Getting your makeup to survive summer’s heat waves may seem like an impossible task, but makeup artists have plenty of tips on how to set your makeup to last all day. We tapped pros including celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony, who works with pop stars like Ariana Grande and Katy Perry, and Sephora beauty director Helen Dagdag, who know all about the realities of avoiding literal makeup meltdowns. Whether you’re attending an outdoor wedding or just trying to keep it cool during high temps, find all the essential steps (and products!) for setting your long-wearing makeup look ahead.
Step 1: Primer
Setting your makeup starts at the very beginning of your makeup routine, not just with the finishing products. “Sweat and oil can definitely affect your makeup longevity but only if you’re not properly prepping your skin,” says Tisha Thompson, makeup artist and LYS Beauty founder. “I always recommend tackling this from both ends by using a primer and setting spray at the beginning and end of your makeup routine — both formulated to lock makeup in.”
Anthony and Thompson are fans of this popular primer. Thompson says it "creates a tacky texture on the skin to help makeup last without making the skin look dry or dull." Anthony adds that "it is a great base product for stretching your concealer or foundation a bit further without losing the long-wearing properties of your makeup."
Step 2: Complexion products
For a makeup look that lasts, Anthony says to opt for foundations and concealers that have a matte or semimatte finish, “as they usually have ingredients that fight oils [and] tend to stay on longer.”
Dagdag recommends this hyaluronic acid- and caffeine-infused concealer. I've also been loving this formula and personally recommend any of Danessa Myricks' complexion products for combo and oily skin like mine. The Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder is another favorite for a matte finish.
Another pick from Dagdag, she likes this natural finish foundation because of the skin benefits, long wear and shade range — 50 shades, to be exact.
"Self-setting bases also work really well to build with and give you the option to use a bit less product but have the same [long-lasting] results," Anthony says. This formula is one of my favorite self-setting foundations because the concentrated formula provides ample coverage with just a few drops of the product, giving a matte yet natural finish.
Step 3: Setting powder
In order to avoid a cakey makeup application, all the experts agreed that less is more when it comes to setting powder. Dagdag and Jenny Patinkin, a makeup artist and founder of her eponymous beauty brand, emphasize that being strategic with powder makes all the difference. You don’t want to just dust it all over in one layer. “The key is to really work the powder into your brush, puff or sponge before placing it on your skin — that way you don’t get any fall off or apply more than you need,” Patinkin says.
“Baking” is another expert-approved tactic that can add wear time to your makeup. Anthony says to tap on a bit of translucent powder to “hot spots” — those most prone to becoming oily — with a powder puff and let it sit on top of these areas while you do your eye makeup. Then, you can take a clean makeup brush and brush away the excess powder. And if you want to set your entire face, Anthony will sometimes use a firm makeup brush to press a modifying setting powder, such as one that has brightening or color-correcting benefits, for full coverage.
How do you know if you’ve overapplied your setting powder? Dagdag says, “Your makeup will look best if your skin is still a bit tacky to the touch after powder instead of completely smooth and powdered.”
"The RMS Hydra Powder has been a go-to in my kit for years," Patinkin says. "It's very finely milled and feels like air on the skin, and it doesn't give a weird bounce back of light in photographs."
Dagdag is a fan of this setting powder, which comes in seven shades, ranging from Universal Translucent, brightening Ultra Pink or a shade suited for subtle color correcting.
Thompson says to use a beauty puff to apply a light layer of setting powder in oily areas — like the T-zone, chin and under-eye area — where concealer was placed. According to Patinkin, each thread used to make these pointed puffs from her own line are the same length, which gives them "an incredibly even, smooth application."
"If you are looking for a dermatologist-backed option, this waterproof setting powder is a great choice," Anthony says. "It will help to blur your pores, providing an airbrushed finish without the shine."
Dagdag likes this brush for applying powder and avoiding caking. "I highly recommend working the powder into the brush first," she says. "Swirl the brush in the cap of the powder, and then roll the brush across your face where you want to maintain coverage. Next, lightly dust all over the face. If you start off applying with a sweeping motion, it can sweep away coverage or create texture, especially when covering a pesky blemish!"
Step 4: Setting spray
Powder can certainly give you a matte finish, but you’ll want to add a setting spray to ensure your makeup look doesn’t budge. A light misting all over the face is the easiest way to get coverage, but each of the experts also vouched for setting spray’s versatility, some even adding it into earlier steps in their makeup routine.
For example, Thompson adds in setting spray with her primer at the beginning of her makeup routine. Meanwhile, Patinkin says, “Sandwiching your makeup between?a layer of setting spray underneath foundation and again when your makeup is fully applied can be very handy for anyone with oily or combination skin.” And lastly, Anthony says he’s begun experimenting with mixing setting spray into foundation, which the makeup pro says gives it an even longer-lasting hold.
"On 'Til Dawn?means what it says," Anthony says of this expert-loved setting spray that applies in a fine, even mist. "This will just about waterproof your makeup, and I love misting this over highlighter to activate even more sheen."
Award-winning makeup artist Rita Ciccozzi and Thompson also recommend this powerful setting spray. Ciccozzi has used it on film sets and for everyday life, noting that "it feels great, not sticky, and the makeup lasts all day."
Patinkin says this "is the perfect combination of extended wear time and a radiant finish. It's so lightweight and looks so natural." Thompson is also partial to this product from her own brand, adding that it boasts a super-fine formula that feels like a refreshing face mist. "I find myself applying this throughout my entire complexion routine, and it helps everything blend beautifully together, as well as set it in place," Thompson says.
"[This] is a great re-setting spray and a great way to reapply sunscreen (they also make an SPF setting powder) — a summertime must-have," Dagdag says.
"A cult classic, this setting spray will bulletproof your base," Anthony says. "I like to use this for performances, summer festivals and anything that's going to be hot, wet or in the sun for a long time."
Dagdag calls this setting spray a workhorse. "I really love how long it keeps my makeup in place, and it feels so refreshing," she says.
