How to keep your makeup from melting off this summer

Beat the heat and look fabulous this summer!

When it comes to summer beauty products, sunscreen is the only thing you should be layering on thick. Makeup, on the other hand, is a whole different story, seeing as anything you put on — whether it be a base, eye shadow, or bronzer — will most likely melt off the minute you step into the sweltering summer heat. (Thanks for that, sweat.)

It’s for this reason that almost every makeup artist in the game swears by super-lightweight, sheer and creamy products in the summertime — think tinted moisturizers and cream blush — as this helps lessen the chances of your makeup turning into a sweaty, cakey shitshow disaster the second the sun hits. Sweatproof and water-resistant products are also key, as is multi-tasking makeup you can bring with you to easily touch up throughout the day. (Products like the Nars Multiple and Bite Beauty's Multisick are your best friends, folks.)

And yet, great makeup — no matter what the season — always starts with skin care. In fact, when Allure tapped several MUAs to find out their best summer makeup tips, they all stressed the importance of proper exfoliation and prepping the skin with sunscreen. Curious to know what other summer makeup tips they've got up their sleeves? Keep scrolling to find out.

Exfoliate Your Face

Before celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo paints the faces of any of his supermodel clientele, he shaves them. No, seriously. "One of my secret weapons to creating the perfect summer makeup look is to dermaplane my clients' skin before I start makeup," he says. Dermaplaning, a form of exfoliation, is when a sharp tool — not unlike a scalpel — is used to scrape off the top layer of the skin and the peach fuzz that sits atop it. Oquendo uses the Dermaflash and then follows it up with a lightweight foundation or BB cream.

Try a Tinted Moisturizer

If you can't bear to go bare, apply a light layer of a tinted moisturizer, like the Nars Charlotte Gainsbourg Hydrating Glow Tint, for a sheer glow. Or, you could always make your own tinted coverage, says makeup artist Robert Sesnek, who works with Adriana Lima and Julianne Moore. "Mix oil-free moisturizer with foundation for a softer, more sheer appearance," he says.

Give Your Lips Some Love

The days are longer, the sun is stronger, and you’re often moving from one extreme temperature to another. All of these factors can leave your lips seriously dry and flaky, and we all know that doesn’t bode well for your lipstick. But don’t pout, because there are three simple things you can do to keep your lips soft: Protect, exfoliate, and repeat. Invest in a balm like Kaplan MD Lip 20 Ultra Hydrating Treatment + SPF, which fends off damaging UV rays while locking in moisture. Make sure to reapply throughout the day — at least every two hours. When it comes to exfoliation, we swear by Beauty for Real Lip Revival Exfoliating + Hydrating Lip Scrub (in fact, we’re such believers that this scrub is the real deal, we included it in the July Allure Beauty Box). So, what makes it so good? Raw sugar granules infused in the formula gently slough off dead skin, while vanilla, orange, and cinnamon bark essential oils boost hydration. Use it twice a week for a pretty pucker that will give your lipstick shade its moment in the sun.

Use Multitasking Makeup

Invest in a product that does it all — for the lips, lids, and cheeks, says Sesnek. It keeps your bag light and gives your look a soft, monochromatic focus. We like the rose-toned Bite Beauty Multistick in Papaya.

Get a (Safe) Tan

Get your faux glow on by way of a powder bronzer — and whole lot of SPF. Sweep a generous amount of powder bronzer, like the Lottie London Tan Time Powder Bronzer all over your face to deepen your complexion, says celebrity makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan, who works with Lucy Hale and Kelsea Ballerini. Then, dust a shimmery bronzer to "accentuate the high points of the face (high check bones, bridge of your nose, and your temples) to really make your skin glow."

Switch to waterproof Formulars

There's nothing worse than mid-day mascara or eyeliner blunders. Avoid the raccoon-eye look by investing in a waterproof version of your favourite eye product — especially in the dead of summer. "With the heat from the body and the summer's high temperatures, most eyeliners will end up either running or will have to be reapplied all day," says Sesnek. "A waterproof eyeliner won't smear, run, and can even handle the swimming pool." Our current fave? Make Up For Ever's M-24, a matte electric blue hue.