Want makeup that lasts from morning to night? Learn the best long-lasting makeup secrets, pro tips, and hacks to keep your beauty look fresh.
After putting in the effort to get your makeup flawless, the last thing you want is for it to fade, smudge, or just melt away halfway through the day. Whether you’re off to the office, a wedding, or a night out, every woman’s dream is to have makeup last all day. The good news? With the right products, methods, and tricks, you can prolong your look.
1. Skincare is Key: The foundation for long-lasting makeup
Before your reach for your foundation or concealer, you need to get your skin primed. Makeup will always last longer on skin that is healthy, hydrated, and smooth.
Start with a good cleanse: Use a gentle cleanser to wash away excess oils, dirt, and leftover product from that morning. You don’t want your makeup to slide right off.
Exfoliate: If you have dead skin cells, your makeup will not sit well and make it look patchy. A mild exfoliator 2-3 times a week is ideal for your skin to rid itself of flaky bumps and to have smoother skin for a flawless base.
Always hydrate: Apply your favorite lightweight oil-free moisturizer (especially if you are on the oily/combination skin type). If you are dry, something more creamy will minimise your makeup clinging to dry patches.
Don’t forget your sunscreen: The ideal way for protection: A broad-spectrum sunscreen offers protection while providing a smooth canvas for your makeup.
Wait for at least 5 minutes after any skincare to apply makeup. Waiting allows for absorption and will keep products from pilling.
2. Prime Your Skin for Perfection
If you want makeup that stays put, a primer is your friend. It creates a barrier between your skin and makeup to help smooth imperfections and create a base for more even makeup application.
Mattifying Prime: Helps absorb shine and allows makeup to last on areas most oily skin needs it like t-zone, under eye, and around the nose.
Hydrating Primer: Keeps dry skin from looking ‘cakey.’
Blurring Primer: This primer is awesome for filling in fine lines and pores and leads to a smooth surface for makeup.
When priming, apply only to areas where makeup tends to fade or rub off, not the whole surface of your face for a more natural and lighter finish.
3. Decide on your Foundation Type
Not all foundations are made equal with lasting power. If you want your foundation to last all day, consider the following:
Use liquid or cream foundation versus powder. They are more likely to adhere
long long-wearing or transfer-proof foundation
Apply thin layers. Think about painting a wall, if you apply 1 thick coat, that paint will come off. For longer wear, build your foundation coverage slowly to experience.
Hack: Use a damp makeup sponge and press your foundation into the skin, making sure it entirely melds into the skin.
4. Crease-Free Concealer
Concealers often tend to crease, especially under the eyes. To make your concealer last:
Start with an eye cream; your under-eyes will be hydrated and prepped.
Choose a lightweight long-wear concealer that has buildable coverage.
Apply it in small dots, not a thick swipe.
Blend with your finger or a sponge until natural.
Seal with a light dust of translucent powder to help keep it crease-free.
5. Use Powder to Set All Day
Powders are one of the most important steps when setting your makeup. They dry out any moisture and help keep your liquid products in place!
Translucent powder: It works for any skin tone. Plus, you’ll avoid a “flashback” in pictures.
Tinted powder: Tinted powders take it a step further by offering even extra coverage in addition to setting your base.
Baking: If you’re going to a special event or just want a crease-proof look, apply a good amount of powder beneath your eyes and around your nose. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then dust it off. You’ll have a worry-free, crease-proof concealer.
6. Long-Lasting Eye Makeup
Eye makeup can be messy, but there are tricks to keep it sharp all day long!
Use an eye primer: Eye primer prevents creasing shadows and holds color in place.
Cream/ powder layering: Always apply your cream shadow first, then set it with light powder in the same shade.
Waterproof eyeliner and mascara: The best way to stay tear-proof and smudge-proof.
Tightlining: Eyeliner applied too close to the lash line will hold up longer, than the eyeliner that fades too quickly.
7. Blush & Highlighter That Lasts
Efflorescence of powder blush and highlighter can happen after a few hours. To help your blush and highlighter last:
Use cream blush first, and then powder blush.
With a highlighter, start with a cream or liquid base and work a light dusting of powder highlight on top.
Layering product gives it a natural glow, and seems to last longer as well.
8. Lipstick That Lasts Through Meals
One of the most frustrating things about doing your makeup is finding out that your lipstick is gone after drinking your morning coffee or eating a meal. Here is how to fix that:
Exfoliate your lips: Use a sugar scrub or a toothbrush. You want to smooth the surface of your lips before lipstick.
Apply lip balm first – then blott off the excess. You do not want the lip balm to cause your lipstick to slip off.
Lip liner is a must have: You want to fill in your entire lip with lip liner for a solid base.
Use matte or liquid lipstick: Glossy lipstick has the shortest wear time.
Blot and layer: Put on lipstick, blot with a tissue, and then reapply lipstick to last all day.
9. Set it with a Setting Spray
You have made it to the end, and the last thing you can do to make your makeup last longer is to apply setting spray. Setting spray will seal in your look, and will help to prevent cake face, and refresh skin.
Use setting spray with a matte finish – particularly good for oily skin or in humid weather.
Dewy sprays: Great for dry skin, dewy sprays add glow.
Long-wear sprays: Perfect for long days or events that require your makeup to last for 12+ hours
Pro tip: Spray in an “X” and “T” motion to get even coverage.
10. Smart Touch-Up Tips
Even when using the best techniques, if you find yourself on a long day you may need to touch up throughout the day. Rather than applying layers of product, try these tricks:
Blotting papers for excess oil instead of using powder to powder off excess oil without creating layers.
A small bottle of setting spray for a quick refresh.
A pressed powder compact for emergencies.
Reapply lipstick only after eating a meal.
Achieving long-lasting makeup isn’t just about adding loads of products to your face. It is about learning how to apply techniques and formulas that work with your skin. From skincare prep to finishing with a setting spray, each step is important in the process of making sure that your look lasts from morning to night.
FAQs
1. How can I make my makeup last all day without looking cakey?
First, remember whatever you do, use thin layers of foundation and set your makeup with translucent powder, then finish with a light, appropriate setting spray. Don’t overapply makeup during the day.
2. What is the best primer for long-lasting makeup?
Choose according to your skin type; a mattifying primer will serve oily skin, a hydrating primer will serve dry skin, and a pore-blurring primer will provide the best even application.
