Pro Tricks to Keep Your Foundation Looking Glowy (and Not Greasy) in the Hottest Months

Photo: Getty Images/Westend61
There is a fine line between "sweaty" and "glowy," which becomes harder and harder to navigate as the summer months creep along and temperatures—in New York City, at least—skyrocket toward the mid-90s. As someone who loves to walk around with dewy, radiant looking skin (...my makeup routine consists of no fewer than four different highlighters), this has always been a challenging thing to navigate. Because how is it even possible to maintain that type of look when grease and sweat are pretty much permanent skin fixtures from June through September?

To find out, I tapped three different makeup artists to share their tips on how to keep skin looking glowy—not sweaty—throughout the summer months. Keep scrolling for what they have to say.

Don't forget to wear sunscreen: Yet another reason to make sunscreen a part of your a.m. routine: It can help mattify your look when the weather is trying to do otherwise. "I always recommend my clients use a facial sunscreen that is gel-based to help blur pores and cut shine," says celebrity makeup artist Natalia López de Quintana. Her picks? Glossier Ultra Shield ($25) and Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen ($32).

Pick the right products: During the summer months, you'll want to choose foundations that will help mattify your inevitable sweat situation instead of, ya know, greasing you up and making you look more sweaty. "Steer away from using any foundations that have shimmer or a 'luminous' finish to them, which can sometimes turn oily looking in the heat," advises celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. Instead, he suggests opting for a lighter, water-based formula or something with a matte finish.

Ditch the foundation altogether: One way to keep foundation from getting greasy? Just skip that step entirely. "Instead, even out your skin tone with a color corrector, then spot cover with a lightweight cream concealer," says Gabriel De Santino, makeup artist and creator of Gabriel Cosmetics. Apply the color corrector in a triangle beneath your eyes, around the edges of your nose, across your chin, and on any other blemishes you want to hide. "A little bit of product can truly go a long way," De Santino adds.

Mix in some primer: If forgetting foundation just isn't your jam, there's an easy way to keep it from caking. "Get a glowing-from-within look by mixing your favorite hydrating, lightweight, and pearly primer with your liquid foundation," suggests De Santino. "Simply use a 60 to 40 ratio of primer to foundation and apply it to your skin as you normally would. This will give your face a dewy appearance that doesn’t look heavy and won’t melt off in the sun."

Keep the 'glow' away from the center of your face: Instead of highlighting all over, focus the dewy-looking stuff on your cheek bones and temples instead. "You can keep your matte products focused in the center of your complexion to control oil, and then add dimension to your skin by adding cream or luminous products to the outer parts of your skin," explains Scibelli.

Use a powder: To keep those non-dewy points as grease-free as possible, Scibelli suggests opting for a powder. Use it on the center of your forehead, the sides of your nose (near the inner cheeks), and at the center of your chin for best results.  And if you're worried about your eye makeup running, you can also put a light dusting of translucent powder under your eyes to help keep things in place. López de Quintana calls out Laura Mercier Shine Control Pressed Setting Powder ($38) and Covergirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder ($5) as two of her faves.

Add a setting spray: In addition to feeling oh-so-refreshing, setting spray will work its magic to keep your makeup in place all day long. "It will lock in your look, reduce shine, and help your makeup last longer," says De Santino. Re-spritz throughout the day for an instant refresh.

Have blotting papers on hand: I don't go anywhere without my blotting papers when it's hot outside. They're an easy way to de-grease on the go, though—pro tip!—in a pinch, toilet paper can get the job done just fine. If you want to opt for some of the fancy stuff, there are great options from Fenty ($16) and Milk Makeup ($10).

Your glow isn't the only thing this weather is messing with. Here's how to keep your eye makeup from dripping down your face when it's hot out. Plus, the only no-foundation foundation our beauty editor will be using until this gross humidity has passed. 

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