It’s hot out there.  How do we put our best face forward with the temperatures at record highs and the humidity soaring? It’s the rare beauty product that works effectively at this time of year.  This is because many products, like liquid foundation, lip gloss and waxy eyeliner, are made for cooler weather.

With this in mind, we scouted out products that perform in higher temperatures and greater humidity. In short, these products are guaranteed to beat the heat.

No-run mascara

The best mascara for a steamy summer day may be a type you’ve never heard of. It’s called tubing mascara. It coats each lash with a tube and then seals itself as it dries.

Unlike regular mascaras that melt and run down your cheeks as they get wet, tubing mascaras do not run. To remove it at night, you simply use your dampened fingers to gently pull the tubes off your lashes.

We tried a number of tubing mascaras and chose Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions. Not only is the product excellent for the beach, the company donates to women’s causes, such as survivors of domestic abuse, women emerging from homelessness, women fighting cancer and women coming out of the military.

Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions has won numerous awards, include Allure’s 2020 Best of Beauty Awards.

Buy here.

Heat-stable foundation

No one wants to wear a heavy foundation when the temperatures are rising. But if you need some coverage, La Bella Donna Loose Mineral Foundation is truly the answer.

Won’t powder accentuate my lines, you may be thinking? Not this one. It doesn’t stay powdery on your skin. And in heat, creams (which most foundations are) are less stable formulations than powders.

This is one of our favorites. While you shouldn’t skip sunscreen, this powder, through a micronized titanium dioxide formula, has SPF 50. You can use it all over your face or with a foundation brush to touch up discolorations.

Buy here.

A sweat-proof blush that stays exactly where you put it

Even under-water swimming won’t budge E.L.F. Camo Liquid Blush.  It comes in a little bottle with a doe-foot applicator, and you only need a tiny bit for lots of durable pigment.  It’s glowy but not slick so you’ll look cool even if you’re sweating.  Peach Perfect is a divine summer color.  Buy here. 

Waterproof eyeliner

Many women have a problem with eyeliner even when they’re not swimming or in the sun. As we age, our eyes droop and our liner makes its way up onto the brow bone.

Not only does Clinique Quickliner in Slate not transfer when you sweat but you can swim and frolic in it as well. We chose Slate as a suggested color because it’s not as harsh as black, flattering to all eye colors and fades slowly, leaving a beautiful tone that adds depth to the eyes.

Buy here.

Oh-so-waterproof eyeshadow  

Lady Gaga has launched her own line of cosmetics with Haus Labs. Her HY Power Pigment Paint wears an incredible 12 hours.  One reviewer, at the beach from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening, swears that her eyeshadow looked as good at the end of the day as it did in the morning.  Just about all of the reviews of this product mention its amazing staying power.  Just like Gaga herself,  this product is versatile.  There are 20 shades of the pigment paint so you can use them for cheeks and lips as well.

Buy here.

Lip stain with staying power

A light stain of color is all you need on a hot summery day. Heavy color with a penciled outline will look out of place. Stains are all the rage now and the good news is that they stay on really well.

Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain goes on glossy or matte depending upon application.  You can swipe on a layer and not wipe it off or blot off the glossy finish with a tissue to get a sheerer version.  Reviewers say that this stain is moisturizing and doesn’t feather or bleed.  Try it Mai Type Pink.  Buy here.

An oh-so-light lip oil

Yes, you read that right.  And you may not have heard of this product before.  It is a tinted oil that imparts a light, non-sticky wash of color to the lips.  It’s part of Lady Gaga’s brand new Haus Labs collection and it is a product that practically invents a beauty category.  It comes in four shades.  Reviewers love its incredibly natural, easy look and Haus Labs even features an older woman (with vertical lines around her lips) wearing this lip oil.  Good for them for recognizing we are not all 35 and that women over 60 want to look good too.  Buy here.

Waterproof eyebrows

So many women our age feel self-conscious about their over-plucked or thinning eyebrows, particularly in this age of healthy, full brows. Enhancing them with makeup is always an option but no woman wants to discover her color running down her face.

Chantecaille’s Waterproof Brow Definer lets you enjoy a bright summer day while your brows remain beautifully intact. The company maintains that the advanced formula combines the benefits of a waterproof brow pencil, wax, and powder to create naturally fuller looking brows instantly. The product subtly builds volume while providing light hold.

Buy here.

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This article was originally published on July 10, 2022. It was reviewed and updated on June 30, 2024. 

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