How to Make Your Foundation Sweatproof

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Everyone sweats. It’s no secret and it’s perfectly natural. But it’s not particularly fun when you wear a full face of glam. 

When you get hot, or humid weather hits- the first thing to go is usually foundation. The product begins to break down, smear, and look uneven or cracked. What’s the point of all that hard work if it’s just gonna melt off?

Come rain or shine, here are all the tips you need to make your foundation sweatproof.

Minimize Pre-Makeup Skincare

Skincare is important. Makeup or no makeup, you should be caring for your skin like you would every other organ in your body. However, you can take a bit of a hall pass on the days you need to sweatproof foundation.

There are three ways to approach your skincare routine when you want to avoid a makeup meltdown. The first is to use all products as you normally would except for less. One pump of moisturizer instead of two. To apply small amounts of skincare effectively, work the products into the palm of your hands then press the product into the skin.

The second approach is to do a more committed skincare routine at night after removing your makeup to “make up” for what you didn’t do early.

The final way to do your skincare to sweatproof your foundation is to use only two products-SPF and primer. You’re still protecting your skin without layering it with too many hydrophilic skincare products that would attract moisture and work against your efforts to sweatproof foundation.

Use Tacky Primer

The debate on primers is unclear. Though some promise small miracles for your makeup, one thing they can actually do is help sweatproof foundation. Creating a tiny barrier between your foundation and skin makes it hard for sweat to melt the makeup.

A good quality primer’s main purpose is to keep makeup in place-especially foundation. All it takes is a pea-sized amount to cover the entire face. Allow the primer to dry down for 3-5 minutes before applying liquid foundation.

A lot of primers are silicone or water-based. These aren’t particularly good when moisture is the concern. To make your foundation sweatproof, opt for a tacky primer. When you press it onto your face after applying the primer, it should feel sticky. This indicates that the foundation will stick to the primer and not the skin which creates oil and sweat.

Don’t Layer Foundation

You may be tempted to add an extra coat or two of foundation to avoid a messy base, but all it does is weigh down your skin and make melting makeup even more noticeable.

Opt for a lightweight foundation with medium coverage and apply only one layer and use a bit of concealer in the spots that need extra coverage.

Overall, a “my skin but better” foundation look prevails a lot better in the humidity and makes the dew of sweat look more like a youthful glow. But if you insist on a matte finish, don’t bet on extra layers of foundation.

Use Waterproof Makeup

This might be obvious, but if you find you sweat through your makeup, waterproof products are a great way to go. This includes a waterproof foundation, mascara, and eyeliner. You can also use tints for eyeshadow or blush as they are naturally resistant to sweat.

Limit Powder Products

We’re all guilty of touching up melting foundation with powder. And while the powder absorbs moisture temporarily, if your foundation is already slipping, the applicator used to apply powder will lift the foundation completely. The result is powder ends up directly to the skin giving a cakey finish.

You don’t have to avoid powder entirely. It’s perfectly safe to set your foundation immediately after applying. However, instead of pressing powder into the skin or baking it with a sponge, lightly dust the entire face with a large, loose powder brush.

But don’t worry, you can still touch up your mug, just not with powder. To fix any patches of foundation that have begun to break down, use a damp beauty sponge and just the smallest amount of liquid foundation or concealer. Blend until your arm is nearly sore so that the touch-up is seamless and unnoticeable.

Carry Blotting Papers

For real absorbency, skip powder and reach for blotting papers instead. Designed to pick up oil and water, blotting papers shouldn’t move your foundation. 

Keep them on hand and when you start to feel the sweat coming get to a cool place and gently tap the surface of the skin. Avoid wiping or pressing. Let the blotting papers do the work.

Set With Setting Spray

After you’ve set your makeup with a finely-milled setting powder, lock it all into place with a sealing setting spray. 

Setting spray helps foundation set into the skin like makeup glue. Don’t worry, it’s more comfortable than it sounds. The setting spray also cools you down and can be layered onto the makeup multiple times throughout the day without causing buildup. 

Unlock powders and other makeup products, there is no such thing as too much setting spray. Hold your high-quality setting spray and arm’s length away from the face and spritz in a circular motion. Fan your face with your hands or a mini-fan to help the formula seel in the foundation.

Keep Cool

This is the most important tip on how to make your foundation sweatproof-stay cool! This means drinking water and taking breaks from the heat and stepping into the AC. Additionally, make sure you are cool before applying your skincare and makeup. Otherwise, your efforts will feel impossible. Don’t try to put anything onto a sweaty face.

Alas, on some of the hottest days, it will feel impossible to keep your look together and beating the battle of the sweat. In this case, it’s time to go bare. Take it all off, throw on a lightweight BB cream with SPF, some lipgloss, and let that inner glow shine.

Truthfully, you’re gorgeous either way.

Got any foundation sweatproof tips from your day-dates at the park or outdoor photoshoots? Let us know your secret in the comments below!