Monsoon might serve as a welcome reprieve from the scorching heat of summer, but it also brings along humidity as its friend. If you are tired of having your make-up artistry disappear the second you walk out of the door, it helps to make a few crucial swaps on your vanity table.
Ahead, Leiya Phinao Ningshen, national artist at M.A.C Cosmetics, shares her best-kept secrets for acing monsoon make-up.
How To Change Your Make-Up Kit For Monsoon
While the earlier half of the year is governed by dainty pastel hues and heavier textures, monsoon calls for a certain change of pace. Ningshen agrees, and adds, “Summer make-up is more highlighted, glowy and sheer whereas make-up for the monsoon season needs to focus on reducing the shine and the sheen. As a rule of thumb, the foundation and kajal need to be waterproof and long-lasting to survive a downpour.”
The road to ensuring that your make-up doesn’t slide off at the slightest drizzle lies in a paradigm shift in your choice of texture. Ningshen advises, “Creamy textures like cream blush, kohl and cream eyeshadows are not the best options for the humid weather. Even oil-based skincare products, like essential oils, primer and dewy foundation, are best avoided.” Instead, she advises swapping cream textures for powder, leaving behind sheen-enhancing products for a matte finish and, of course, waterproof-everything for all steps of your make-up routine.
The Ideal Make-Up Routine For Monsoon
If you are looking to avoid having your make-up melt off your face with every spike in humidity, it helps to pay attention to every step of your getting-ready routine. Here, Ningshen shares her top advice for making monsoon makeup last longer than ever before:
Foundation
Look for a matte finish to combat the shine that is an inevitable side-effect of the accelerated humidity of the season. Powder finish is preferable to liquid formulas as the former can sop up the excess oils on the face and negate any unwanted shine along the T-zone and other areas of the face.
Blush
Again, a powder finish, like the MAC Powder Blush in soft coral hues, will help you achieve a natural-looking flush of colour. This is the season to lay the heavy contouring to rest and to swap megawatt highlighters in favour of a soft, radiant glow.
Eyes
To ensure that your eye make-up stays in place all day long, you will want to preface your efforts with a waterproof eye base, like MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Layin’ Low, that goes on creamy and dries to a skin-like finish. Then, apply any powder eye shadow of your choice and round out your look with a hand of waterproof mascara and kajal. Remember to show some extra love to your brows as well—a quick brush of the same waterproof mascara will help tame any errant strands and fill up any sparse areas in your brows.
Lips
The humidity of the season is no excuse to ignore your lips’ moisturisation needs. Opt for a colour-free base, like the M.A.C Prep + Prime Lip, to moisturise your pout and then fill in the lips with any lip pencil of your choice. As the last step, reach for a soft transfer-proof matte lipstick to ensure long-lasting colour payoff and minimal touch-ups during the day.
Finish
Once your handiwork is in place, you will want to insure its longevity with a setting spray. A quick spritz of a make-up setting spray will lock in your make-up and keep it from sliding off your face when confronted with humidity and rain. Those with oily skin can also opt for a light dusting of setting powder and work in light, buildable layers to avoid weighing down the skin. The key to waterproofing your make-up doesn’t end simply at the make-up kit, cautions Ningshen. “Avoiding oil-based skincare in favour of a gel-based lightweight moisturiser will ensure that your skin stays plump and hydrated throughout the season. Likewise, applying a matte or hydrating primer before foundation will help your make-up last longer in the rains,” she concludes.
