Sweatproof Makeup Must-Haves You Need Now
Some of us prefer to go bare-faced when we know our skin is about to get sweaty, while others opt for a full face of makeup and take a chance. If you’re of the latter school of thought, then having good sweat-proof makeup on hand isn’t a want, it’s a need. Because there’s nothing worse than applying a full beat of glam only to have it literally melt off your skin thanks to high humidity or a scorcher of a day. Still, the best sweat-proof makeup must be formulated just right so that it stays put and doesn’t disappear, no matter what the day (or night) may bring. That’s why we always rely on these sweat-proof formulas to keep our skin and makeup looking fresh, especially during the dog days of summer.
Our Top Picks:
Best Sweat-Proof Setting Spray: RMS Beauty Radiance Mist Setting Spray Best Sweat-Proof Bronzer: Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Bronzer Best Sweat-Proof Blush: tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip & Cheek Multi-Stick Best Sweat-Proof Setting Powder: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder 8HA Best Sweat-Proof Foundation with SPF: jane Iredale Skintuition SPF 30 Radiance Boosting Liquid Foundation Best Sweat-Proof Mascara: GRANDE Cosmetics GrandeMASCARA Waterproof Mascara Best Sweat-Proof Eyeliner: RevitaLash Cosmetics Defining Liner Eyeliner Best Sweat-Proof Brow Makeup: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel Best Sweat-Proof Lip Stain: jane iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain
What is Sweat-Proof Makeup?
Sweat-proof makeup is exactly what it sounds like: makeup that doesn’t budge, smudge, or fade away when the skin gets sweaty. Usually consisting of liquid or powder formulas (although some may be cream-based), sweat-proof makeup is formulated to withstand sweat, hot weather, and humidity while maintaining the makeup’s finish and color. Sweat-proof and waterproof makeup are similar in that they both promise to stay in place.
What Makes Makeup Sweat-Proof?
The ingredients and formulation of a makeup product allow it to be considered sweat-proof if it consists of the right ones. Lighter-weight textures often dictate a sweat-proof formula, while those labeled as heat, water, or humidity resistant also make the cut. The more matte the finish of your makeup, the better, as it tends to hold up better in sweaty situations than something with a dewy or semi-matte finish.
The way a makeup product is formulated can also classify it as sweat-proof. Those that are water-based tend to hold up in hot weather and don’t break down when exposed to sweat, whereas oil-based ones are less well-equipped to deal with sweat. Also, make sure your makeup is breathable and has a second-skin finish as well as hydrating ingredients so that the skin doesn’t feel dry when wearing it.
Best Sweat-Proof Makeup
Best Sweat-Proof Setting Spray: RMS Beauty Radiance Mist Setting Spray
$39.00
Lock makeup in place all day long with this ultra-light, alcohol-free setting spray. Not only does it leave the skin looking glowy and keeps your makeup exactly where you want it, but it also doesn’t have that dreaded sticky feeling, unlike many setting sprays.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, pea seed extract, bergamot fruit oil, olive fruit oil, orange peel oil, hyaluronic acid, squalane, lavender oil, rice bran oil, rose flower oil
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Boosts the skin’s glow factor, locks in and prolongs makeup wear for up to eight hours, never leaves the skin feeling sticky
Beauty Insider Tip: For a more targeted application, mist a blush brush with the setting mist and then tap the brush onto the skin to set your makeup in place.
Best Sweat-Proof Bronzer: Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Bronzer
$46.00
bronzer. Perfect for all skin types, the vitamin E-infused formula adds a healthy bronze tone to the skin while hydrating it. Plus, the buildable formula helps to blur the look of enlarged pores, fine lines, and uneven skin texture.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, fatty acids, mica, sunflower seed oil
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Hydrates the skin, blurs away skin imperfections, adds a healthy bronze color to the skin to enliven the complexion
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply the creamy bronzer onto the highpoints of the face, like the cheeks, temples, bridge of the nose, and forehead, for a naturally contoured look.
Best Sweat-Proof Blush: tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip & Cheek Multi-Stick
$30.00
No matter if you swipe this rich, creamy stick onto your cheeks or lips, the perfectly pigmented color stays precisely where it is placed without budging or smudging, no matter what the day brings. Consider this a must-have for achieving a sun-kissed look with little effort.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, superfruit complex, oil blend
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Gives a natural hint of color to the cheeks and lips, does not budge, fade, or smudge, provides all-day hydration, melts into the skin like skincare but acts like makeup
Beauty Insider Tip: For natural-looking coverage, first dot the makeup onto the cheeks and blend it out with a brush or sponge before building upon the color for a more intense look.
Best Sweat-Proof Setting Powder: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder 8HA
$54.00
Blur away the look of imperfections while setting your makeup in place with this loose, skincare-infused setting powder. The natural and vegan formula never dries out the skin, thanks to eight types of hyaluronic acid and a lightweight texture that feels like a second skin. It also absorbs oil and shine, so your glam doesn’t quit when you want it to perform at its best.
Key Ingredients: Silica, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Mattifies the skin and controls shine while setting makeup, blurs away imperfections while filling in fine lines and wrinkles, allows makeup to last longer
Beauty Insider Tip: In addition to using the powder to set your makeup, it can also be lightly dusted over the face after applying your nighttime skincare to lock everything in place for even better results.
Best Sweat-Proof Foundation with SPF: jane Iredale Skintuition SPF 30 Radiance Boosting Liquid Foundation
$56.00
Part skincare, part makeup, this luminous, lightweight foundation provides ample coverage while still allowing your skin to shine through. Infused with antioxidants and SPF 30, each shade provides a seamless match and a flawless finish, ensuring a natural-looking appearance without a matte or dull finish.
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, Superfood complex
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Helps protect the skin from damaging UV rays, attracts and retains moisture in the skin, gives a plumping effect to the skin, is non-comedogenic, leaves skin looking bright and healthy while blurring away the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and texture
Beauty Insider Tip: To make the skin look healthy and natural, always prep it with primer or moisturizer before applying the foundation.
Best Sweat-Proof Mascara: GRANDE Cosmetics GrandeMASCARA Waterproof Mascara
$25.00
For mile-long lashes that don’t quit, waterproof mascara is usually your best bet. But rather than resorting to traditional formulas, give a conditioning one a try so that it improves the health of your lashes, making them healthy and strong. This buildable version offers up serious volume and length that stands up to sweat, water, and tears without ever flaking or smudging.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, natural wax blend, vitamin E
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Helps strengthen and fortify the lashes so that they become healthier and stronger, promotes natural lash volume and length
Beauty Insider Tip: To properly remove the mascara, soak a cotton ball in an oil-based eye makeup remover, press it against the lashes, and gently swipe it down to remove the mascara.
Best Sweat-Proof Eyeliner: RevitaLash Cosmetics Defining Liner Eyeliner
$29.00
No matter if you’re a makeup newbie or an advanced aficionado, this densely packed, ultra-pigmented cream eyeliner works across the board for everyone. Thanks to its water-resistant formula, the eyeliner provides smudge-proof, long-lasting wear that never skips or pulls while applying.
Key Ingredients: Silicone emollients, vitamin E
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Locks moisture into the skin, glides on for an easy and precise application, lends conditioning and antioxidant benefits to the skin
Beauty Insider Tip: There’s no need to ever sharpen this eye pencil since it’s a retractable liner that can be smudged to achieve a variety of different looks.
Best Sweat-Proof Brow Makeup: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel
$26.00
A brow styling gel is a makeup must-have, and this clear, wax-meets-gel version is the ultimate “keep-them-in-place” product for unruly brows. The dual-action comb allows for sculpting, shaping, and setting the brows, giving them a laminated look that’s modern and fresh.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, allantoin, sodium PCA, biotin, laminaria digitata
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Allows for versatile styling, creates the look of fuller brows without a stiff or hard feeling, tames and sculpts all brow types, including coarse and unruly ones, doesn’t leave behind a sticky or flaky finish
Beauty Insider Tip: Use this brow setting gel on the go to give a lifted and laminated look that easily washes away at the end of the day.
Best Sweat-Proof Lip Stain: jane iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain
$32.00
Want a custom color that’s based on your lip’s pH levels? Swipe on this natural formula and watch it interact with your body chemistry to develop into a long-lasting, unique color that’s super flattering.
Key Ingredients: Olive fruit oil, avocado oil, pumpkin seed oil, beeswax, jojoba seed oil, pomegranate extract, blackberry and blueberry fruit extract, white tea leaf extract
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Gives long-lasting, custom color to the lips and cheeks, doesn’t dry out the skin, helps keep the lips moisturized
Beauty Insider Tip: For a richer-looking color, first apply lip liner to the outer portion of the lips and all over, and then apply the formula evenly to the entire lip area.
FAQs
How do you apply sweat-proof makeup?
Sweat-proof makeup should be applied the same way as your regular makeup, but the prep is important here. Rather than layering on heavy skincare products, skip using anything super rich or thick to avoid a heavy feeling on the skin and stick with lighter formulas instead. Equally as important is wearing a good waterproof primer, which will work with any type of makeup.
To set the makeup, spritz on a super-hold setting spray or dust a light layer of powder just on the areas where you tend to sweat most, such as the forehead, nose, and chin. This will help lock the makeup in place, making it less likely to shift or budge.
Is sweat-proof makeup safe for acne-prone skin?
Swear-proof makeup is safe for acne-prone skin and can actually help limit breakouts. The key to making sure that the makeup won’t cause clogged pores or breakouts is to make sure the product is labeled as oil-free and noncomedogenic.
How do you remove sweat-proof makeup?
Removing sweat-proof isn’t hard or complicated (nor should it be) if you have the appropriate makeup removers on hand. Waterproof makeup removers are typically biphase, meaning they are composed of equal parts oil and water, which helps cut through the makeup. Cleansing balms (the first step in a double cleanse) are also helpful since they, too, break down hard-to-remove makeup. If there’s still some lingering makeup on your face or eyes, swipe a makeup-removing wipe across the area to remove any last traces of makeup.
The Bottom Line
Sweat-proof makeup deserves a spot in your makeup routine, especially as temperatures rise and the heat and humidity intensify. But it’s not just during the summer when sweat-proof makeup comes in handy. You’ll likely want to reach for it if you’re someone who likes to wear makeup when working out, experiences hot flashes, or lives in a warm climate. No matter the reason for wanting to wear sweat-proof makeup, one thing is certain: make sure to fully remove it at the end of the day so that it doesn’t clog your pores or cause breakouts.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
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