It started so promisingly, you even took a couple of selfies because you looked that good. So, why then, after such a reassuring application, does your foundation suddenly sashay away post 12pm and have you questioning why your makeup never lasts all day?
This is as much a problem for dry skin as it is for oily skin and one that's only made worse by the summer heat. Sweating your face off? Me, too.
Thankfully we're here to help and have roped in three makeup artists, Dominic Skinner, Zoe Taylor and Sophie Pasola, to find out why your makeup’s just not that into you and how to turn your short-term fling into a long-term commitment. I mean, if these artists can keep a model’s foundation on under blaring studio lights and sweaty backstage conditions, they can most definitely help you keep your base on for a full day at work.
From picking the right base to ensuring you're using the right skincare and application technique, here are the main reasons why your makeup isn't lasting and more importantly, how to fix it.
BTW, our Summer Beauty Bible is on newsstands now. Don’t miss your chance to grab your guide full of helpful tips and product recs – buy now, keep forever.
Why your makeup isn't lasting all day
You haven't prepped properly
According to Dominic Skinner, global senior artist at MAC, a long-lasting base is “70% preparation and 30% application”.
So why then, when I apply foundation over moisturiser, does it slide down my face quicker than me swiping left on all of my Hinge likes? “It’s like making a cake,” Skinner tells me. “You need the right balance of all the ingredients. If your base is sliding either your moisturiser is too heavy, or, when it’s combined with your foundation it becomes too thick.”
In the same way that you wouldn’t use the same ingredients for a Victoria sponge as you would a Chelsea bun, Skinner recommends switching your products up depending on your skincare needs. “If you’re dry or dehydrated and need a richer moisturiser, follow up with a lighter or oil-free foundation and vice-versa,” he recommends.
Skinner suggests using an oil-free primer which will "keep your foundation on longer by 'grabbing' hold of the oil within your foundation." It may also be worth switching to a waterproof foundation or a more long-wearing formula and simply recreating your glow with a cream highlighter in certain areas, i.e. cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and above the brow arch.
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You're being too handsy
I get it, some days all you’ve got time to do is haphazardly smear some foundation over your face while being crushed against a window on a bus journey from hell. However, makeup artist Zoe Taylor warns that by applying your base with your fingers, you risk it not sticking around past lunchtime.
“I always use a brush to apply my base, otherwise I find the oils from my hands mix in and down the products quicker,” Taylor explains. Oh, and if you find that you’re getting foundation streaks when using a brush, you’re using too much product. Alternatively, switch to a beauty sponge for a seamless blend.
You're not picking a good match
“The most common problem I encounter is people wearing foundation formulations that aren’t suitable for their skin type.” says makeup artist Sophie Pasola. If your foundation tends to go patchy or just disappear altogether, it's likely that dehydration is the culprit. “Your poor skin doesn't know the difference between makeup and moisturiser; it just absorbs whatever hydration and oil it can, causing your coverage to evaporate.” Pasola’s answer? “Avoid the latest waterproof-lifeproof-sweatproof-168hr formulas if you have dehydrated or dry skin and instead, opt for a more moisturising formulation.
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You're not priming absolutely everywhere
It’s all well and good making sure your complexion is on lock down, but that’s not going to save you when your eyeshadow is making its way downtown. As Pasola points out, “the oil in your eyelids can dissolve whatever make-up you’re wearing, waterproof or not.” Which explains why Skinner, Taylor and Pasola always use some kind of eyeshadow primer on their clients.
“I use Maybelline’s Color Tattoo 24-Hour Cream Eyeshadow, £5.99 as a long-lasting base for eyes and layer powder shadow on top to create the colour I want,” explains Taylor. Extending the wear of your lipstick however isn’t as simple, especially when eating and drinking is involved. To help this, Taylor recommends prepping your lips, like you would your base with the Tinker Taylor Lip Scrub, £20, to remove any flaky skin that could cause patchiness. I can’t say it will help with longevity if you do manage to hit first base though.
You're piling on products
While it can seem tempting to apply more makeup in the hopes that at least 50% of it might make it through the day, according to Skinner, that is a terrible idea. “The key thing is to keep it light,” he warns me. “Lots of fine layers will last a lot longer than thick and heavy ones.”
This less is more approach can also be applied to your powder, which as a self-proclaimed dewy queen, I at times detest. “You can guarantee that even the most luminous red carpet makeup has been powdered very thoroughly,” explains Pasola. “Choose a lightweight, silicone-based formula,” she suggests. If you're really not a fan of powder, Skinner recommends MAC’s Fix+ Original Setting Spray; "A few sprays hydrates, conditions and sets your makeup, but also mattifies, leaving your skin looking matte but still fresh with no cake face in sight."
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Laura is a former writer for Cosmopolitan UK, covering everything beauty and fashion related and specialises in makeup, plus-size fashion and the world of YouTube. Her favourite pastime is reminding everyone of that one time she met Charlie Hunnam and Jason Momoa. Please don't ask to see the pictures...
