How to Make Makeup Last All Day

Have you ever spent ages applying your make up in the morning, and then come home later that day to see raccoon eyes and foundation marks or dried out skin and spots re-appearing? Wikihow can help you get on your way to having perfect, flawless looking skin that lasts the whole day! Just a few simple changes in your makeup routine will help your beautiful look last much longer

Method 1 of 3: Prepping Your Face

1. Wash your face. Washing away dirt, sebum and old makeup will help your fresh makeup stay in place a lot longer. If you put fresh makeup on a dirty face, it'll tend to slip off or flake away.

   • Wash your face in the morning, before putting on makeup.
   • Don't use harsh soap on your face. It can cause irritation and dryness, which w
2. Exfoliate a few times a week. Dead skin tends to accumulate on the face, especially with age, so it's important to exfoliate a few times a week to remove it. Putting makeup over dead skin will cause it to flake off during the day. Your makeup will look, feel and behave better on a smooth, exfoliated face.
   • You can use a facial brush to lightly brush the dead skin from your face. Rub it in circles, never pressing too hard.
   • A homemade sugar scrub also works well as a gentle exfoliant.
   • Don't forget your lips! They need to be exfoliated, too, in order for lipstick to stay in place.
3. 
   Moisturize. For oily skin, buy an oil free or gel moisturizer, and for dry skin buy a more nourishing one. Make sure to get a moisturizer with at least SPF 15 in it to protect you skin from the sun, or a separate SPF 45 if you live in a sunny place. If you are older, you can use a moisturizer with anti-wrinkle properties.
   • Don't use a rich, creamy moisturizer during the day. It could make your face too slick for your makeup.
4. 
   Prime your face. Using a good primer is the trick to having make up that stays throughout the whole day. Some primers can get a little pricey, but you don't need to use very much for a good finish. Apply the primer throughout your face, especially over red areas or oily areas, and any blemishes that you want to cover.
5. 
   Use an eye primer. It makes your eyeshadow last longer and prevents creasing in the lid. Also, it makes colors seem more vibrant and less translucent. A liquid concealer can work for this also.
   • If you don't use a lot of eye makeup, an eye primer may not be necessary. However, it can really help if your eye makeup tends to smudge and end up below your eyes.
   • Eye primer can also help your eyeliner stay in place.

Method 2 of 3: Choosing the Right Makeup

1. 
   Get a good matte foundation.^[2] If you don't want to use a liquid foundation, you should get a mineral powder instead of foundation. This gives lighter coverage then liquid, but it will also trap fewer bacteria in your skin and will allow your face to breathe.
   • Alternatively, try a cream foundation or powder foundation or cream to powder foundation or tinted moisturizer. Mineral makeup may be good for some, but for others it can be a drag. Getting the color right can be difficult if you have yellow undertones.
2. 
   Use a translucent setting powder. It's simply a clear or very lightly tinted face powder that sets and mattifies your face without the added coverage of a colored powder. A drugstore brand will work just as well as one from a high-end brand.
3. 
   Choose long-wear lip color. This type of lipstick is formulated to stay on your lips all day long, even when you eat and drink. Make sure to moisturize your lips properly before applying as long-wear is very drying.
   • For even longer-lasting color, use a lipliner around your color. This helps the shape stay firm all day long.
4. 
   Use powdered eye shadow. Applying this type of shadow over primer will keep your color in place all day long. Cream shadows tend to slip off a lot more easily. Apply the powder to the primer using an eyeshadow brush, and let it set.^[3]
5. 
   Use waterproof mascara.Waterproof or smudge proof mascara work well to keep your eyes looking fresh all day. Waterproof mascara won't budge if you happen to get wet or cry. Just make sure you don't sleep with it, as it will clump and make your lashes fall off.
   • Do not waste money on mascara primer. Mascara primer weighs down your eyelashes, making them look shorter.

Method 3 of 3: Keeping it In Place

1. 
   Take your time applying your makeup. Slapping it on in the morning and rushing out the door won't give your makeup time to set. After each layer you apply, wait five minutes before applying the next one. This will go a long way toward helping your makeup stay in place all day long.
2. 
   Avoid touching your face during the day. Every time you touch your face, you're removing a little bit of makeup and increasing the chances it'll get smudged. Avoiding touching your face with your fingers as much as possible.
3. 
   3
   Go lighter during the summer. When it's hot outside, wearing a ton of makeup is never a good idea. As you perspire, your makeup will naturally come off a lot more easily. The best thing to do is wear waterproof eye makeup and go easy on the foundation, rather than fighting to keep it in place all day long.
4. 
   Wear your hair up more often. Having your hair brush against your face all day long is a sure way to take off your makeup a little faster. When it's essential for your makeup to stay set all day, go for an updo style that day.