Summer-proof Makeup Look for Grown Women

I was asked how I keep my makeup from melting or sweating off my face in summer. Most of the summer, I don't wear much more than brows and a quick swipe of mascara and lip balm. However, when packing for a summer vacation, I realized I have, over the years, perfected a summer-proof makeup look for us grown women.

I packed it and wore it on my trip, and it held up through summer humidity and the general climate of the season. I took pictures of the products I brought along while at one of our vacation rentals to remind me to write this piece!

Summer-proof Makeup Look for Grown Women

I say this is an over 40 makeup look because when I was younger, I usually cared more about the effect than how my skin looked, felt, or reacted in the long run. As a grown-ass woman, I prioritize comfort and joy, and this makeup routine provides both. I do not try to chisel or whittle or narrow or uplift. I want to look like myself, but a bit airbrushed, and maybe with some fun thrown in. This is my routine for an over 40 makeup look that survives summer humidity:

Step 1: SPF Primer

Just as with painting your dining room, starting with a primer will provide better coverage, staying power, and overall results. That being said, this grown-ass woman does not want to spend hours on her makeup or look like she's wearing hours worth of product.

I've found some sunscreens work great as primers. My current favorite is Supergoop Mineral Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops (SPF 40). Available in two tints, it gives a glow without shimmer. It's also sticky, so it “holds” anything I put over it.

Step 2: Tinted SPF

In the summer, it's pointless to do a full face. However, it's nice to have a bit of “airbrushing.” MERIT’s The Uniform (SPF 45) is a personal favorite; I find it stays in place in the heat far better than traditional tinted moisturizers and the color range is fantastic. I've been using it all summer long.

Step 3: Conceal Where Needed

IMO, RMS Beauty’s UnCoverup is the GOAT for concealers. It’s in a pot, it isn’t too dry to blend well, but dry enough to stay in place even when you sweat. You can truly tap it in to blend, and it doesn’t emphasize fine lines or get weird under the eyes. I've been using it for years.

In fact, I am such an RMS fan, they gave me a code. ALISON20 gets you 20% off your order at RMS Beauty.

Step 4: Set it and Forget It

Once all this has dried down, use a setting spray to hold it in place. MY two personal favorites are Tarte’s Life Lock and e.l.f.'s Matte Magic.

Step 5: Brows

Next, I get into color. Top priority for my 50-year-old face is brows. I use GrandeBrow, which has helped regrow my older, overly plucked 90s brows, but I still benefit from additional color and control.

A few years ago, I was invited to an influencer event with a brow expert. He changed my life by sharing that brunettes over 40, even if they color their hair, shouldn’t do brown brow color because it will look too warm and fake. A dark taupe will look better. Julep Beauty’s Brow 101 Waterproof Pencil + Tinted Gel is a dark cool taupe brown that isn't too pale for my dark hair. I used to buy from Amazon, now I buy from the Julep site.

Step 6: Lashes

If you have allergies, if you have oily eyelids, if you cry and/or sweat easily, if you have lost volume or firmness in the eye area and deal with smudged mascara, you need to switch to tubing mascara.

I have reviewed dozens of tubing mascaras over the years, and the one I return to again and again is Thrive Causemetics’ Liquid Lash Extensions. It is the best, and the company has good ethics too. Tubing mascara stays in place through everything but is gentle to lashes (which are also growing thanks to GrandeLash) and washes off easily at night.

Step 7: Face Color

Just because the sun and heat have given you a hint of a glow doesn't mean you have enough color on your face. If you're doing other makeup and you're a grown-ass woman, you need face color. Bronzer, blush, maybe even both. Our skin loses pigment as we age and we become blind to this as we see our faces so often.

I am not one for contour or specific application place to try to make a face look slimmer or less blessed by gravity. These are my application methods:

• For powder color, I like a big fluffy brush to apply a sheer line-free wash from cheekbones up to the outside corner of my eye (and then a tap on the end of the nose).
• For cream color in a compact, I use this brush from Rare Beauty. Tap tap tap in the compact, tap tap on each cheekbone with the brush right below the eye so the pigment is right at the top of the cheekbone, and then two taps on the tip of my nose.
• For stick color, I do a horizontal swipe right below my eye bags and on the bridge of my nose and blend with my fingers.
• I don't do liquid color, I am not quick or talented enough for it.

This summer I have been wearing a lot of NUDESTIX's “In the Nude” and Flyte.70's “Look of Love” as well as the Tower 28 pink mentioned below.

I will recommend that if you've been wearing the same color for the past 20 years, consider trying something new.

• For example, I went from NARS Orgasm-esque shades of subtle peachy pink to the almost fluorescent cool pink of Tower 28's Malibu Cooler and I think I look so much more alive yet still natural.
• Even with the NUDESTIX stick mentioned above: I bought it PrePan and didn't love it. I was cleaning out my dressing table this spring and found it. I tried it and really liked it and have been wearing it all summer long.

BTW, use code WOXYGEN15 for 15% off at Flyte.70 Cosmetics,

Step 8: Lip Color

In the summer, because I keep my face pretty simple, I get bold with my lips. I have a few favorite lip products for summer:

• Glossier Ultralip in Coupe (orange) or Fête (watermelon)
• Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Lip Balm in Thrill (sheer red) or Entice (sheer fuchsia).
• Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain 10HR Liquid Lipstick in Chili Pepper (orangey-red) or Rose Flambe (watermelon red). These solo or with a gloss over them
• Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Poppy (sheer coral) or Cherry (sheer pinkish red)
• MALLY Intense Color Lip Gloss in Boss Lady (orange-red)
• Flyte.70 S+S.LipSheer in Tempted (berry)

Optional Step 9: Summer Statement Eye

With sweat, itchy eyes, tears, and fine lines, I rarely futz with eyeshadow. Even pencil liners can get messy on a stressful and sweltering August day. I usually just do lashes, but if I want some impact, my favorites:

• I'll dot dark brown liquid liner along my lash line. No wing, just really minimal along the lash line to add oomph. Currently using the mini size Kat Von D liner I got with Sephora points.
• Urban Decay Moondust Liquid Glitter Eyeliner. This stuff is super fun; just dot it along the lash line. I have a half-dozen different colors, but Midnight Cowboy gets the most play.
• Urban Decay 24/7 Inks Liquid Eyeliner Pen. I find this liner easy to use; you can just press the side of the pen against your lash line and then use the point to clean it up. I love the unexpected pop of Freak and Binge, especially with glistening sun-kissed skin. Personally, I think it’s cooler on a grown-ass woman than a youngin’, no one expects it, but folks ALWAYS compliment.

Last Step: Final Set

Once I have all my layers on, I again do a misting of setting spray. This will get me through hours. It won't leave me looking as fresh as I did sitting in front of my dressing table, but I won't look disheveled by lunch. It also wears away gently, no skin-colored sweat drips on my collar or lip color rings after an iced latte.

Throughout the day, if my face needs to be freshened, I usually mist it instead of blotting. I think as we get older, we look better with a wet face than a dry one. Misting will help evaporate sweat without wiping away product or adding anything additional. I'm not partial; I have classic rosewater in my medicine cabinet, Beauty Pie sent me this one, which I like and is currently in my bag, and this one from Pixi sits on my desk.

At night, I use Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm, which breaks down makeup, sweat, sunscreen, and everything else. I've been using this cleanser for years and I believe it's the key to my skin being so happy. In the summer, I double cleanse and follow up with Dieux Skincare's Baptism Gel Cleanser. My skin loves this stuff.