Here's how you actually stop your makeup melting in the heat, according to a celebrity makeup artist
With temperatures set to soar again over the next week, it’s officially the season of makeup sliding off your face before you’ve even made it to lunch.
Whether you’re commuting in the heat and trying to survive a sticky office day or heading to an all-day event like a wedding or festival, keeping your makeup in place can feel like an impossible task when the weather turns tropical.
The good news is that you don’t need to completely ditch your beauty routine the minute the sunshine appears.
A few smart product swaps and application tricks can make all the difference when it comes to preventing makeup from melting, smudging or disappearing altogether.
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Celebrity makeup artist Pamela Cochrane, whose previous clients have included Lana del Rey, Amelia Dimoldenberg and the Sugababes, has shared her go-to heatwave makeup tips, and they're surprisingly simple.
Best skin prep for makeup in hot weather
When it comes to heatproof makeup, the real work starts before you’ve even reached for your foundation.
Heavy skincare layers can leave skin feeling greasy and can make makeup more likely to slide around throughout the day, so keeping things lightweight is key.
A gripping primer is also one of the easiest ways to increase the longevity of your makeup.
“In a heatwave, I tend to stick to a lighter base,” Pamela explains. “Starting with a gripping primer, such as Milk Hydro Grip Primer, can help makeup last longer, and finishing with a setting spray helps lock everything in place.”
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
£18
£14.40
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
£11
£7.99
Maybelline New York Grippy Serum Makeup Primer
£10.99
£9.59
Think of primer as the bridge between your skincare and makeup. It creates a smoother surface for products to stick to and can help reduce the amount of movement caused by sweat and excess oil.
Lightweight base makeup that won’t slide off
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror halfway through a hot day and wondered where your foundation went, you’re not alone.
One of the biggest mistakes people make during warmer weather is reaching for the same full-coverage products they use throughout winter.
Instead, consider swapping heavy foundations for skin tints, lightweight foundation, or strategically placed concealer.
iT Cosmetics CC+ Cream
£32
£30.40
Erborian Color Correcting Cream with Healthy Glow Effect
£38.50
£30.40
Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum Foundation SPF20
£49
£31.35
As Pamela explained earlier, she always pares things back when temperatures rise.
A lighter base not only feels more comfortable on the skin, but it's also less likely to separate when your face starts producing more oil throughout the day.
If you still want coverage, focus it where you need it most and build gradually rather than applying thick layers all over the face.
How to stop eye makeup smudging in the heat
Eye makeup is often the first casualty of a heatwave.
Mascara transfers onto lids, eyeliner smudges and carefully blended eyeshadow can disappear within hours.
According to Pamela, choosing the right formula is more important than piling on extra product.
“Mascara is another product that many people find can transfer or smudge in hot weather,” she says. “During a heatwave, I’d recommend switching to a tubing mascara, as they’re typically more water-resistant and have great staying power. The UKLASH Tubing Mascara is one of my favourites.”
Unlike traditional mascaras, tubing formulas wrap each lash in tiny water-resistant tubes, helping them stay put in even humid conditions.
UKLASH Tubing Mascara
£12.80
Revolution Wrap Lash Tubing Mascara
£7 (was £10.99)
No7 Pro Artist Tubing Mascara
£15.26 (was £17.95)
For eyeliner, long-wearing products are your best friend.
“For eye makeup, long-wearing formulas such as gel liners or smudge-proof eyeliner pencils can help prevent smudging and keep everything looking fresh," Pamela explains.
She also recommends water-resistant liquid eyeshadows for anyone who struggles with creasing.
"I also love the Armani eye tints, they are a water-resistant liquid eyeshadow, easy to apply, come in so many beautiful shades and stay on well."
Armani Eye Tint
£33
£26.40
e.l.f. Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow
£7
£6.70
Maybelline Shadow Drip Eye Tint Liquid Eye Shadow
£8.99
£7.73
The less movement your products allow, the fresher your makeup will look by the end of the day.
The setting spray trick makeup artists swear by
If there’s one product category that’s become a summer beauty essential, it’s setting spray.
Not only can it help lock makeup into place, but it can also give skin a welcome refresh when temperatures start climbing.
Pamela's current favourite does both jobs at once.
"I really like the Saie CitySet Setting Spray, which also doubles as a refreshing facial mist throughout the day."
Saie CitySet Lightweight Setting Spray
£30
L'Oréal Paris Setting Spray XL
£14.56 (was £14.99)
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
£33
A light mist over finished makeup can help melt powder products together for a more natural finish while also creating an extra layer of protection against humidity and sweat.
For best results, apply setting spray as the final step in your routine and keep it in your bag for quick top-ups throughout the day.
How to touch up makeup without ruining it
One of the quickest ways to make makeup look cakey is repeatedly layering powder over oily skin.
Instead of continuously reapplying products, focus on removing excess oil first.
"One of my heatwave essentials is blotting paper to absorb excess oil throughout the day or evening without disturbing makeup," Pamela says. "Muji does some great slim packs that are easy to keep in your handbag."
Muji Face Blotting Paper – 100 sheets
£2.50
NYX Blotting Paper - 50 sheets
£4.99
Shiseido Blotting Paper - 100 sheets
£25
£10.90
Blotting papers help soak up shine without disrupting your foundation underneath, making them ideal for festivals, holidays and long summer days.
Once you've removed excess oil, you can lightly touch up any areas that need additional coverage or powder.
It's a small step, but it can make a huge difference to how your makeup looks after several hours in the heat.
When temperatures rise, the secret isn't wearing more makeup. It's wearing smarter makeup.
Lightweight base products, gripping primers, long-wearing eye formulas and strategic touch-ups can all help your look survive even the hottest days.
If there's one takeaway from Pamela Cochrane's advice, it's that longevity comes down to choosing products that work with the heat rather than fighting against it.
Because nobody wants their makeup clocking off before they do.
Rosie Floyd