Is It Ok to Wear Makeup At the Beach? 5 Things to Remember

With this intense heat, putting on makeup may be the last thing on your mind. But if you’re headed to the beach and you want to look extra glowing and sun-kissed on your vacation photos, there’s nothing wrong with applying a little makeup on your face.

Remember to wear sunscreen underneath and give it at least twenty minutes to soak in. Dabbing makeup before your sunscreen dries completely might cause your products to smear. Here are our favorites for face and body.

5 things to remember when applying beach makeup

The key is to look for products that won’t melt or smear in the sun. Here’s our list, plus tips on how to keep your beach makeup look light, bright, and beachy.

Find the right base.

Thick and creamy foundation will smudge in humid weather, so look for a lightweight base that will give sheer coverage. A personal favorite is the Make Up For Ever Water Blend (Php2,700) foundation — it’s waterproof and feels almost weightless on the skin, so you look like a bare-faced beauty.

If you want something even lighter, try a tinted moisturizer. It will even out your skin tone and help improve its look without covering it up. Try The Balm Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer (Php1,270, BeautyMNL), which hydrates your face and comes with SPF 18 for a little more sun protection. This is not waterproof, so make sure to take your photos before diving in the water!

Avoid heavy eyes.

The goal is to look as natural as possible, so keep your eyeliners thin or switch it out with mascara. Whatever you go for, make sure it’s waterproof — you want to avoid looking like a panda when you get out of the water. Try Maybelline Volum Express Hypercurl Mascara (Php199). This drugstore fave has gotten rave reviews for being waterproof and smudgeproof at a super affordable price!

Use a monotone eyeshadow.

Choose cream over powder and get a neutral shade that complements your skin tone. Try Bell HYPOAllergenic Waterproof Mat Eyeshadow (Php399) which has a creamy texture that you can easily apply using your fingers to get that deep look effect. It stays on and doesn’t crease, plus it’s great for those with sensitive skin!

Keep your eyebrows softly on fleek.

Of course, kilay is still goals, but leave the powder at home and use a brow pencil instead. Elle.com shares a nifty trick — “Fill in sparse hair then apply a clear gel on the brows and the skin behind them. This will hold everything together and keep the color from smearing.” Try Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow (Php1,660) or Goof Proof (Php1,500) which both glide on smoothly and give you hair-like strokes without looking harsh.

Keep your lips hydrated.

Go for lip stains or tints, which can double as a blush and doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. You can go for bright and vibrant hues like Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint (Php575) which feels like a balm with enough color impact. It’s infused with coconut oil so your lips stay moisturized!

You can also try BLK Cosmetics All-Over Paint (Php399) which you can use for your lips, cheeks, and eyes. That’s a load off your kikay kit!

Think of beach makeup this way: you apply it before you leave the house (or hotel room) and whatever fades, fades. It’s hard to reapply (who has time to put makeup on the sand?) so it’s better to use products that will stay on or fade nicely. If you get sweaty or your makeup feels heavy, dab your face with blotting paper to remove oil buildup. Have fun!