We may manifest a heatwave all winter long, but as soon as it comes, there are many things we like to complain about. The subway platform feels like a sauna, walking two blocks leaves us sweating through our clothes, and painfully, our makeup lasts a total of five seconds before it ends up sliding down our face, leaving panda eyes and patchiness in its wake. But no more! Sweat-proof makeup is here to save the day.
Vogue’s Favorite Sweat-Proof Makeup Products:
- The All-Day Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, $39
- The Tinted Moisturizer with SPF: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer, $40
- The Setting Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder, $38
- The Face Primer: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, $ 38
- The Lip Stain: Wonderskin Wonder Blading All Day Lip Stain, $22
- The Long-Wear Mascara: Benefit Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara, $29
Innovation in the makeup space means there’s more than just skincare-infused ingredients in our base formulas and punchy pigments in our eye and lip products. There is also makeup built to last. These are hero buys that will survive the elements, no matter whether plans include scaling mountains or sunning in parks.
Sweat-proof makeup is not the same as waterproof. “Sweat-proof makeup is more about resistance to heat, humidity, oils, and friction from sweat,” says makeup artist and Vieve founder Jamie Genevieve. “Waterproof formulas are specifically designed to resist actual water exposure, rain, swimming, and tears.”
When it comes to finding the secret to long-lasting and sweat-proof makeup, Genevieve shares that a less-is-more approach is the key. It begins, she stresses with primer. “Always prime first. This helps the makeup hold onto the skin instead of melting off.” To then control shine, setting powder can be helpful. But the makeup artist warns to “only apply this in small amounts and press it in rather than dusting loads everywhere. The goal is to lock in cream products, not erase all signs of humanity from the face.” Seal it all in place with a setting spray–“it melts layers together so makeup looks skin-like and lasts longer.”
As it’s not simply a case of securing those budge-proof, humidity-resistant formulas, we called upon professional makeup artists to share their tips and tricks. Be prepared to beat the heat with the sweat-proof and sealing makeup essentials with seals of approval from both the Vogue beauty team and makeup artists. Then, scroll on for their application hacks.
In This Story
- Are mattifying products always better for sweat?
- Are powder, liquid or cream formulas better for sweaty conditions?
- What layering technique makes makeup last longest in heat?
- How should routines differ for oily vs dry skin when dealing with sweat?
- What’s the best way to balance skincare with long-wear makeup?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
The Tinted Moisturizer with SPF: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: In high, humid temperatures, our biggest piece of advice is to wear lightweight layers, and avoid foundation whenever possible. Instead, combine two (or even three!) steps into one with a tinted moisturizer with SPF. Pairing hydration, UV protection, and all-over tint into one formula evens out the skin without weighing it down. Our go-to tinted gel cream, this classic formula never goes out of style.
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 20
- Size: 1.18 oz / 35 mL
The Lip Liner Stain: Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N Peel Off Lip Stain
- Why We Love It: After going viral on social media–and earning the seal of approval from Billie Eilish and Sofia Richie–the Sacheu STAY-N Lip Liner has quickly become a cult-favorite. Designed to create a naturally plumped contour, you simply trace along your lip line, let it set, then peel it away to reveal a long-lasting, smudge-proof stain. The best part? It stays put without drying out your lips, thanks to a nourishing blend of hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
- Editor’s Experience: “I try to be precise when applying the doe foot applicator, to ensure I only ‘line’ my lips, rather than filling in my whole pout with color. Though I haven’t quite nailed the application (I find the result always looks better for me after I clean it up a bit with an actual lip liner pencil), there’s no arguing that the color lasts all day.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 10
The All-Day Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
- Why We Love It: Beloved for its long-lasting staying power, Charlotte Tilbury’s cult setting spray creates a non-sticky film that acts as a shield on the skin, keeping your makeup in place for up to 16 hours. Trust us: we tried it through a train commute in the height of a summer heatwave, and our makeup looked just as flawless by the day’s end as it did when first applied.
- Best For: Smooth, airbrushed finish with a subtle glow
- Size: 100ml
The Long-Wear Mascara: Benefit Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara
- Why We Love It: “Offering lift, length and separation, this mascara defines lashes without clumping and gives that clean, jet black finish that is a non-negotiable for me,” says British Vogue contributor Jessica Diner. “Even after testing countless mascaras, this is the one I return to for a fluttering finish that–most importantly–never flakes or smudges.”
- Best For: Curl and lift
- Size: 8.5g
The Setting Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder
- Why We Love It: Loose powders are a makeup essential, and this formula from Anastasia Beverly Hills is a pro makeup artist favorite. Claudia Neacsu, whose clients include Bebe Rexha and Alexis Ren, says it plays a crucial role in her kit. This is no doubt due to its ability to absorb oil and leave a matte finish in its wake, all while remaining ultra-fine and almost-invisible on the complexion.
- Best For: Absorbing surface oils, quelling shine
- Shades: 4
- Size:
The Face Primer: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
- Why We Love It: If you need your base to stay in place for hours on end, this gel primer is a great choice. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and blue agave extract, which means that although makeup stays put, skin also stays feeling hydrated and plump too, so you won’t crease or get cakey. As well as being free from silicone, it’s paraben-free, oil-free and fragrance-free, and so is perfect for anyone with very sensitive skin.
- Best For: Ensuring your look doesn’t budge all day
- Finish: Dewy
- Size: 1.52 fl oz
The Mattifying Setting Spray: ONE/SIZE On ‘Til Dawn Waterproof Setting Spray
- Why We Love It: If you’re after a blurred, even-skin finish that stays looking flawless for hours on end, this is the setting spray for you. It’s infused with skin-loving ingredients like green tea extract, which helps refine the appearance of enlarged pores, as well as witch hazel extract to mop up excess oil in the skin.
- Best For: A matte, not flat finish
- Size: 143ml
The Eyeshadow Stick: Kiko Milano Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick
- Why We Love It: With its stick applicator and creamy texture, this eyeshadow glides onto the lids with high impact. The striking pigment leaves a long-wear hue in its wake. Don’t let the affordable price tag fool you, this is a high-performance product that doesn’t drag, is easy to blend and instantly revives tired eyes with its shimmer finish.
- Texture: Cream
- Shades: 20
The Budge-Proof Concealer: Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer
- Why We Love It: Think of this concealer as a smoothing veil, which seamlessly blurs pores and brightens any area you could use coverage in. Apt for buildable medium-to-full coverage, you don’t need much to mask imperfections, and the formula blends effortlessly under the eyes to give a flawless but natural finish. Combining coverage with skincare, look to the ingredient list for all you need to know: a choice blend of antioxidant camellia, hydrating squalane, soothing centella asiatica, and microspherical powders ensures skin is perfected from the inside out.
- Finish: Naturally airbrushed, medium-to-full coverage
- Shades: 22
- Size: 0.2 oz/6 mL
The Lip Stain: Wonderskin Wonder Blading All Day Lip Stain
- Why We Love It: One of the many gripes we have with a lot of lip products is that they disappear the moment you eat or drink something. That is not the case with this one from Wonderskin. The brand uses a patented technology that infuses colourants and pigments (safely) into the top layer of your lips. So no matter where the day takes you, you don’t have to worry about constant reapplication.
- Editor’s Experience: “I won’t lie, the initial color of the product threw me off, but I absolutely loved the result. My favorite shade, Whimsical, is a pinky mauve that starts out as electric blue. It’s worth noting that this isn’t a peel off, but rather a wipe off—a wet paper towel and gentle rub does the trick.”—Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 17
The Velvet-Finish Foundation: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
- Why We Love It: The Armani Luminous Silk Foundation has been one of the bestselling foundations for the last 25 years, and with its new reformulation, the legacy is sure to continue. The matte texture was always revolutionary in its silk-like texture, but even more so with the 2026 formula that infuses skin-care ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to the mix. As part of the relaunch, the brand increased the shade count too. So, if you have to wear foundation for whatever you schedule entails, consider this a solid choice.
- Finish: Naturally glowy and blurred
- Shades: 44
- Size: 0.6 oz; 1.0 oz
Best for Oil Control: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder
- Why We Love It: “The Yummy Skin Blurring Balm works as a primer, concealer, skin tint, and setting powder all in one,” says British Vogue contributor Tracy Achonwa. “Powered by squalane, hyaluronic acid, and Upsalite–the lab-accident-cum-cosmetic-innovation discovered in Sweden in 2021–the formula is unlike any other beauty product on the market.” As a balm-to-powder, it nourishes the skin while blurring over texture, fine lines and pores. The tinted variations add a layer of sheer, skin-like coverage that can be built up to get you a polished, event-ready base. Best of all, if you have combination or oily skin, the Upsalite technology lends a helping hand by absorbing excess oil whilst you wear it, resulting in a hydrated, but shine-free finish.
- Finish: Matte
- Size: 0.63 oz / 18 g
Everything You Need to Know
Are mattifying products always better for sweat?
“It’s a bit of a myth that the more matte you go, the longer your makeup lasts,” Genevieve says. “If a formula is too drying, your skin can start overcompensating and producing even more oil underneath which then breaks makeup apart faster. The trick is controlled balance and priming the skin before application.” makeup artist Claudia Neacsu confirms, “the most important aspect before choosing any formula is matching it to your skin type.” She adds, “Oily skin does better with mattifying products, while dry skin needs more long-term moisture regardless of the environment. It’s also crucial to use the right techniques when applying these products in order for them to actually last.”
Are powder, liquid, or cream formulas better for sweaty conditions?
Neacsu swears by a combined approach. “I believe it’s a mix of cream and powder formulas that will give you the most flawless but also long-lasting finish, it’s all in the application technique and layering.” Genevieve concurs: “layering textures is the real wonder” but if you are sticking to just one, she advises, “creams and liquids usually perform best if they’re properly set. They fuse into the skin more naturally and tend to fade prettier. Powder-only makeup can sometimes go patchy once sweat breaks through.”
What layering technique makes makeup last longest in heat?
Before you start on your base products, Genevieve’s top tip is to “let a daily SPF fully absorb before approaching makeup.” She recommends Anua’s Zero-Cast Moisturising Finish Sunscreen, since it’s “super lightweight and leaves no white cast – the perfect makeup base.” Then, Neacsu says thin layers work best. “Not only the skin looks so much better, but when adding thin layers you have less product that can later melt off your face. I always love saying that I build my makeup layer by layer.”
How should routines differ for oily vs. dry skin when dealing with sweat?
For oily skin, Genevieve says “the instinct is usually to strip everything back and mattify aggressively” but that’s far from the best course of action. Instead, “keep hydration light but present and use oil-control only in targeted areas. Lean into thin layers and choose breathable long-wear formulas.” When it comes to selecting a foundation, “I will always use a soft matte formula on oily skin,” Neacsu tells me.
For dry skin, “prep is everything,” Genevieve highlights. She advises using a “hydrating SPF and moisturizer in the morning to lock in all the moisture and avoid loads of powder.” Neacsu adds “I will keep the skin prep and foundation hydrating, but not heavy for hot summer days.”
What’s the best way to balance skincare with long-wear makeup?
“This is where people accidentally sabotage their makeup without realizing,” Genevieve explains. “If skincare underneath is too rich, slippy, or layered too heavily, makeup has nothing stable to grip onto. The ideal summer stack is to use your morning antioxidant with a moisturizer suited to your skin type and to let your SPF absorb and settle into the skin properly before applying makeup.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity makeup artists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to sweat-proof makeup, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, whether it’s oil-free, weight, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.
Meet the Experts
- Claudia Neacsu is a makeup artist whose clients include Bebe Rexha and Alexis Ren
- Jamie Genevieve is a makeup artist, social media star and the founder of Vieve.