The humidity and hot weather in Singapore are perhaps the number one enemy to your makeup, regardless of the time of the year. Yet, during Chinese New Year, the constant house visits mean that you will need your makeup to look its best throughout the day. Here are some tips you can use during the upcoming festive days to beat the hot weather and keep your makeup fresh and photo-ready all day long!
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- 1. Prep your skin well
- 2. Priming is key
- 3. Opt for water-based foundations
- 4. Sweat-proof and waterproof your base
- 5. Less is more when it comes to foundation
- 6. Go for lighter looks
- 7. Lip stains over lipsticks
- 8. Seal it off with a setting spray
- 9. Always carry blotting sheets
- 10. Bring mini-sized makeup for on-the-go touchup
1. Prep your skin well
Residual oil or dirt will prevent makeup from adhering well to your skin. Before putting on makeup, wash yourself thoroughly to get rid of oil and dirt before apply your morning skincare routine to make sure your skin is clean and well-moisturised. This way, your makeup will go on smoother and last longer throughout the day.
2. Priming is key
Before applying your foundation, Prep your base with a primer to increase the longevity of your makeup so it won’t slide off by midday from sweat and sebum on your face. Primer will also prevent your foundation from creasing or settling into your pores and fine lines.
Don’t forget to use a good eyeshadow primer for your eyelids as well, especially if you have oily lids or if you are rocking a particularly intense or colourful eye look. It will keep your eyeshadows in place and your eyeliner from smudging.
3. Opt for water-based foundations
Foundations come in two types: water-based and silicon-based. Silicon-based foundations tend to sit on top of the skin and are prone to “moving around”, while water-based foundations are able to stick to your skin better and are less likely to slide off your face after a few hours.
4. Sweat-proof and waterproof your base
During Chinese New Year, you will be going from one relative’s house to another, which means spending some time in the hot and humid weather. Even just 15 minutes out in the sun can already ruin your makeup as your face starts getting shiny and sweaty.
To combat this, invest in sweat-proof and waterproof makeup, especially base products such as foundation and concealer, to keep it from melting off your face due to heat and humidity.
Waterproof eyeliner and mascara will also save you from looking like a raccoon at the end of the day. They are a little harder to remove, so make sure you have a good eye makeup remover as well.
5. Less is more when it comes to foundation
The heavier your foundation is, the more cakey and streaky it will look when it starts to melt off your face half way through the day. Instead, go easy on your foundation to keep your base light and natural, and use a full coverage concealer to cover only the problem areas. This way, you will still get the coverage where needed without any of the cake-yness.
6. Go for lighter looks
Dark colours on your eyes or lips will look more noticeable when they melt off your face under the heat. Instead, keep your makeup look on the brighter side for a low-maintenance look so you won’t have to worry about panda eyes or smudged lips.
7. Lip stains over lipsticks
Chinese New Year means ample delicious snacks and scrumptious meals, but that also means your lipstick will quickly fade and come off. If you don’t want to have to constantly reapply your lipstick, lip stains will be your best friend. They have great staying power that will last through even your greasiest meal. They also tend to look less heavy and more natural on the lips compared to matte liquid lipsticks, which gives you a lighter, more youthful look that is actually perfect for spring time.
8. Seal it off with a setting spray
Finish your makeup with a setting spray to seal everything in place and make sure your makeup holds up through a full day of festive activities. Beware of some sprays that are actually just facial mists that only refresh your face without actually doing anything to the longevity of your makeup.
9. Always carry blotting sheets
Blotting sheets are a life saver when your face starts to get shiny. They will absorb excess oil on your skin without disturbing the makeup underneath. On the other hand, don’t pile on powder in hope of mattifying your face throughout the day as that can make your foundation look cakey and blotchy. If you must reapplying your powder, do it after removing the excess sebum with blotting papers.
10. Bring mini-sized makeup for on-the-go touchup
No matter how long-lasting your makeup is, at some point during the day you might need to touch up certain areas. That’s when mini-sized products will come in handy as they don’t take up much space in your purse. However, don’t go overboard with the amount of makeup you bring. All you really need is a concealer, a lip colour and face powder, and you’re good to go.
