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Jun 09, 2023

The 16 Best Sweatproof Makeup Products of 2023

We found the best long-wearing, smudge-proof picks in every category. Jump to a Section We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may

We found the best long-wearing, smudge-proof picks in every category.

Jump to a Section

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

Travel + Leisure / Brian Kopinski

If you’re packing cosmetics for an upcoming trip, you may want to consider stocking up on sweatproof makeup. Sweatproof makeup comes in handy in situations where your makeup tends to run due to moisture, such as hot summer travel days, pool and beach days, and in humid destinations.

To keep sweat-induced makeup smudges at bay, look for products labeled oil-free or water-resistant. “Oil-free products tend to be long lasting, which makes them incredible for sweatproof makeup,” noted celebrity makeup and brow artist Stevi Christine. You can also choose waterproof makeup, although it’s not necessary.

“Focus on long-lasting, lightweight formulas,” added celebrity makeup artist Tonya Riner. “Opt for gels, creams, and liquids that are known for their staying power.”

We heeded these makeup pros’ advice and conducted deep research into the best sweatproof makeup products on the market to compile this list of our top picks.

Sephora

This skincare-hybrid foundation hydrates your skin as you wear it.

It has a fragrance.

An impressive 44 shades help you find the perfect match with this matte finish foundation. And it’s not purely cosmetic — this product has skincare properties to help hydrate your skin and keep it from drying out during wear. The lightweight formula is sweatproof, humidity-proof, waterproof, and transfer-resistant, so you can count on it staying put throughout your day’s activities. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

Price at time of publish: $49

The Details: 0.34 ounces | REPLEXIUM®, MossCellTec™ No. 1, AirCool™

MAC

It comes in 12 vivid shades.

You’ll need makeup remover to take it off.

This highly pigmented lip color is waterproof, and therefore transfer-proof, even as you eat or drink (although you’ll want to give it a few minutes to set). The liquid lipstick has a matte finish and can stay on your lips for up to 24 hours without touch ups. Though matte liquid lipsticks can sometimes be drying, this formula has passion fruit oil, coconut oil, and shea butter to help nourish your lips as you wear it. The application wand has a pointed tip that provides precision and controlled application.

Price at time of publish: $33

The Details: 0.14 ounces | Passion fruit oil, coconut oil, shea butter

Glossier

It stays put for up to 12 hours.

If you plan to swim, you’ll want a waterproof formula instead.

Though waterproof mascaras certainly stay put on lashes, they can be notoriously difficult to remove, even with the help of makeup removers. Glossier’s water-resistant formula is a great solution for when you want a smudge-proof mascara with added staying power, but don’t want the hassle of a fully waterproof product. It has a weightless, flexible formula that gives lashes a natural-looking lift and length as the tapered comb brush coats each individual lash from root to tip. It contains vegan biotin to condition lashes over time and natural shine polymers for a shiny, sleek look.

Price at time of publish: $18

The Details: 0.29 ounces | Provitamin B5, biotinyl tripeptide-1

Ulta

You only need a tiny bit of this product to make a big impact.

The texture is a bit heavy.

“If you’re in need of a little concealer, apply a tiny amount of a waterproof formula,” advised Riner, who loves this product because it doesn’t separate or crease. The full-coverage product, available in 25 shades, conceals and color corrects for up to 24 hours of continuous wear. It goes on thick and stays put, even as you sweat or swim, and it won’t crack. There are skincare benefits, too. It’s infused with peptides, antioxidants, collagen, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate your delicate eye skin area.

Price at time of publish: $29

The Details: 0.4 ounces, 0.11 ounces | Peptides, antioxidants, collagen, hyaluronic acid

Amazon

The waterproof pencil has a built-in sharpener.

There isn’t a ton of product in the tube.

Nothing ruins a vacation selfie quite like smudgy eyeliner rings around your eyes. Keep smears and flakes at bay with this waterproof kohl pencil, which comes in six dark hues including black, espresso, and indigo. It’ll stay put through any amount of sweat, heat, and humidity your summer travels throw at you. The twist-up product even has a built-in sharpener and soft smudge tip, which is great for traveling because it reduces the amount of items you need to pack. Note that if you’re looking to intentionally smudge the product, make sure to do so before it sets.

Price at time of publish: $30

The Details: Trimethylsiloxysilicate

Amazon

The long-lasting product provides up to 24 hours of continuous wear.

You won’t get as much precision with fingertip application.

If you’re going for a fuller makeup look that includes eyeshadow, you’ll want to make sure to use a product that won’t gather in the creases of your eyelids. Maybelline’s crease-resistant, waterproof, and fade-resistant formula fits the bill. It comes in 10 neutral and bright hues in metallic and matte finishes, each with a color payoff that is bold and saturated. The individual pots are ideal for when packing real estate is limited, since you’ll only bring the colors you need, rather than an entire palette. It’s conveniently applied with your fingertips, saving you the hassle of packing eyeshadow brushes.

Price at time of publish: $7

The Details: See website for full list of ingredients

Amazon

The fragrance-free product has a radiant finish.

Make sure to layer it with sunscreen if you’re spending time outdoors.

Christine recommends prepping your skin with an oil-free primer before applying other cosmetics products. “Think of a painting: you prep the canvas with a primer, and then layer on the paint,” she said. With that in mind, Ilia’s oil-free formula is a great clean, silicone-free pick. Its list of nourishing ingredients includes beta glucan (which helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles), hibiscus (which protects against free-radical damage), and mastic (which helps to mattify and refine skin throughout the day).

Price at time of publish: $52

The Details: 1 ounce | Beta glucan, hibiscus, and mastic

Morphe

SPF 30 protects your skin from UVA/UVB rays.

For continued sun protection, reapplication is necessary.

Even if you wear SPF underneath your makeup, you’ll want to reapply sun protection throughout the day if you’re spending time outside. That’s why this SPF 30 setting spray is so genius: not only does it help your makeup stay put for hours, but every time you mist your face you’re delivering protection from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Still, the sheer-finish product leaves no white cast and certainly won’t look like you’re wearing sunscreen. It’s oil-free for long-lasting results and non-comedogenic.

Price at time of publish: $18

The Details: 3.4 ounces | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene

Meloway

A genius built-in makeup-erasing tip easily clears up mistakes.

There is only one color (black) available.

Applying liquid eyeliner isn’t always easy, and it may take a few tries before you’ve got equal lines on either side. That’s why we love Meloway’s two-in-one waterproof product: it’s equipped with a non-irritating makeup cleansing formula with a sculpted tip, so if your first swipe isn’t how you like it, you can erase even the tiniest mistake with ease. On the other end, a super pigmented black eyeliner glides smoothly and creates precise lines. The vegan and cruelty-free product won’t smudge when you sweat or accidentally rub your eye.

Price at time of publish: $22

The Details: 0.013 ounces | Polyglyceryl-6 caprylate, butylene glycol

Amazon

The waterproof formula stays put for hours.

If you prefer a more luminous look, the matte finish might not be for you.

“If you are using powder, I would recommend a translucent powder to set,” said Christine. Urban Decay’s version, part of the brand’s long-lasting All Nighter line, is a waterproof makeup-setting and finishing powder that mattifies your skin for up to 11 hours of continuous wear. Although the vegan and cruelty-free product can be used on any skin type, it’s ideal for people with oily or combination skin.

Riner’s tip: “when adding your setting powder, I like to use a fan brush so that I’m picking up the slightest amount and then lightly dusting it in the T-zone.”

Price at time of publish: $35

The Details: 0.26 ounces

Amazon

This gloss has zinc oxide to protect lips from UVA/UVB rays.

It has a bit of a sticky feel.

Lips can get sunburnt, too, so if you’re spending time in the sun, it’s always a good idea to pick a lip product that has SPF. This gloss by Colorescience is a nourishing option packed with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E antioxidants to keep your lips feeling soft and hydrated while you wear it. It comes in four sheer, glossy shades, three of which have a hint of shimmer, and they all layer beautifully over other lip products such as lipstick or chapstick. The lip gloss is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, so it makes a great beach or pool day companion.

Price at time of publish: $39

The Details: 0.13 ounces | Peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E antioxidants

Sephora

Eight shades match a wide variety of brow colors.

It can be a bit chalky.

This ultra-slim-tipped eyebrow pencil creates precise, hairlike strokes to give you the effect of fullness in your brows. It uses mineral-based pigments, which look very natural but still have a great color payoff. Still, the product is beginner-friendly and it’s difficult to mess up. The oil-free ink is fade-proof and won’t budge, so you can count on it to stay put, even if you accidentally rub your eye.

Price at time of publish: $24

The Details: 0.003 ounces | Mineral-based pigments, provitamin B5

Sephora

This product has a comfortable but strong hold.

It can be a little drying.

If you prefer a brow product with some hold, Make Up For Ever’s waterproof formula is a solid option. It’s a lightweight, tinted gel that’s available in six shades and delivers up to 24 hours of waterproof, smudge-proof wear. Despite its impressive staying power, it still has a soft, comfortable hold to avoid that frozen look. Pro tip for extra volume: brush against the direction of hair growth, then brush hairs back into place.

Price at time of publish: $25

The Details: 0.11 ounces

Sephora

The waterproof formula is made to last.

You’ll need to pack a brush for application.

This one-shade-suits-all waterproof bronzer is made from Amazonian clay, which controls the oil in your skin to help the makeup last. The illuminating golden bronze mineral-based powder uses vibrant pigments to deliver a natural-looking sunkissed glow to your cheekbones, chin, nose, and forehead — without streaks. Vitamins A and E act as antioxidants to fight free radical damage.

Price at time of publish: $32

The Details: 0.32 ounces | Amazonian clay, mineral pigments, vitamin A, vitamin E

Sephora

The liquid formula helps it stay put in moist weather.

You may have to layer it on if you want a bolder look.

Riner recommends this liquid blush with a luminous finish because it’s “universally flattering and so easy to use.” The color is sheer and buildable, so you can customize your look depending on whether you want a more natural flush or a bigger impact. Still, it has a lightweight, ultra-creamy texture that is transfer-resistant and can provide up to eight hours of wear. It uses sodium hyaluronate to help nourish and hydrate the skin as you wear it.

Price at time of publish: $32

The Details: 0.23 ounces | Sodium hyaluronate, vitamin E, vegan collagen

Amazon

The compact stick is convenient to tote.

The shimmer may be a bit too subtle.

The fact that this highlighter is in stick form makes it easy to travel with, since you don’t need to worry about packing and potentially damaging delicate powder compacts and brushes. Use your fingers to apply this creamy shimmer stick directly to the high points of your face for a luminous glow that will last up to 24 hours. The long-wearing shea-butter-packed formula, available in three shades, also has SPF 17.

Price at time of publish: $25

The Details: 0.3 ounces | Shea butter

If you’re going to be spending time outdoors, working sun protection into your skin care and makeup routine is key. You may use a moisturizer with SPF as a base, followed by a primer with SPF. Certain foundations and even blushes, highlighters, and bronzers can contain SPF, however, you won’t want to rely on those alone since they’ll only be applied to select areas of your face. Finishing with an SPF setting spray also provides a convenient method for sun protection reapplication throughout the day.

To get the longest lasting results, “layer your products,” advised Christine. “Primers fill in your pores and fine lines and help the makeup you put on stay in place all day. It's like a bond between your skin and makeup. A setting spray is the seal — think of it as hair spray for your face. Again, the more layers of makeup you use, the better staying power it will have.”

Riner added: “if you’re looking to keep a luminous and skin-like texture throughout the summer, use a blotting paper before adding setting powder. This trick works wonders! Tatcha makes great blotting papers that have been a staple in my makeup bag for years.”

Or, “If you're in a bind,” shared Christine, “you can use a toilet seat cover as your blotting paper!”

Although waterproof makeup can certainly withstand sweat as well, it may offer more strength than what’s necessary. “You don't need waterproof makeup to be sweat-proof,” said Christine. “There's long lasting makeup that isn't waterproof. But if your makeup tends to not last all day or run below the eyes, I would suggest sticking with waterproof products.”

Yes, you can bring sweatproof makeup on a plane. Just make sure it adheres to the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule, which states that all liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less and should all fit into a single, clear quart-sized bag.

For this story, Talia Ergas consulted celebrity makeup and brow artist Stevi Christine and celebrity makeup artist Tonya Riner for their expert insights into how to make makeup last through sweaty days. She also used her eight years of experience as a beauty editor to identify the best products in every category.

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