/ 16 August 2023

5 Summer Foundation Hacks

With the temperature finally set to rise, the inevitable panic about how to keep your base in place sets in. To make sure your make-up looks good for as long as possible, follow our fool-proof guide.

Georgia Day

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Prime & Prep

As well as battling your skin’s natural oils, summertime means your foundation also has heat and humidity to contend with. To keep it from sliding away, it’s important to get to grips with a primer – your best friend when it comes to summer staying power. The formulation you choose should depend on your skin type and budget, but with so many options out there, finding the right one for you won’t be hard. Tatcha’s The Silk Canvas is a melting cream-to-powder that’s suitable for most skin types, while Clé de Peau’s Pore Refining Mattifying Veil deserves a mention for its luxurious formulation. Bursting with skincare benefits, it delivers a flawless finish that negates the need for powder completely.

Find Your Formula

Tempting as it can be to jump on the hype wagon surrounding new beauty launches, foundation is an area where it pays to choose carefully. Wearing the wrong type for your skin causes most slippage and wear and tear, so do your homework before you commit to a purchase. For those with oilier skin, the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation minimises shine and the appearance of pores and, crucially, is transfer proof. If you’re on the dry side, Dior’s Forever Skin Glow Foundation delivers natural-looking coverage and luminosity like no other. Lucky enough to sit somewhere in the middle? Give Glossier’s excellent new Stretch Foundation a try. Offering light-to-medium coverage and a natural finish, it strikes the balance between hydrating and reducing excess shine. Once you’ve found your favourite, build it up slowly on your skin. Using too much can cause it to separate, which makes it much more likely to slide off when under pressure. A damp beauty sponge is perfect for helping you achieve featherlight layers.

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Go Slow

Slow and steady application of your skincare can make a big difference to the staying power of your base. The key to longevity is giving each layer time to sink in and settle, so don’t rush through your routine unless you want your make-up to pill and slide. Gently exfoliating your skin in the morning before you apply your base will also give you the smoothest surface for it to stick to; a sweep of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant on a cotton pad over skin will help nix any congestion while also refining skin’s texture. If you’re prone to oiliness anyway, you can probably afford to skip moisturiser altogether and go straight in with your SPF. If you do need something but don’t want to deal with super shine later on, an oil-free option like Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream hydrates without the heaviness.

Ready, Set, Spray

Setting sprays are non-negotiable for prolonging the plethora of foundation formulations that exist out there. If you’re prone to oil at the best of times, a mattifying setting spray is a must-have when it’s hot and humid. Milk Makeup’s Pore Eclipse Setting Spray will help your base go the distance and keep you looking pulled together even when you don’t feel it. If you don’t need superhero mattifying strength, Kate Somerville’s UncompliKated SPF50 Makeup Setting Spray is a great option that combines sturdy sun protection with gentle hold and a pretty, light-diffusing finish. Just be careful not to overuse your spray, especially if it’s very warm or humid, as too much can have the opposite effect, turning your base cakey and causing patchiness. To avoid this, just make sure you follow the application instructions and avoid being overzealous.

Rescue Remedy

Keeping an emergency touch-up kit to hand is a smart move for summer. Blotting papers might feel like a retro choice but they’re a godsend when you’re feeling hot and bothered because they take down shine without adding more pigment into the mix. Fenty Beauty’s Invismatte Blotting Papers look the part and allow you to stealthily stave off smudges. Cream formulas tend to be more forgiving when your make-up starts to slide in warmer weather, but Kosas’s Cloud Set Powder defies convention, erasing shine and blurring unevenness without leaving any chalkiness on the skin.

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