How to Make Makeup Last All Day: 9 Tips for Long-Wear Makeup

Incorporate these beauty hacks into your makeup routine to create a long-lasting makeup look:

1. 1. Apply setting powder. Formulated with mattifying properties, translucent setting powders are loose powders that prevent your face makeup from smudging throughout the day. Apply a setting powder that matches your skin tone as a final step to set your makeup. Dip a powder brush into your setting powder and gently dab the makeup brush along your jawline, cheeks, forehead, and nose. If your skin is prone to oil buildup, add an extra light layer of translucent powder to your T-zone and chin area.
2. 2. Apply setting spray. If you have dry skin, you may prefer a setting spray to a setting powder since the former gives your face a dewy appearance and sets your eye and lip makeup along with your foundation. To use a makeup setting spray, hold the spray bottle six inches away from your face and apply two spritzes of the spray after you finish your makeup application.
3. 3. Avoid layering on too much makeup. Although it seems counterintuitive, layering on too much makeup causes your beauty products to come off during the day. Avoid applying a thick, cakey foundation for full coverage; thick layers of foundation don’t stick to the skin and therefore slide off the face after a few hours of wear. As you apply your makeup products, start with a thin layer and use your finger or a makeup sponge to dab the product into your skin. Opt for long-wearing products like waterproof mascara or long-wear eyeliner, lip liner, or lip stains that deliver intense pigment without requiring excess layering.
4. 4. Check your products’ expiration dates. Fresh products adhere to your skin’s surface better. Check the expiration date on your products. If your mascara, eyeliner, or other makeup products are dry, crumbly, or hardened, these are signs your makeup expired.
5. 5. Exfoliate your face. Makeup adheres better to exfoliated skin. If your skin is dry, patchy, or bumpy, exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, but be careful not to over-exfoliate. Aim to exfoliate two to three times per week; those with oily skin can exfoliate three times a week, and those with dry skin can exfoliate twice a week.
6. 6. Prep with primer. After going through your skincare routine, prep your face with primer before applying your makeup. Primer is a beauty product that seals in moisture and helps foundation adhere to your skin. Drugstores and beauty counters carry an assortment of primers; look for one that locks in moisture and notes long-wearing capabilities. Apply a pea-size amount of face primer to your skin and evenly distribute it across your face.
7. 7. Use a dedicated primer for eye makeup. Primer helps keep foundation, concealer, cream blush, bronzer, and highlighter in place, but a dedicated eye-area primer helps your eye makeup last throughout the day. Use an eye shadow primer before applying eye shadow or other eye makeup.
8. 8. Use blotting papers to remove excess oil. Oil buildup on the skin is one of the leading causes of makeup melting over the course of the day. Use blotting papers to dab away oil buildup on your face. If your skin is naturally oily, use a matte finish or oil-free foundation or primer to prevent excess oil from building up and smearing your makeup.
9. 9. Use products formulated for your skin type. Using beauty products that suit your skin type keeps your makeup looking fresh throughout the day. If you have dry skin, opt for makeup products that hydrate like liquid foundations with hyaluronic acid. Nourishing dry skin with extra hydration prevents your makeup from flaking off and peeling during the day. If your skin is prone to oil buildup and breakouts, use a mattifying foundation powder with salicylic acid. As a chemical exfoliant, salicylic acid helps fight blemishes and controls oil production in the skin.

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