Does your makeup slip away by lunchtime? Here is how to make makeup last all day: prep and hydrate your skin, layer cream under powder, then seal it with a setting spray.
For more ideas on hair and makeup, browse the rest of our beauty tips.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerosol setting mist: distance from face | 5 to 6 inches |
| Aerosol setting mist: spraying time | 3 to 4 seconds |
| Non-aerosol setting spray: distance from face | About 10 inches |
| Setting spray position in your routine | Final step of the routine |
| WebMD makeup feature: medical review date | February 25, 2013 |
These figures come from Makeup.com and WebMD, and they can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Start with skin prep and a primer
Makeup lasts longest on skin that is clean, hydrated and protected. Honest Beauty’s guide says to know your skin type first, because different skin types suit different products. It then suggests a cleanser that suits your skin, an exfoliator, a hydrating product and sunscreen.
A hydrating serum helps too. In its feature, WebMD recommends one with hyaluronic acid for lightweight yet long-lasting moisture. It also recommends a primer to seal in skin care ingredients and prep your skin for foundation.
Here is a simple order to follow, based on the RMS Beauty routine:
- Cleanse, moisturize and apply SPF.
- Press or smooth primer into the skin, focusing on areas where makeup tends to wear off, like around the nose, forehead and chin.
- Apply your foundation and other makeup.
- Finish with a setting spray.
RMS Beauty’s founder advises using less primer than you think: a dime-sized amount is enough for a veil rather than a layer. If your skin is oily, Honest Beauty suggests a mattifying primer so makeup does not slide off from the excess oil. Let each layer soak in before the next one, as makeup artist Tanya Rae does with her moisturizer and primer.
Layer your base so it grips
The idea behind lasting makeup is cream first, powder second. WebMD describes blending foundation with a damp sponge and then adding a light dusting of translucent powder to set it all in place. For cheeks, the same feature suggests cream blush for a healthy flush with a pop of powder blush over it for staying power.
Match the formula to your skin. Honest Beauty suggests a matte or semi-matte foundation for oily skin, and a dewy or sheer foundation for dry skin. If you want a smoother result, see our guide on how to apply foundation evenly.
Any cream bronzer or blush follows the same rule. Honest Beauty says to set it with a matching powder product so it stays put longer. If shadows under your eyes are what you are covering, our guide on how to get rid of dark circles is a useful companion read.
How do you keep eyes and lips from fading?
Eyes and lips move more than the rest of your face, so they need their own steps. Makeup artist Scott Barnes says you do not need a special primer for your eyelids: lightly dust the lids with powder before applying shadow to stop color from sliding. Honest Beauty takes a slightly different view and says you may need a separate eye primer, so choose whichever works on your lids.
Either way, layer eye makeup with cream or liquid products at the base and powder on top, as Honest Beauty advises. For lips, WebMD shares this routine from Rae:
- Apply a generous coat of lip balm, then blot with a tissue to remove the excess.
- Trace the lip line with a lip pencil and fill in the lips.
- Blend the liner with a brush for solid coverage.
- Apply lipstick, blot with a tissue, and dust with translucent powder while the tissue is on the lips.
- Remove the tissue, reapply lipstick and top with gloss.
Use setting spray the right way
A setting spray is a mist you apply over makeup to help prevent fading, smudging and melting. Makeup.com says it should generally be the final step of your routine. For even more staying power, you can also apply it in-between each step of your base makeup.
WebMD notes that a finishing spray protects your makeup from normal wear caused by heat, moisture, and touching. Spray technique depends on the bottle:
- Aerosol mists: hold the bottle 5 to 6 inches from your face and spray across the whole face for 3 to 4 seconds.
- Non-aerosol sprays: shake first, hold about 10 inches away and work in X- or T-shaped motions.
- Either type: keep your eyes closed, and never spray directly into them.
RMS Beauty says that using both primer and setting spray gives the most polished, long-lasting results. It adds that many makeup artists also spritz setting spray before makeup for extra longevity and glow. Makeup.com says reapplying spray is generally not necessary, though it can help after a powder touch-up.
If you are unsure whether you need powder as well, Makeup.com says setting powders are best for oily skin because they tend to be more mattifying. To help makeup last whatever your skin type, it suggests setting powder first and setting spray as the final step.
Touch up without building a mask
Even a well-set face may need a quick refresh. WebMD suggests gently dabbing foundation with a damp sponge to freshen your look. If foundation settles into fine lines, makeup artist Marina Gravani suggests a spritz of skin mist before using a sponge to move product out of the creases.
For shine, blotting papers absorb excess oil without disturbing makeup. Makeup artist Kevin James Bennett cautions against repeated touch-ups with compact powder, because while powder may hide an oily shine, too much gives you a thick mask of products on your face. For stray eye makeup, Barnes suggests a cotton swab, with a little moisturizer added for stubborn smudges.
If your skin runs dry
Dry patches can make any base look flaky. WebMD relays that for very dry skin, makeup artist Alicia Mizrahi Siller suggests a buildable tinted moisturizer in place of foundation. To stop flakiness on the spot, Bennett suggests gently patting moisturizer onto trouble spots, allowing a few minutes for it to absorb, then reblending with a sponge.
Keep in mind that WebMD’s feature was medically reviewed on February 25, 2013, so its product advice reflects that date. The core technique of layering and setting has stayed the same in the more recent guides above.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both primer and setting spray?
Show answer
No. RMS Beauty says you can use either on its own, but using both gives the most polished, long-lasting results.
Should I choose setting powder or setting spray?
Show answer
Makeup.com says powder tends to suit oily skin best because it mattifies. For lasting wear on any skin type, it suggests powder first and spray last.
Can I use setting spray before makeup?
Show answer
Yes. RMS Beauty says many makeup artists use setting spray both before and after makeup for extra longevity and glow.
Do I need a separate primer for my eyelids?
Show answer
Advice differs. Scott Barnes says a light dusting of powder on the lids is enough, while Honest Beauty says you may need a separate eye primer.
What helps makeup last on very dry skin?
Show answer
WebMD suggests a buildable tinted moisturizer instead of foundation, or a cream foundation, blush and bronzer topped with translucent powder.
