We’re all very well aware of how fucking great the summertime is—tan skin, summer Fridays at the office, the beach, endless cocktails, etc. etc., but what we don’t talk about enough is the fact that the summer fucking sucks for your beauty routine. You know what I’m referring to: dry, frizzy, sun-damaged hair; boob sweat and pitting out by the time you reach your desk in the morning; and, worst of all, shiny skin that causes your makeup to melt off right after you put it on. That’s right, I’m talking about sweat beads of foundation on your forehead and mascara running down your face à la Lauren Conrad on that one episode of The Hills. To prepare your makeup supply (and your poolside selfies) without breaking the bank, we’ve rounded up the best sweat-proof drugstore makeup that you can pick up from your corner CVS.
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara
For less than 10 bucks, you can get lashes that are as voluminous and shiny as falsies, thanks to Maybelline’s New York Lash Sensational Waterproof mascara. The fan-like wand will give your lashes major volume, and the liquid ink formula will seal in the drama so that the lovely mixture of sweat and humidity won’t leave you with raccoon eyes.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Pro-Matte Foundation
If you’re going to opt for any sweat-proof makeup product, it should probably be foundation. There’s nothing worse than beige drops of sweat rolling off your nose, making for an uneven complexion for the rest of the day. L’Oréal Paris’ Infallible 24 hour Pro-Matte Foundation will give you buildable medium-full coverage with a matte finish that lasts for 24 hours.
NYX Professional Makeup Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator
Whether you want to add drops to your foundation for an illuminating base or give those cheekbones a highlight that can be spotted from across the room, NYX’s lightweight liquid highlighter will give your tan summer skin a radiant glow that’ll last in even the hottest bars.
Wet N Wild Megalast Catsuit Liquid Eyeshadows
When you think of Wet N Wild, you probably get flashbacks of painting your nails with their pearlized nail polishes during your younger years. Well, while the brand has definitely gotten a makeover since our childhood, they are still a drugstore beauty brand staple. Their Catsuit Liquid Eyeshadows shimmer for a little added depth and dry to a matte finish, so they hug the shape of your lids like a snug catsuit.
Covergirl Outlast All-Day Soft Touch Concealer
Even though Covergirl totally betrayed our adolescent years when they changed their “Easy, Breezy, Beautiful” slogan a few months ago (still not over it), they do make a pretty good sweat-proof concealer with a super soft sponge-like applicator that will cling to those bags under your eyes all day long, regardless of the temps outside.
Flower Beauty Color Proof Longwear Lip Cream
Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty Color Proof Longwear Lip Cream stays on your lips for so long without feathering or fading, even if you spend your summer nights riding in cars with boys. The creamy texture dries to a satin finish and comes in five opaque shades to add a seriously bold lip to your look.
Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Primer
While I’m not convinced that a middle-aged white dad who wears New Balance sneakers didn’t come up with the name, this primer does do a HECK of a job with controlling shine on even the sweatiest faces for 12 hours straight. What’s more is that while controlling your skin’s sweat and oil level, the primer doubles as a pore perfector to create the perfect blank canvas before applying your sweat-proof foundation.
Milani Stay Put Matte 17 HR Wear Liquid Eyeliner
What’s cool about Milani’s Stay Put Eyeliner is that, sure, it’s humidity- and sweat-resistant so it’s great for the summertime, but it can also withstand all of the tears from your PMS-induced emotional breakdown. So, really, it’s good for any time of year. You can cry your eyes out in the bathroom at work and then go on about your day and no one will be able to tell, because your makeup will still be in tact. The thin felt applicator gives you a clean, precise line and it dries super fast so you don’t have to worry about smearing.
e.l.f. Active Sweat Resistant Mascara & Brow Duo
Seeing as though the athleisure trend isn’t going anywhere, the gurus of the beauty world decided that if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, and in October 2017 along came e.l.f.’s Active collection. It’s makeup you can wear to the gym that won’t make your skin freak out. The collection features things like post-workout body towelettes, workout-ready hydration sticks, and sweat-resistant SPF’s, but the real star in our eyes is the Active Sweat Resistant Mascara & Brow Duo. The double-sided wand features a waterproof mascara and a sweat-resistant brow gel to comb and feather brows.