The 11 Best Sweatproof Foundations for Summer, Ranked by a Beauty Editor

Wearing a full face of makeup in the hot, humid days of summer is never an enjoyable experience. Indeed, even the best foundations can start to feel heavy and mask-like, or worse still, slide or fade from your face completely as sweat and oil builds up on skin throughout the day. While there’s certainly no hard rule that foundation needs to be worn daily, if you are grateful for the coverage then we totally understand that it can be a non-negotiable.

As someone who never used to leave the house without wearing foundation, I’ve learned exactly what to look out for when you need a summer-proof, sweatproof foundation. Scan the labels for oil-free and matte finish formulas that promise long wear—some will even be labelled as sweat-proof, shine-proof, and even humidity-proof.

Oh, and the key to application is thin, light layers—use a sponge to press your foundation into your skin and avoid unwanted brush strokes. Prep your skin well with a lightweight skincare routine and finish your makeup application with a good setting spray to lock it in place rather than a powder (which can leave cakey finish). I’d also recommend keeping blotting papers on hand for midday touch ups if you’re in a particularly hot environment or intent to wear your foundation for a long time.