Staying fresh in 38°C weather is an arduous task, often overshadowed by the fear of wasting product and looking like you fought a war. I mean, why bother with expensive foundation only to have it melt off your face within a couple of hours? But hey, it’s not such an uphill battle when you’ve got the right sweat-proof beauty products. Whether you’re toasting in an outdoor music festival, basking under the Palawan sun, or just, well, standing outside for five minutes (which can be a struggle in itself!), add these to your product arsenal and build a beauty routine that is personally proven to withstand the vicious Manila heat.
L’Oreal Hydrafresh moisturizer
Save the cream for drier skin days and swap it for a gel-based moisturizer. This light formula is mattifying and makes it easy to absorb, instead of leaving you feeling like an oil slick. It also touts an “icy gel” feature, with ingredients that are instantly cooling to the touch. Seriously, it’s like air-conditioning for your face.
Available at Lazada and department stores
Bioré UV Face Milk
When looking for the perfect sunscreen, don’t forget to make sure that it’s also sweat and waterproof. This variant from Bioré happens to be both. While it isn’t transparent like its well-loved watery essence counterpart, the texture is just as lightweight and leaves behind a matte, powdery veil to help combat oiliness within the day.
Available at BeautyMNL and department stores
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
This is for those who dare embark on the dangerous expedition that is applying liquid eyeliner. Thankfully, Kat Von D’s is easy enough (I say this with a grain of salt) to use because of its precise brush tip, and it does not budge or fade the slightest. No lie, a friend wore this through a break-up and it stayed put throughout the entire waterworks.
Available at Sephora
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
I will never not be preaching the gospel of Fenty, but out of all the Riri products I have on my altar, it’s the foundation that has answered all my prayers. There’s a bit of a learning curve when applying it because the texture is runny and dries easily, but the finish is so, so worth it. Its demi-matte formula makes it more ideal for oily-skinned folks, but it could be a good choice for anyone living in the humid tropics. I wore this to a 12-hour music festival—enduring moshpit after moshpit—and I still looked like a person at the end of it all.
Available at Sephora
L’Oreal False Lash Butterfly Wings Mascara
I’m a firm believer that mascaras are like relationships—don’t invest in them if you’re just going to replace them in three months. As an everyday mascara user, I go through tubes pretty fast (can’t say the same for boys!) so being economical is a must. Thankfully, this variant from L’Oreal fares even better than all other high-end brands I’ve tried. It lengthens lashes so neatly, does not clump, is waterproof (but a bit of a chore to remove), and doesn’t give you racoon eyes!
Available at BeautyMNL and department stores
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil
I’m the kind of person who would rather forget to put on pants than my eyebrows. Still suffering the consequences of my ignorant over-tweezing teenage years, filling my brows before every public appearance is non-negotiable. So far, Benefit’s Goof Proof has proven most reliable. I’ve tried surfing with this on, and even if my skills were that of a drowning gorilla’s, my still-sculpted brows elevated me to elegant dolphin status.
Available at Benefit branches
Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray
A few spritzes of this setting spray as the final step of your routine will ensure your make-up stays intact for up to 16 hours. Personally, though, I would bathe in this stuff if I could. It’s an effective product that does what it says: gives you smoother-looking make-up without melting, fading, or settling into fine lines. Basically, you can wear it through an apocalypse and you’ll still look fresh. For a more in-depth guide to facial sprays, click here.
Available at Sephora US (or probably some over-priced Instagram shop)
Cargo Water Resistant Blush
Wearing blush and/or highlighter in the summer can be tricky when they’re competing against your natural flush-slash-impending heatstroke and glimmering sweat. This nifty little tin can might not look much on the outside, but inside is a hard-worker. I tried this blush in the shade Los Cabos (which also has bits of shimmer for a subtle highlight), kept it on during a boxing class, and it miraculously stayed put. Get on this magic stuff!
Available at Beauty Bar
