How to Keep Your Face from Sliding off

It’s archives week here at SMB.  Here’s one from our early days:

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We all know that its hot; its Summer in Arizona for crying out loud!  I feel like the Queen of Redundancy every time I open my mouth to declare how hot it is- duh everyone knows its million degrees out there! 

Being that it is so hot, how do you keep your makeup from sliding off your face?  There are two things; prevention and maintenance.  Unless you have permanent makeup, this weather does require some extra effort to keep things in place.

Prevention:

Sunscreen: Find a sunscreen specifically made for the face that is lightweight, and possibly oil free.  Find one you enjoy and will use everyday.  The thicker sunscreens can make makeup application a nightmare and will encourage makeup to slip right off. 

Primer:  It can be beneficial to use a primer under your foundation.  It encourages a smooth application and gives your foundation something to hold on to.  Smashbox Photo Finish primer is my favorite, but a lot of brands carry it.  Smashbox also now makes a primer for eyelids, it is supposed to prevent creasing and vanishing eyeshadow.  It could be worth the investment if you have a serious creasing problem, however, if you are ballin’ on a budget like me, try putting a little foundation and powder on your eyelids before applying shadow.  Your eyeshadow will go on smooth and stay in place at no extra cost!

Foundation:  Foundation can be tricky anytime of year but especially in the heat of the summer.  Since living in Arizona, I have sworn by mineral foundation.  I love Bare Minerals new matte formula-its a lot less shiny than the original.  Also, Laura Mercier makes a good one, especially if you’ve had trouble finding the right color match in other brands. Since using mineral makeup I no longer have milky orange sweat dripping down my face at the gym or walking across a parking lot.  Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about…

Powder:  Set everything with a loose translucent powder! A quick once over after you’ve finished applying all of your makeup should help keep things in order.

Eye Liner:  If you use an eyeliner pencil and find that you look like a raccoon by 3pm, try applying a similar shade of eyeshadow on top of your liner to set it.  Just use a small angle brush.

Face Hairspray: Well, it’s not really hairspray, but same idea.  MakeUp For Ever makes a great Mist & Fix.  I usually save it for brides and special occasion, but it’s an easy way to set your whole face giving you some extra staying power

Maintenance

Blotting Paper:  For touchups, blotting rice paper is SO helpful to knock down shine.  Sometimes blotting alone can do the trick, or apply a little powder afterward.  If you don’t blot before you powder it can build up into a nice thick cake look.  No good!  If you’re in a jam, just use a toilet seat cover or paper towel to blot with. 

Touch ups: There really is no magic, eventually everything needs a quick touch up.  I find that in daily life, as long as I don’t have any bits of mascara on my cheeks and I reapply a little lip gloss in regular intervals everything will be just fine.

*Less is more: I know I’ve gone on and on about all this stuff to pile on your face, but keep in mind the less you put on in the morning, the less that can slide off in the afternoon.  Apply foundation only where you need it and keep all your layers of makeup on the thinner side.

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Rebecca Oates lives in Phoenix with her husband Evan and feisty wiener dog Tebow.  Rebecca is currently a freelance makeup artist and wardrobe stylist in the greater Phoenix area. She loves the Scottsdale Library system, refurbishing old furniture, rooting for UF football (go Gators!) and occasionally putting her art degree to use by painting landscapes. You can contact Rebecca at [email protected] and learn more about her here. (www.blushingcanvas.com)