Whoever said, “women don’t sweat, they glisten,” has obviously never worn a face full of makeup in the summer heat. As much as we all love summer, we don’t love when our makeup melts. You don’t want the time spent putting on your makeup to go to waste, and you definitely don’t want to get confused between a dewy look and that I-just-got-done-at-the-gym look. 

As someone with oily skin, my summer makeup routine for oily skin consists of oil-free and mattifying products to prevent maximum shine. Here are six ways I like to keep my makeup looking fresh all summer.

(Psst: If you want to start with a good base, see our list of the best skincare products for oily skin and then come back to read our makeup picks!)

Table of Contents

1. Don’t forget to prime

Primer is key to long-lasting makeup. Apply a pea-size amount of primer on moisturized skin before your foundation and concealer. Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer ($39) takes care of my large pores and helps manage the shine in my T-zone.

2. Ditch the full-coverage foundation

With the summer heat, burying your skin under a face full of foundation is the last thing you want to do. I mean, you wouldn’t wear a heavy sweater during the summer heat, would you?

Let your skin breathe and opt for lightweight BB creams, CC creams, or tinted moisturizers (with plenty of SPF for sun protection). I like to switch it up between Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 – Oil Free ($45) and It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ ($38). The less you put on, the less there is to slide off in the heat. Apply your base with a dampened beauty sponge for a light and sheer coverage.