Keep your makeup fresh all day
What is the point of spending an hour applying the most expensive makeup and using the most elaborate techniques if humidity, pollution and sun exposure will just turn everything into a colorful, melted mess after an hour?
At least five days in a week, legions of women take public transport, pound the pavement and expose themselves to the elements. How can one maintain a fresh look against the oppressive elements? What is a girl to do?
Uptown/Downtown consulted with experts on how to keep your makeup looking fresh all day.
Choose tinted sunblock, BB & CC creams
With temperatures ranging from the high ‘20s to mid-30s, the need for skin protection from the sun is a must. Liquid and cream foundations melt when exposed to constant heat. Sunblocks are meant to last for an extended period of time under the sun and give much needed defense against UVA and UVB rays. Use a tinted sunblock with a minimum of SPF30. Tinted sunblocks even out skin tones and does the work of a foundation.
BB Creams and CC Creams that have high SPF are also ideal choices. Many of these creams not only protect you from the sun and even out your skin tone but they also brighten, color correct and improve skin tone.
This writer’s favorites: Belo Essentials Tinted Sunblock, VMV Skin Savvy SPF60 and Maybelline BB White SPF50.
Use mattifying primers
Mattifying primers have more than one purpose. They keep oily skin at bay, even out skin tone and prep facial surface so that makeup lasts so much longer. It is the first product to apply on the face (even before your sunblock). Primers also make your eye makeup crease-proof.
This writer’s favorites: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer, Becca Mattifying Primer Base and The Face Shop Span Oil Control.
Powder keeps makeup intact
Use loose powder to “seal” your look in the morning and keep pressed powder compact in your purse to control shine and absorb excess oil.
This writer’s favorites are In2It Control Pressed Powder, MAC Studio Fix, Maybelline Clear Smooth Extra Shine-Free Powder Foundation. (And yes! Carry blotting paper as well!)
Opt for cheek stain
To keep your cheeks looking dewy all day, skip powder blush (it tends to melt and fade easily) and opt for cheek stains instead. Some cheek stains double up as lip stains as well. Make sure to blend carefully using a damp sponge or Beautyblender when applying the stain on your skin.
This writer’s favorites: Benefit Lip and Cheek Stain, and e.l.f. Studio Stain.
Use waterproof mascara
Who wants to have raccoon eyes? No one? I thought so. Mascara goes a long way in adding drama to the eyes. High humidity and pollution are surefire ways to melt regular mascara formulations so make sure to use waterproof versions of this product.
This writer’s favorites: Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara, L’Oréal Voluminous Hydrofuge and Etude House Lash Perm.
Photography by
Joanne Zapanta-Andrada
• Model: Samantha Lorenzo
