Community Question: How To Make Makeup Last In A Garden Wedding

This question was posted on the Project Vanity Community on Facebook by Anonymous Member.

Hi, ladies! I'm a newbie in putting on make-up hehe so please help

I sweat A LOT. Every time I wipe my face, I see some make-up on the tissue. Huhu. My problem is:

I will be attending a friend's GARDEN wedding. Que horor!

What are your tips to make sure that my make-up is intact from the wedding to the after party? Haha roughly 10 hrs, I guess. What wipes should I use? Oil blotting sheets? Thank you!

This is actually a fairly common question that we get on Project Vanity; as you know it’s ridiculously hot out here in the Philippines and outdoor weddings are quite popular. That’s not a great combination, at least for our makeup’s longevity! And so I have some tried and tested tips that I would like to bequeath to the Internet; I hope you find these as useful as I have.

Tip #1: Use the best long-wearing foundation that you can afford. There are a lot of good ones at different price ranges, but if you want the best then they are pricier for a reason. They look more natural and can look better the longer you wear it. For liquid foundations, I highly recommend the Teviant Ultimate Skin Master Foundation (Php 995) (best for oily skin that needs full coverage), NARS Light Reflecting Foundation (Php 2,950) (best for normal to combination skin with natural coverage, or Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation (Php 3,050) (best for mature skin). For powder, I recommend the MAC Studio Fix Powder (Php 2,350) (for oily skin and extra coverage) and the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (Php 1,950) (translucent coverage).

Tip #2: Invest in a good setting spray; my personal favorite is the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray (on sale for Php 1,309). Apply it before your base makeup (after skincare) so it becomes your primer; your makeup will stick better on a more stable base. Then set your makeup with it at the very end. Be generous with spraying and make sure all areas are covered evenly! My pro tip is to not move your face (no talking, blinking, etc.) so the film formers in the formula set in a uniform manner. Have a fan on hand to make it dry faster.

Tip #3: Make sure ever layer of your makeup is dry before you move on to the next one. That means whatever dampness is in the product (water and/or alcohol usually) should have evaporated before you apply your next layers. Same goes for your sweat. If you start sweating in between layers, blot it away or dry it with a personal fan. The reason for this is if you sandwich dampness in between layers of makeup, it has a tendency to “erupt” (in a manner of speaking) to the surface later on and cause your makeup to crease and cake.

Tip #4: Blot your face with a facial tissue as soon as you sweat during the event. Don’t give sweat time to corrupt your makeup! The longer it’s on your skin the more it can disrupt the way your products cling to your skin. You may also bring a personal fan with you to cool you down and make your sweat dry faster, but personally I weigh this decision against my vision for my outfit, haha. It depends on preference. It’s practicality vs style.

Tip #5: When blotting with tissue, apply it on your skin as you would a sheet mask, press gently with your fingers, then peel it off. Never wipe your face with tissue as it will definitely pick up more makeup. I also don’t recommend dabbing repeatedly with tissue because it will break apart your layers. With the peeling method, less of your makeup with be disturbed but sweat will be absorbed without spreading it around. I like Sanicare or Kleenex facial tissues the most for the job!

Tip #6: Blotting sheets are not for removing sweat; they’re for removing oil. Never use blotting sheets when your face is still sweaty because then you’d just be smearing the sweat all over your face some more. Remove the sweat first, then remove the oil underneath. Never swipe with blotting sheets; like the tissue, apply it as you would a sheet mask, apply pressure, then peel it off. Keep blotting until there’s no more oil picked up.

I love the Softymo Super Clean Tissue (Php 373) or the Happy Skin Blotting Sheets (Php 249) for this purpose.

Tip #7: One you’re done blotting both sweat and oil, you can then retouch your makeup with translucent loose powder (important: not before then). Don’t use powder with any coverage to prevent cakiness. You may also touch up your blush, eyeshadow, and eyeliner once you’re done with the powder. I guarantee you’ll look fresh!

Tip #8: This one is not my advice, but our columnist Claire Reyes’s. Use a fever patch behind your neck and cover it with your hair down! Fever patches won’t really change your body temperature and it will still be hot outside; but it will help you to feel cooler at the very least. I find that I sweat more when I’m stressed and anxious about something, so removing a cause for anxiety (i.e. the feeling of heat ruining makeup) can help me cool down. It’s genius really!

And that’s it! Hope this helps y’all, and if you have additional advice I’d love to hear it in the comments.