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Waterproof makeup has become a staple in many of our beauty routines for its durability and resistance to water and sweat. That’s obviously essential when we’re lounging on the beach between dips in the sea, it’s also a must-have for destination weddings, outdoor activities, sports and even long days when you need your look to last without constant touch-ups.
What makes waterproof makeup different? It’s specially formulated to resist moisture, ensuring it stays put even when exposed to water, humidity or sweat. Waterproof products often contain ingredients like silicone, waxes and film-forming agents that create a barrier against moisture to avoid smudging when wet.
As its moniker indicates, waterproof makeup is designed to be water resistant, so these products are often trickier to remove than regular makeup. Wherever you go, you’ll need to pack a good-quality oil-based remover to break down the product (before you ask, most makeup wipes won’t work), like the cult makeup remover Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil, followed by a soothing creamy cleanser like Skin Rocks The Cream Cleanser Fragrance Free.
To achieve a water-resistant look that can withstand anything that you throw at it, keep reading for your must-have kit and guide to waterproof makeup.
Foundations and concealers
Before applying any makeup to your face, you’ll need to use an SPF to ensure your skin is protected from the sun. Diorsnow UV Shield Cushion combines protective vitamin C and edelweiss extract with water-resistant SPF 50 protection, and its peachy hue gives every skin tone a glowy boost.
When choosing a foundation for full coverage, Estée Lauder Double Wear Double Wear Stay In Place Foundation is ideal for hot climates. Coming in more than 40 buildable shades that provide matte coverage, 24 hours of wear and a gentle blurring effect. It is your secret weapon to look flawless in wedding pictures. For lighter coverage and touch-ups, Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick is easy to apply and combines concealer, foundation and powder all in a single waterproof stick with a long-lasting finish. If you want to contour, you could use a darker shade of this foundation stick to add depth to the face.
Finish off your look with IT cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer, which offers full waterproof coverage plus peptides, vitamins and hyaluronic acid to deliver a protective and hydrating boost. Apply with a Beauty Pie Pro Angled Concealer Brush for flawlessly blended, long-lasting results.
Eyebrows and eyeliner
Smearing your eye makeup in warm climes might seem inevitable, but with developments in long-wear makeup it’s actually entirely preventable. Brow enthusiasts should seek out e.l.f. Cosmetics Instant Lift Waterproof Brow Pencil to keep their brows shaped, shaded and in place. Sealed with Maybelline Tattoo Brow 36h your brows will be locked in place until you decide they’re off the clock.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is the best for a long-lasting product. The microtip ensures you can get the finest flick possible, while Lancôme Lash Idôle Eye Liner is ultra dark, has a super fine brush nib and the 24-hour formula means it’ll survive everything from scuba diving in Sri Lanka to a wedding in St Lucia. If you prefer a pencil liner, Estée Lauder Double Wear 24 Hour Waterproof Gel Eye Pencil is ideal for creating a smokey rock-n-roll look with its foam end for blending, but move fast because when the formula sets, it really won’t move. For a colour boost, use a little Guerlain The Intense Colour Eye Pencil in Plum Peony to add a subtle, waterproof colour to the waterline that will last from the morning until the witching hour.
Mascara and eyeshadow
Gone are the crispy, dry waterproof mascaras of yore. The newest formulas combine serious style prowess with a waterproof hold that looks incredible all day. For natural but defined lashes, try Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara. The comb-like brush catches every lash, while Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara adds serious waterproof volume and thickness to each lash in a way that rivals false lashes. Those with shorter lashes might prefer L’Oréal Volume Million Lash Waterproof Mascara, which adds volume but has a spiky, short-bristled brush that helps to coat and thicken every lash.
Waterproof eyeshadow typically comes in cream or gel formula to ensure it doesn’t crease or fade, like powders can. Start by priming your lids with Tom Ford Emotion Proof Eye Primer to ensure any shadow stays where you put it, then choose a liquid-based shadow designed to adhere to the lids. Illamasqua Eye Paint Longwear Liquid Shadow promises 12 hours of coverage and comes in an array of beautiful matte shades, or for pearly lids and pops of colour, try Victoria Beckham Eyewear Longwear Eyeshadow Stick, which is easy to apply and blend with your fingers.
Lips and cheeks
There’s no way to avoid this beauty fact: long-wear waterproof lip colours are more drying than their satin or glossy counterparts. Use a lip scrub like Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss’r Lip-Loving Scrubstick to remove dead skin, and follow with a fast-absorbing, matte lip conditioner like Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum Levres, which boosts hydration and primes the lip for lipstick without being sticky or shiny.
When it comes to colour, your options are vast, depending on the finish you desire. Start by lining the lips to keep the colour in place and from bleeding with a waterproof lipliner. The Charlotte Tilbury Waterproof Lip Cheat Pencil comes in incredible reds and berry shades, or try Rare Beauty Kind Words Lip Liner for beautiful neutral colours that could also be used as an all-over lip colour.
For lip tint that really lasts, try Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque. It applies like a curious shiny blue lip mask but peels to reveal a long-lasting and cocktail-proof stain underneath. For bold colour, Revlon ColorStay Limitless Matte Liquid Lipstick adds a matte veil of colour to the lips that lasts until you choose to remove it, or for dramatic shades that look sharp, defined and really stay put, Nars Powermatte Lipstick will become your new best long-wearing lip friend.
The options are plentiful for long-lasting blush shades but two of the best are Nudestix Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30. It adds a sheer veil of colour and sun protection to the cheeks (and eyes and lips if you like) while Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tints are fun to apply, durable and the translucent formula means it looks incredible over makeup, or just applied to bare skin.
Setting solutions
The final, and perhaps most vital, step to ensuring your makeup is waterproof is finishing and setting the look. If sun protection is your priority, then Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF30 in Translucent sets makeup, protects and gives the skin a gentle sheen all in one.
Setting sprays are non-negotiable, but how you use them matters. Spritz your skin after your skincare and before your makeup to create grip for your makeup to adhere to, then use afterwards on top of your makwup as a fixing spray.
Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder is a classic that mattifies and sets your makeup without drying the skin, but if you’re looking for SPF protection with added makeup setting benefits, then Kate Somerville Uncomplikated SPF50 Soft Focus Make Up Setting Spray is a perfect choice. It keeps your makeup intact, and it smells incredible, too.
Whether you’re heading to the beach, hitting the gym, or attending a tear-jerking event, with the right products and techniques, getting a long-lasting and waterproof finish is doable, and leaves you free to sit back, relax and be present.
