Now that summer is here, the last thing most of us feel like doing is plastering on a full face of makeup. Letting your natural skin shine through is a bigger trend than ever before and we’re absolutely loving this more natural approach to beauty. But let’s face it, we all fall victim to bad skin days, leaving us reaching for a little more coverage in our favourite foundation bottle but when you add in the heat and humidity of summer, your favourite foundation can leave you with a full face of melted makeup and that is not a good look on anyone. So, we enlisted the help of makeup artist Brittany Martin-Johnstone and asked her what her picks were for the best foundations to use to help combat the hot and humid weather. From sweat proof to waterproof, mattifying to dewy, long lasting to light weight, these are the foundations that are going to hold up in these hot summer months.
Mac Studio Face and Body, $62.00 available from Farmers.
This classic staple for most makeup artists is a very versatile foundation. It is light coverage and lightweight on your skin, with a satin finish aaaaand it’s waterproof, so it’s perfect for those beach days when you want a I’m-not-wearing-makeup look with a little more coverage than actually not wearing any makeup. You can count on this foundation to hold up against sweat and hold up in the water. The versatility of the face and body is that you can “warm it up” by rubbing it in your fingers to give it a grippier texture to turn it from a sheer foundation to more of a light-medium coverage, or you can add a concealer to it for a fuller coverage. I personally recommend mixing the face and body with the MAC Prolong Wear concealer to give you a fuller coverage and a little more longevity, without making you look like you’re wearing a full face of heavy make-up and still leaving you with a natural satin looking finish. This is my go-to foundation combo for the hot summer months.
Wet N Wild Photo Focus, $12.99 available from Farmers.
If you’ve got an oily skin type then the Wet N Wild Photo Focus might just be the foundation to get you through summer. It is a long wearing and full coverage foundation with a matte finish, to neutralise those oily patches accentuated by a hot, sweaty day. This would also be a great foundation to wear out on a hot summers night as it will prevent flashback in photos, so get your selfie cams ready gals. Wet N Wild products are all very budget friendly so this is the cheapest option on our list and Wet N Wild are animal cruelty free and vegan. Tick, tick and tick.
Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Foundation, $34.99 available from Farmers.
For an every day, long wearing foundation then you might want to try out the Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Foundation. It is a medium coverage and can be easily buildable for a fuller coverage. This foundation has a satin finish, sitting in between matte and dewy, which is lovely for a summertime foundation. It suits all skin types but people who tend to be a little oilier might want to powder the T-zone to avoid slipping and break through oil.
Bobbi Brown Skin Long-wear Weightless Foundation, $88.00 available from Mecca.
As a beauty editor, I’ve been very lucky to be able to test out numerous foundations and this foundation by Bobbi Brown is one of my favourites. It is a fantastic long wearing, lightweight foundation with a matte finish. This foundation has a medium coverage but is easily buildable, I like to dab a little more foundation onto the areas where I need a little more coverage and it is a great option for people who are susceptible to acne. It suits normal to oily skin and has an SPF 15 for a little protection over the summer months. This would be a great foundation to wear while attending a summer festival where you don’t want to be touching up your makeup all day.
Avène Eau Thermale SPF 30 Day Protector Tinted, $48.99 available from Life Pharmacy.
Our final pick is this tinted moisturiser from my favourite French skincare brand, Avène. This tinted moisturiser is going to be your best bet for the ultimate sun protection, while giving you a light coverage. It is designed for sensitive skin, with an SPF 30 and anti free-radical shield (Pre-tocopheryl) to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. It also hydrates and soothes with it containing Avène’s signature thermal spring water and has pigments to match your skin tone giving you a light, radiant glow.
Foundation Tips For Summer
According to makeup artist Brittany Martin-Johnstone – Skin tends to be oilier in summer, especially in New Zealand because we have a lot of humidity in our heat, so a foundation with a matte finish is needed if it is going to withstand the heat. However, matte finish foundations can cling to any dry areas on the skin so for those with dryer skin, try adding a drop of moisturiser in to these foundations to make the formula more hydrating but still long lasting. Primers are also really great for transforming foundations. If you really want to increase longevity, you should opt for a mattifying primer or if you want more luminous skin for day-time wear, a hydrating primer is the way to go. I would recommend using powders, such as highlighters, blushes and contours as the heat and sweat on your skin can break down liquids a lot quicker leaving your makeup patchy and shiny and so-not-hot.
Images supplied.