It’s summer time in the Northern Hemisphere, and with summer comes gross, sticky, all-around uncomfortable humidity. I don’t know about anyone else, but summer makes me feel like I look like a hot mess all the time. Part of that is because I’m too busy slathering on greasy SPF 986 sunscreen to worry about putting on makeup, but another part is that makeup tends to just melt right off my face the second I step outside. This summer, I’ve been working on finding the perfect makeup routine to humidity-proof my face. It’s all about finding the right products. So, I present to you:  my holy grails of summer beauty!

First up: skin and foundation!

NP Set Calming Pre-Foundation Primer, $29 USD.

Though a bit of a steep price for a Target product, I love this primer. It makes my skin look and feel  smooth and even, and truly keeps my liquid foundation in place, even in the blistering heat.

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Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation, $42 USD at sephora.com

Using liquid foundation when you’re hot and sweaty all day seems a little counter-intuitive, but I promise you, this foundation will not budge. It gives full coverage all day long, but is light and smooth like tinted moisturizer.

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Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, $8.94 USD

This is 100% my holy grail of concealers. It’s amazing! Great coverage and long staying power, plus a great price, all equals SOLD in my book. Kind of makes up for the ridiculous price of the NP Set primer!

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Revlon PhotoReady Finisher Powder, $10.49 USD

The most important part about my foundation routine in the summer is the right powder to set it all in place. What’s the point of all that makeup if it just slides right off? I’ve been going back and forth between two powders this summer but when it comes down to it, Revlon takes the cake. This line is incredible, really. I can finish my face with this powder and go out dancing and drinking in a crowded club with a mediocre AC in the middle of summer, and I won’t even look a little greasy. A+, Revlon!

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Moving on to those beautiful eyes of yours, here’s some great products that won’t make you look like a raccoon:

MAC Prep + Prime Eye, $18.50 USD

Primers are your best friend in the summer. Even if you’re not going to wear any eyeshadow, always always always prime your eyes. It will help even the least waterproof eyeliner stay in place. Everyone is always shitting themselves over the Urban Decay Primer Potion, but personally, I prefer the MAC Prep + Prime. It seems to last longer in the heat, and it has more opaque coverage than any of the UD primers, which I like.

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Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $18 USD

Waterproof liquid eyeliners are great in the summer. Once they dry, they don’t budge all day until you wash them off at night. Another one I like is this Maybelline Line Works Ultra Liner ($5.99 USD), but that’s a bit TOO waterproof for my liking- you should never have to scrub your damned eyelashes off just to remove eyeliner! So, I’d recommend the Kat Von D liner. It comes in a nice pen shape so it’s a lot easier to hold and control in my humble opinion, and it’s not too hard to remove at the end of the day.

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Wet ‘N Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner Pencil, $0.99 USD

If you’re not into liquid liners, this Wet ‘N Wild pencil is where it’s at. It goes on opaque and smoothly (doesn’t kick up!),  and it’s SO CHEAP. I would recommend setting any eyeliner with a powder eyeshadow in the summer. I like the Wet ‘N Wild Coloricon Eye Shadow Singles—also very cheap ($1.99 USD anyone?) and great for blending with eyeliners.

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NYX Pin-Up Tease Boudoir Mascara, $5.99 USD.

This mascara is indestructible. Seriously. I apparently have really sweaty eyelids that like to make mascara run both down my face and into my eyes. Any waterproof mascara will do, really, but none will give you bangin’ lashes quite like this one will. Big, fluffy, loooooong eyelashes that won’t drip mascara into my eyes? Yes, please!

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ANASTASIA Brow Powder Duo, $22 USD at sephora.com

I recently switched over to brow powders from pencils. Pencils are typically made of wax (or have wax in them) and well, wax melts. It melts down my face, in fact. But powders? Powders stay put. You can get a pretty good dupe for this by Milani ($6.49 USD) but I find the colors are slightly different and a little too harsh to go well with my red hair. Both are great quality, though, and good for summer-time sweaty faces.

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And, finally, your lips want a little pampering:

Left to right: L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipcolour in British Red, $9.49 USD; MAC Viva Glam Nicki, $15 USD; Revlon Super Lustrous Crème Lipstick in Gentlemen Prefer Pink, $7.99 USD

As much as I love those wonderful Revlon Lip Butters, they are, well, just like butter—melty. Applying any lipstick in layers, with powder to set in between layers, will help it last a while, but the lip butters tend to migrate off my lips. I prefer satin and matte lipstick in the summer because they stay in place better, but cream lipsticks are fine, too. Just as long as they’re not too creamy (I’m looking at you, Lip Butters and MAC Cremesheens). If you like your lips to have some shine, dab a little lip gloss in the center of your lips—Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss will do the trick—and use a clean lip brush to work it in. This will work for naked lips or on top of lipstick! Just go light, because like the Lip Butters, gloss tends to slide around.

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My humidity-proof face!

The best products for the summer are ones that are light and matte. I keep my Revlon PhotoReady powder on hand at all times, as well as some oil blotting sheets, like Clean&Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets , to blot away any shiny spots that may appear during the day. And have fun with it! I like a mostly natural-looking face with bright blush and lips, although heavy smokey eyes are fun to play with at night.

What are some of your favorite products or tricks for summertime beauty? Let me know in the comments!

Written by Alisse Desrosiers
Follow her on Twitter and Tumblr! Also check out her new blog, femetits!