Tips for Sweat Proof Wearable Theme Park Makeup by Guest Blogger Amy Brady
Have you ever experienced the dreaded makeup melt while visiting your favorite theme park? I visited Orlando in 2013 and quickly realized that my regimented daily makeup routine which was perfect for Irish weather certainly was not going to work in the hot humid climate of Florida. With a few adjustments, I quickly came up with a way to sweat proof my makeup for the rest of our trip. My technique ensured that my makeup would last from opening ceremony to closing fireworks with minimal touch ups.
The solution for many is to avoid makeup all together but for all you makeup lovers – here are some of my top tips when it comes to makeup application for hotter climates.
My makeup during one of the most humid and rainy days
PRIMING YOUR SKIN FOR MAKEUP
People always ask me what the secret to great makeup is. Well I can tell you the secret to great makeup has nothing to do with makeup – the secret is great skin! Our skin goes through so much on a daily basis, exposure to harsh chemicals, sun etc.
1. SKIN CARE BASICS
It is important (especially in warmer climates) to make sure you are drinking plenty of water and taking care of your skin. Even if you are not a makeup wearer – make sure you try to cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin every day. I usually only cleanse and tone in the afternoon, as I find that doing so in the morning removes all of the natural oils from my face and this can result in my skin becoming quite tight and dry through the course of the day. At least once a week treat your skin to a calming facial mask. This will help to unblock your pores and sooth any blemishes.
2. BODY CARE TIPS
While we often focus on skincare for our face, it is important not to neglect the skin on our body. Regular exfoliation and moisturization can help keep skin soft, smooth, and healthy. You can use a body scrub or dry brush to exfoliate once or twice a week and follow up with a nourishing body lotion or oil to lock in moisture. Another way to take care of your body is through exercise, which not only has physical health benefits but can also improve the appearance of your skin. If you’re looking for an innovative way to tone your muscles and enhance your physique, you may want to check out The New Emsculpt NEO price breakdown and consider incorporating this high-tech treatment into your fitness routine.
3. MOISTURIZE
In the mornings I would wash my face with a gentle foaming face wash before applying a generous amount of my favorite moisturizer which I would then leave to soak into my skin for at least 10 minutes.
4. SUNSCREEN
Once my moisturizer had soaked in – I would then apply a sun screen to my face. I recommend a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for this. My favorite long wearing facial sunscreen is by a company called Coola Suncare who have several facial sunscreen products which are organic, hypoallergenic and cruelty free. Not only that but they are a reef friendly formula and waterproof! I picked up a travel sized Coola sunscreen for my trip and still had most of it left at the end of the vacation.
5. PRIMER
With your skin care complete, now its time to create a base for your makeup. I cannot stress how important primer is for this! I recommend a silicone based primer especially for hotter climates. Silicone as an active ingredient smooths out pores and blemishes and creates a beautiful even skin base for your foundation. The silicone in the products will also act as a barrier between your skin and the humidity ensuring a long lasting foundation application. A great primer doesn’t have to break the bank either. My favorite silicone primer which I used during my trip was actually by a cosmetic company called E.L.F. To this day, I have not found a primer that beats the Elf Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer both in quality and price at a mere $5.99 for 0.48oz of product. More than enough to see you through your trip.
My top tip for applying primer is to make sure that you apply it 10 – 15 minutes after your moisturizer and sunscreen. Use your finger and apply a pea sized amount at a time across your face in a circular motion until your skin feels dry and silky. Make sure you don’t apply to much as over-application can actually result in your makeup slipping.
APPLYING YOUR MAKEUP
1. FOUNDATION / BB CREAM / TINTED MOISTURIZER
My go to foundation during my trip was Revlon Colorstay Foundation which is one of my all time favorite foundations. It is a full coverage formula and available in an impressive range of colors to suits all skin tones and types. This foundation also has the added benefit of SPF 15.
Now that you have moisturized and primed your face, you have created a perfect base for your makeup application. Squeeze a small amount of foundation on the back of your hand before taking either a buffing brush or a damp makeup sponge, and starting in the center of you face, gently stipple the product evenly outwards on your skin and down your neck. Go back over the foundation with dabbing motions to ensure even coverage.
There are also some great waterproof foundations / bb creams available. Personally, I found using this primer and foundation combination, that I had minimal makeup melt throughout the day. But remember everyone is different and if you have a foundation that seems to work well for you – I definitely suggest sticking with what you know.
If you would like to opt for something a bit more lightweight – I also recommend looking into BB Creams.
2. CONCEALER
For the most natural and sheer coverage it is best to stay away from heavy cream concealers as they tend to settle in fine lines and break down much quicker in hotter climates. A liquid concealer is much more lightweight and long wearing. There are also several brands that offer waterproof liquid concealer for those of us with watery eyes.
Dot your concealer under your eyes, down the length of your nose, to the high point of your forehead and of course on any blemishes you feel need extra coverage. Then using the warmth of your ring finger gently pat over the concealer to blend and even out.
3. BLUSH / CONTOUR
Yes, we’re moving onto blush before setting powder – and that is because my top tip for sweat proof blush – is to opt for a cream or liquid version. A powder blush will sit heavily on your skin and cake over the course of your day, where as a cream blush will give you a slight hint of color that will stay put and look much more natural. Again ELF Cosmetics have an amazing blush / contour duo set for less than $5.
Take a dense brush (or you could use your fingers of course) apply the cream blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards.
Blend you contour color into the hollow of your cheeks, along the sides of your temple, nose and jawline to create a beautiful bronzed look.
When you are using cream products I recommend using a little at a time, gradually building the coverage as you go. It is easier to add more product than to take it away.
4. SETTING POWDER
You have created a beautiful flawless dewy base at this stage. The next step is to set your makeup with some lightweight powder. I used a Mineral Foundation Powder to set my makeup whilst on my trip. I found that not only did it give extra coverage but it is also incredibly lightweight and mattifying.
Swirl a fluffy brush in your mineral foundation, tap off the excess and lightly apply to your t-zone.
5. EYES / EYEBROWS
Keep eye makeup to a minimal. Your eyes tend to get the oiliest over the course of the day. To add some interest or a bit of fun to your makeup apply an eyelid primer, followed by a matte skin toned eyeshadow to seal your primer and prevent creasing.
Some other eyeshadow options include using a shimmery shadow on your lid and blending matte brown shadow in your crease before taking a waterproof eyeliner and lining your eyes. Also invest in a good waterproof mascara and apply a generous coat to your top and bottom lashes.
If you want to make your eye makeup a bit more fun and quirky – try using a brightly colored eyeliner / mascara instead of just a black one.
To ensure your eyeliner lasts all day, apply an eyeshadow of the same colour over the top using an angled brush.
6. LIPS
Lips are the one thing I always kept to a minimal in theme parks. I like to use tinted lip colors as they are smudge proof, waterproof and hardly budge with consumption of food and drink. I would then just apply a moisturizing lip balm with SPF on top to make sure my lips were protected during the day.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME FOR TOUCH-UPS?
BLOTTING PAPERS
You will find these available at most cosmetic stores. Use these to blot away any excess oiliness, keeping your makeup intact and your skin nice and matte.
LIP TINT AND LIP BALM
You can pick up some great lip tints in felt tip form in a great range of colors – which are much better than lipstick form as they won’t melt or soften in the heat!
*I never touch up my face powder as I find that it can begin to look cakey with over application.
My makeup in the first and last pictures after 13 hours + with no touch ups If you would like to see more tips and tricks, makeup tutorials and more from me click here. To see Amy’s other guest blogs for TMSM click here. Safe travels and have a magical vacation!
About Amy:
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