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.
via Giphy
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.
Courtesy of Maybelline
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.
Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris
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.
Courtesy of NYX
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.
Courtesy of Wet N Wild
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.
Courtesy of CoverGirl
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.
Courtesy of Flower Beauty
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.
Courtesy of Soap & Glory
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.
Courtesy of Milani
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.
Courtesy of e.l.f.
Because girl world is basically the equivalent of wild animals fighting, there’s a handful of places wearing a full face of makeup to is frowned upon if you don’t want to be roasted in a group chat, like to bed, to the beach, or to the gym. Haters will say it’s Photoshop you’re desperate for attention and have seriously clogged pores. Well, we all know binge drinking is totally unhealthy and wreaks havoc on our liver and skin, but that obviously doesn’t stop us from doing it. So, on the rare occasion that you actually break a sweat at the gym, you’re still not going to leave the house without fully done eyebrows and questionably fake lashes. Like, what if you run into your ex or worse, someone from high school? There’s no way in hell you’re letting them see what you look like when you’re dying inside. If you’re going to look like a fucking idiot at SoulCycle, you may as well look decent good while doing it. Take it from a pro, you *can* wear makeup to the gym without looking hella thirsty. Here are 5 sweat-proof makeup products that won’t ruin your skin so you can look sexy with your hair pushed back.
1. Supergoop! Barre To Bar Beauty Set
This 4-piece set comes with everything you need to prep your skin for a hot yoga or pilates sesh in a fashionable toiletry bag. Instead of caking on foundation that you’ll just immediately sweat off, use the tinted CC cream to hide red spots and wrinkles while giving your face a smooth natural-looking glow. Don’t waste your expensive bronzer. If you like, actually work out and like to do it outside (WTF is wrong with you), make sure to use the super lightweight and breathable sunscreen serum to protect and prep your skin for tons of exposure to cancer-causing UV rays. Finish your natural look with the lip and cheek treat for a natural flush and glossy lip. After all is done, use the setting spray to control your sweat and keep this shit on your face where it belongs throughout your workout.
2. Arrow Revive Cooling Cheek Tint
For the freaks overachievers that actually use their lunch break as an opportunity to hit the treadmill, I’m concerned with your priorities this will def be your new obsession. As part of their active lifestyle-inspired line, this Birchbox cheek tint pen works with a simple swipe for blending in your workout red face with a pink glow for the perfect blush. The oil-free formula lasts through even the most intense routines and provides a cooling sensation to keep your face refreshed all day long. Bless. Even if you count walking to Starbucks as your daily cardio (hi), use this for your I-don’t-actually-work-out-but-I-like-to-pretend-like-I-do look.
3. CliniqueFIT Post-Workout Mattifying Moisturizer
After sweating out all the alcohol you drank last weekend, you’ll want to control the sweat and oil coming out of your face, ya nasty. No one wants to see that shit all day long. Use this oil-free moisturizer for a non-greasy hydrating refresher. It dries as matte so it’ll absorb all the gross stuff quick and go on smoothly.
4. Tarte Lifted Sweatproof Mascara
If you’re going for a sexual look that says, “by ‘workout,’ I mean I pick things up and put them down but I mostly just like to stare at myself in the mirror,” then coating your lashes in a ridiculous healthy amount of mascara is key. This mascara is part of Tarte’s athleisure line that caters to all basic betches who just want to look good and talk shit at the gym. The waterproof formula is made to stay put, even through swimming (lol but who swims at the gym, or like, at all). Since Tarte knows us all too well, the mascara will give you flirty long lashes that are guaranteed to last through intense workouts into Sunday brunch.
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Any sane person wouldn’t leave the house with ratchet-ass eyebrows, so I don’t blame you for doing them before the gym, either. Whether you’re broke or too lazy to get them done but ate your weight in drunk pizza so going to the gym is kind of mandatory at this point, this brow pencil makes it super easy to half-ass them before running out the door. You can fill in the areas that need serious TLC for natural-looking fierce brows and have them stay on through the full 45-minute cycling class.
Waterproof makeup is cool and all, but just because my mascara has less chances of running doesn’t mean it won’t stop me from sweating profusely—which no one can know I’m capable of doing, obviously. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I slayed the fuck out of my makeup but no one was able to tell because by the time I stepped outside, half of my face literally melted off. Here I am trying to look like an arguable model—whether that be at a nightclub, dinner date, or IDK, a meeting with my entire workforce—but instead, I’m trying to keep it together by awkwardly attempting to make oil blotting look normal while casually sweating bullets.
So, basically I look like this:
It’s July, damn it, so I know you can’t really keep this act up for much longer. Maintaining your Sephora addiction ain’t cheap, so here are some makeup products to keep that shit on lock and stay looking grease ball-free all summer long.
1. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Before caking makeup on, you should (already) use this lightweight primer that drastically reduces any redness, wrinkles, and other shit you don’t want on your face. This smooths out any uneven texture by minimizing pores so your foundation looks and stays #flawless all day long. Plus, with an added SPF, your face is protected against lame sun damage.
2. Cover FX Mattifying Setting Spray
After you’re finaaally done putting your face on, you should be using a setting spray to ensure your artwork stays on long enough to be seen. This matte setting spray is honestly perf because it gives you smooth looking skin while absorbing any shine that’s totally not wanted. It’s alcohol-free and dries super quick so you’ll def have non-greasy skin all day long. Feel free to spritz away as you please if want a quick touch-up.
3. Supergoop! Invincible Setting Powder SPF 45
Prefer a setting powder over a spray? NBD, because this will replace whatever you use now and be your new lifesaver. Formulated to be sweat-resistant, this will set your makeup and help prevent gross oil from seeping out during the day. It even includes a high SPF so you can enjoy drunk brunch without that nagging feeling that you’re slowly getting melanoma. Since it leaves a matte finish, it’s great for reapplying if need be.
4. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
For morning or before a booty call bed, use this balm to moisturize, oil-control, and tighten those bags under your eyes. It’s like coffee your face—it’s literally described as an “energy” mask that rids any signs of exhaustion and stress (does this come in pill form, too?). You can use it before putting on makeup to keep your contour looking fresh af, or before passing out to ensure your skin looks radiant and refreshed.
5. trèStiQue Magic Mattifying Balm & Blotting Sheet Duo
Okay, so decisions are always impossible to make when it comes to makeup. Well, this duo is about to make all of your dreams come true and then some. One side is a soft balm that literally erases grease and works as both a primer and setter. The second side comes with hidden customizable blotting sheets. I know, why haven’t you heard of this before? Ugh, thank god for me. Buy this and keep it in your purse because we both know you won’t be able to live without it from now on.
