A Makeup Artist’s Guide To Keeping Your Look Fresh In The HK Heat

Here’s how to make sure your makeup stays fresh and doesn’t slide off your face after a few seconds of Hong Kong’s humidity.

We all know Hong Kong is famous for its hot and humid summer months, so when it comes to wearing makeup it’s far from a match made in heaven. Even as a makeup artist, it’s not always comfortable to apply or wear when you’re hot and sticky. I’ve tested a large number of different products and formulas, so I can now share with you my top five tips and product recommendations. Hopefully this will help us all keep our makeup on our faces (as much as the heat allows)!

Read more: A Makeup Artist’s Guide To The Best Under Eye Concealers

1. Primer

If you know your makeup slides off and disappears by lunch time, then investing in a great primer is key to longevity and provides a nice base for your foundation.

• Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Best for dry to normal skin tones

Laura Mercier has an amazing range of primers that target specific skin types but I tend to stick to the Original Primer for dry to normal skin tones. I use this on my own skin and my makeup stays put all day long!

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, available online for $335 

• Benefit The POREfessional – Best for oily and pore-prone skin

This velvety primer not only smells pretty delish, but it’s perfect for oily or shiny skin, as it takes the shine off your T-Zone and minimises those pesky pores.

Note: if you have sensitive skin, try the Hourglass recommendation below to avoid any skin flare-ups.

Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer, available online or in store, $120 for mini size or $290 for full size

• HOURGLASS Veil Mineral Primer – Best for oily and sensitive skin

I love the HOURGLASS primer as it’s great for oily skin, but is also super compatible with sensitive skin. It has the added bonus of being mineral and animal-cruelty free.

HOURGLASS Veil Mineral Primer, available online, for around $480

Application Tip: You can apply your primer with your fingers or use a KTK Foundation Blender Brush, working from the top of your forehead in downward motions, covering your entire face and neckline.

2. Mascara

Mascara can be a tricky thing. We want staying power, curl and volume all mixed into one small bottle. For me staying power is number one and, as I’ve found with a lot of brides, it’s always high on their list to avoid any running eye makeup on their big day.

• MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash

Thankfully MAC Extended Play Giga Black Mascara ticks all the boxes, plus the formulation isn’t waterproof, so it not only stays put but when you do need to remove it, it comes off easily.

MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash, available online for around $140 

Application Tip: When applying to your top lashes, start at the base of your lashes and move your brush up to the tip of your lashes in a zigzag motion. Repeat several times for extra volume and curl.

3. Long Lasting Lipstick

I’m a huge lipstick fan, so if you want to add a touch of colour without having to make any other effort with your makeup then a long-lasting lipstick should be your new bestie throughout the summer! The two brands I love are Laura Mercier and Urban Decay.

• Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick

This is super moisturising, long lasting, comfy to wear and comes in some pretty fab colours.

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick, available online for around $292

• Urban Decay Vice Lipstick, Comfort Matte Range

This is also a great long lasting product, with a large range of colours.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick (Comfort Matte Range), available online for $145 or in store

4. Setting Spray

A good setting spray is essential to give your makeup the staying power you’re after. My favourite is from MAC (this wee beauty has been a staple in my kit for a good 12 years) but I also recommend versions by Urban Decay and Kat Von D. Once you’ve completed your makeup, spray the mist over your face for a few seconds, not only does it leave a slight glow to your skin, your makeup will stay put until you need to take it off.

MAC Prep+Prime Fix+, available online for around $275

Urban Decay All Nighter, available online for around $311 or in store

Kat Von D Lock-It Makeup Setting Mist, available online from $415

5. Eye Lid Primer

An eye lid primer is also a good investment for the humidity here. You maybe thinking, “can’t I just use my face primer on my eye lids?” I say yes(ish!) BUT for extra staying power and if you know you’re prone to your eye makeup moving or disappearing, then I highly recommend the following two products.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, available online for $170

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, travel size available online for $90 or in store

Application Tip: Once you have your foundation base on (which includes applying a layer over your eyelids), apply a thin layer of eyelid primer over the top of your lids, before starting your eyeshadow work.

And a final tip from me, any formulations that are long-lasting, 24 hour proof or double wear, usually live by their claims and will do the trick. But it really does come down to testing the products out to see what works best for your skin. If you are prone to constant sweating, then these tips may not work for you completely, but I hope my recommendations help you to narrow down products that will suit you and are worth adding to your collection.