or Paul and Joe’s summer 2012 set.