If you’re anything like me, and you are forced to stand on a subway platform that turns into the world’s shittiest sauna come July, wearing any sort of “heavy” makeup sucks (unless you shellac your face in setting spray).
The best thing I did for myself is to fine tune my makeup routine in the summer in such a way that I walk the fine line between dewy and bronzed and men telling me I look tired. But the one thing I’ve always tried (and failed) to master is lipstick. Finally, I’ve figured out how to make it last without it melting like the popsicle I really wish I had right now.
With sheerer formulas, I lean towards tinted balms. My recent favorite has been My Lipbalm from innisfree and my staple will forever and always be the Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia. Glossier’s Generation G and Colourpop’s Blotted Lip are great if you have perfect, non-dried out lips, but I’d skip otherwise.
Now, onto the good stuff. Full-color lip products always felt like winter/fall options, until I figured out a way to work them in that didn’t feel overly fussy. Lip stains are your best friend for a full-lip look without the risk of melting. I like this Aurora Lively Lip Stain in Blush for a “I just ate a popsicle and somehow don’t look like a 5-year old with a red mustache” look. I have also relied on the peripera Ink lip stain (which is very buildable) or the classic Benetint from Benefit.
But the biggest hack of all (full disclosure, I saw it from a girl I follow on Instagram) is this: take the Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint and place a small amount on your lips, and then spread it across your entire mouth. I’ve tried it with the Lip Paint and also the Milani Lip Amore Matte Lip Crème and let me tell you, that shit works. You get the full color payoff (since these formulas are incredibly pigmented), but they don’t dry your lips out or risk falling apart under intense heat. It’s a win-win that I’ll probably use no matter the weather.
Do you have any tips on how you wear lipstick when it feels too hot to function? Let me know your favorite products and usages in the comments.