Whether you’re escaping the cold on vacation or basking in the summer sun, when the mercury rises, makeup can fall flat (or slide off your face entirely). Until now, that is—we’ve cracked the code to looking good no matter how steamy the forecast is. Step 1: Don’t Skip Sunscreen It’s the one skin step that we will never ever stop recommending. Wearing SPF 30 or higher daily not only protects you from UV rays that can lead to skin cancer, but it also keeps future signs of aging, such as wrinkles and brown spots, from forming. We like Mineral Fusion’s SPF 30 Brush-On Sun Defense for All Skin Types ($25, drugstore.com)—brush it on your face and neck after you’re done applying makeup. It actually sops up oil and creates an airbrushed finish instead of leaving a greasy film behind. Step 2: Ward Off Oil And Sweat Skip your usual foundation—when your oil and sweat production ramp up (which naturally happens in the heat), foundation can settle into lines, creating a not-so-flattering look. Instead, perfect your complexion with a mattifying primer with shine-stopping silica to absorb oil and make pores and imperfections less noticeable. Try e.l.f. Studio Mineral Face Primer ($6, eyeslipsface.com). Next, apply concealer only where you need it most: under eyes, around nostrils, and over any blemishes. And pick a water-resistant formula, such as MAC Cosmetics Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer ($20, maccosmetics.com), which stays put when you sweat. Step 3: Get A Sun-Free Blush Photo by PhotoAlto/Ale Ventura/Getty Images To add a natural and ultra-flattering hint of rosiness (the kind you’d get if you sat in the sun for just a little while without SPF), apply a powder blush in a crescent shaped-motion from the apples of your cheeks, along your cheekbones, curving up toward your temples. If you have fair skin, look for a soft rose, such as Covergirl Trublend Minerals Blush in Pure Romance ($8, covergirl.com). Medium skin? A deeper pink shade like Maybelline Fit Me Blush in Deep Rose ($6, maybelline.com) is best. A deep terracotta or red blush, such as Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino ($9, milanicosmetics.com) complements dark skin. MORE: 9 Haircuts That Take Off Years Step 5: Choose the Right Lip Product The waxes and oils in lipsticks make them glide on smoothly, but they also make them smear and feather into lines in humid weather. A better option: CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain ($9, covergirl.com), which stays in place and comes in 10 shades. Bonus: Its fine-point tip allows you to define the outer edges of your lips for a more youthful look (as we age, the color contrast between lips and the skin around them tends to blur). If you want to add some shine, top your stain with a balm that has sunscreen rather than a gloss (one study showed that wearing lip glosses regularly may increase your chances of getting lip cancer since the mirror-like finishes amplify UV light). We like Nivea A Kiss of Protection Sun Protection Lip Care SPF 30 ($3, drugstore.com). MORE: 10 Essential Makeup Tips For Women Over 40
