Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is: Operation ‘Stop My Makeup From Melting Off My Face Before 9am’.

When it’s hot and sweaty, your makeup is generally the first thing to go. Sweaty upper lips and chins, as well as under your eyes, can make you wonder why you even bothered spending 20 minutes on your face before leaving the house.

But before you resign yourself to being a puddle of melted foundation for the warmer months, here are seven easy, helpful tips to life-proof your makeup this summer.

1. Prep your skin.

According to celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney, skin prep is just as important as the products you chuck onto it.

“I recommend using a micellar water on the skin, even after you’ve cleansed in the shower. Particularly on your eyelids - a lot of women get oily eyelids, so start with micellar water on a cotton pad and swipe across your eyelid. It’s going to help get off that excess oil to start and give you a good base so it lasts longer," she previously told Mamamia.

2. Choose your SPF wisely.

Wearing SPF on your face is a non-negotiable whenever the UV levels are 3 or above, but in summer, the formula you choose is even more important because of sweat and greasiness.

Your best bet is to go for a mattifying facial sunscreen like Cancer Council's Face Day Wear Moisturiser SPF 50+ ($14.95).

It's specifically formulated to feel really light and hydrating, but sinks in quickly and dries down to a matte finish. This is both important and helpful because you need to apply at least a teaspoon for the face, neck and ears to get that SPF 50+ protection.

A two-in-one moisturiser and SPF like this one also cuts a step out of your morning routine thanks to moisturising ingredients aloe vera and vitamin E.

On work days, I apply the untinted formula as a base for my usual makeup look, but on weekends or days when I'm feeling great about my skin, I'll just wear the tinted version or the Matte Daywear BB Cream SPF50+ ($17.95), some bronzer and a slick of lip balm. And brows. Never forget brows.

3. Do your makeup at your destination.

OK, this isn't always going to be possible. But we've all been there - when you're feeling yourself and your freshly done makeup in the comfort of your air-conditioned home, only to arrive at your destination feeling like a damp sponge.

Apply your sunscreen at home, and if your office environment allows, do your makeup at work. I keep a little fan and mirror at my desk for precisely this reason.

4. Layer your makeup like a delicious tiramisu.

 

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Once your moisturiser and SPF have sunk in, it's time to layer this thing up.

• First layer - a good quality primer all over your face, and an eye primer if you're planning on doing fancy eyeshadow and liner.
• Second layer - your foundation/tinted moisturiser/concealer applied to your liking. Tip: spray a beauty blender with a setting spray and dab all over for extra hold.
• Third layer - a pressed or loose powder. Lightly dust a translucent powder or a powder matching your base shade all over the face if you're a sweaty lady, or just over spots that get oily (T-zone, forehead, chin, under the eyes).

You can apply the same approach to bronzer, blush, highlighter and eyeshadows. Start with a cream product and layer a powder version in a similar colour over the top.

In short, cream + powder = more staying power.

5. All. The. Setting. Spray.

The honorary fourth layer of your makeup tiramisu is a good quality setting spray to lock your makeup into place.

Products with cooling properties always go down a treat in summer. I love Urban Decay's Chill Cooling And Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray ($49) and the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist ($23).

You can also keep them in the fridge for a helpful, chilled spritz on hot days.

6. Blotting papers. So many blotting papers.

By God, you’re gonna want to buy some blotting papers for this summer.

Blotting papers work by absorbing oil from the skin - to achieve this without ruining your makeup, press them on and peel them off.

My favourites are the the FENTY BEAUTY Invisimatte Blotting Papers ($24) and MECCA MAX Press Refresh Blotting Paper ($10).

Remember if you are sweating throughout the day or are spending time outdoors, you need to reapply your sunscreen before heading out.

7. Embrace the dewy makeup look.

No matter how much powder you pack on and layers of setting spray you spritz, it's summer. You will sweat and your makeup will slide.

By doing all the above, you're giving your face the best chance of lasting through humid work commutes and long lunches. But the advice that will give you peace of mind and set you free to enjoy summer days is: embrace the dewy look.

Fresh, dewy, slightly shiny skin is very on-trend, and if we're looking at things with a glass half full attitude, little droplets of sweat do a great job of making your skin look plump and juicy.

Blot them away and get on with enjoying summer, OK? You look great.

Do you have any handy summer beauty hacks? Tell us in the comments!

*Always read the label and use only as directed.

Feature image: Getty.