Though the summer heat boils us down, makeup is an accessory that can be worn year round. The sweltering humidity, brow beating sun, and resultant sweat can leave a perfectly blended face cakey and gross. Often times, the season’s weather leaves our faces greasy, oily, and streaky without proper application and attention. It’s important to use good technique in priming, setting, and prolonging the wear of one’s makeup. Don’t let the weather outside determine the adornment of your face! There are many things you can do to maintain the look of your makeup.

Read the tips below to figure out what’s best for your face!

The first step to makeup is prepping and priming. One easy way to set your base up for success is to use a humectant based toner or facial mist. I’d recommend using products with glycerin or hyaluronic acid as they are known for holding moisture in the skin. This is an easy lightweight way to hydrate the skin, plus it also serves the dual purpose of helping your base products stick to your skin and stay on longer. It’s also beneficial to use less face products during the warmer months to prevent a cakey appearance. While you can still use the same routine, applying the product sparingly and blending it across the face can help give a more natural look and diminish the appearance of heaviness or splotchy makeup.

One of my personal favorite methods is to use concealer only, applying it under the eye, on the bridge of the nose, and on the chin to give a light, yet medium coverage. It’s important to use a medium to full coverage formula that sets well so that it won’t slip around on your face. The best tip that has helped prolong the wear of my base makeup is baking. This drag-inspired technique is amazing at keeping your makeup matte and in place for as long as possible. Simply apply an excess amount of setting powder under the eyes, on the nose, and on the chin. Be sure to use a product that suits your skin tone so you don’t get flashback in photography or be exposed by natural lighting. If you use a translucent setting powder, it might be beneficial to sweep off the extra baking powder with one that is your skin tone. This action minimizes the chances of flashback from the baking powder.

For cheek and bronzer products, be sure to use colors that will definitely stay put. Blend highlighter across the high points of your face, altering the amount to fit how strongly you would like to glow. Eye makeup is usually much less of a concern as it usually consists of powder products which stick well. Most eye makeup should fare well in summer weather, just be sure to use good primers, waterproof liner and mascara. When it comes to lip products be sure to use liners so that the products don’t feather, but feel free to gloss or mattify as you like.

My favorite tip to finish off the makeup is to apply setting spray. While this may seem pretty normal, it can truly be a crucial step. It’s very important to choose an oil controlling and/or longwear setting spray over something that creates a dewy look. In the summer, using an oil control setting spray, will help keep your makeup looking nice even when you do break a sweat. The best trick to maximize the usage of a setting spray is to spritz a generous amount and fan your face until it dries. For some reason, making sure that the mist saturates your skin and is fanned off seems to make the makeup stick to the skin even longer than usual. This is the most surprisingly effective trick in my arsenal, but it works every time.

While these tips may not work perfectly for everybody, they are easy to modify and adapt to your skin type and routine. Be sure to use these tips and tricks to give you the best makeup look possible.