Wearing a full face of makeup in the hot, humid days of summer is never an enjoyable experience. Indeed, even the best foundations can start to feel heavy and mask-like, or worse still, slide or fade from your face completely as sweat and oil builds up on skin throughout the day. While there's certainly no hard rule that foundation needs to be worn daily, if you are grateful for the coverage then we totally understand that it can be a non-negotiable.
As someone who never used to leave the house without wearing foundation, I've learned exactly what to look out for when you need a summer-proof, sweatproof foundation. Scan the labels for oil-free and matte finish formulas that promise long wear—some will even be labelled as sweat-proof, shine-proof, and even humidity-proof.
Oh, and the key to application is thin, light layers—use a sponge to press your foundation into your skin and avoid unwanted brush strokes. Prep your skin well with a lightweight skincare routine and finish your makeup application with a good setting spray to lock it in place rather than a powder (which can leave cakey finish). I'd also recommend keeping blotting papers on hand for midday touch ups if you're in a particularly hot environment or intent to wear your foundation for a long time.
Ahead of your summer makeup bag switch-up, scroll down to meet my favourite sweatproof foundations, tried and tested. No matter what your budget, agenda, or skin type, there's an option for you.
The Best Sweatproof Foundations, Listed
1. Best Full Coverage Foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
2. Best Light Coverage Foundation: One/size Turn Up the Base Blurring Foundation
3. Best Luxury Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
4. Best Affordable Foundation: L'Oréal Infallible 24h Matte Cover Foundation
5. Best Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin: BareMinerals BarePro 16-Hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
6. Best Foundation for Combination Skin: Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation
7. Best Foundation for Dry Skin: Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Foundation
8. Best Foundation for Oily Skin: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
9. Best Mineral Foundation: Sculpted by Aimee Second Skin Foundation
10. Makeup Artist's Favourite: Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation
11. Best Longwearing Foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Shop the Best Sweatproof Foundations:
1. Best Full Coverage Foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
This iconic foundation is renowned for its full coverage finish, which almost completely masks even the most stubborn areas of redness, scarring, and blemishes. Granted, it feels heavy, but if coverage is what you're after, look no further.
2. Best Light Coverage Foundation: One/size Turn Up the Base Blurring Foundation
More of a BB cream than a foundation, this creamy base product is lightweight and gives skin a sheer, natural finish. What's more it withstands even the most sweaty and humid of environments.
3. Best Luxury Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
This is one of those rare but wonderful foundations that simultaneously feels weightless and looks totally skin-like, but still offers great coverage and stays in place all day long. It has a soft matte finish, so reduces shine but helps to maintain skin's natural glow.
4. Best Affordable Foundation: L'Oréal Infallible 24h Matte Cover Foundation
Proving that you don't need to spend a small fortune to find a good sweatproof foundation, this drugstore staple stands up against summer's worst, ensuring skin looks as matte and fresh at 5pm as it did at 8am.
5. Best Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin: BareMinerals BarePro 16-Hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
If your skin is acne-prone then you're stuck in the eternal dilemma of wanting a base that offers coverage, but that won't clog your pores and worsen breakouts. This is it—and what's more, the powder formula helps to keep shine and excess oil at bay.
6. Best Foundation for Combination Skin: Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation
If your skin can be dry in some areas and oily in others, you'll want a foundation that stays put without clinging to drier areas. This smooth, silky formula contains silicones, which create a barrier over skin, preventing sweat and oil from disturbing makeup and smoothing over rough patches of dryness.
7. Best Foundation for Dry Skin: Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Foundation
Your skin may be dry, but that doesn't mean it's immune to sweat on the hottest summer days. This foundation is built to last against the elements, but is also infused with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which give it a weightless finish.
8. Best Foundation for Oily Skin: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
Oily skin and sweat is never a fun combination, but fortunately this foundation is designed to stand up to both. The formula is oil-free, so delivers a matte finish that stays matte all day (and night) long.
9. Best Mineral Foundation: Sculpted by Aimee Second Skin Foundation
This gentle mineral foundation is perfect for skin that's sensitive or breakout-prone. It's both oil and talc free, so works well for both oily and dry skin types, delivering a medium but buildable coverage that leaves skin with an airbrushed matte finish.
10. Makeup Artist's Favourite: Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation
There's a reason why so many bridal makeup artists keep this in their kits. It locks makeup in place, no matter how hot or humid the environment, keeping it looking flawless and fresh for up to 16 hours.
11. Best Longwearing Foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Since it's made with climate-adaptive technology that’s resistant to sweat and humidity, this is exactly the kind of foundation you want in your makeup bag ahead of summer or trips away. True to its name, it gives skin a smooth, filter-like finish and masks any shiny areas.
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