No matter what you may think, you sweat. Yes, you. The days are getting hotter and that thing you claim is a ‘glow’ is really sweat – ruining your best outfits and melting off your makeup. There is nothing worse than taking off your sunglasses to find a pooled foundation/sweat mix sitting on the bridge of your nose, or to catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and realize, yup those dark bags are back, your concealer is gone. The days are getting shiny my friends.

But, of course, I’m here to help! I’ve switched over to my Summer makeup menu to counteract those sweaty days and prevent the shine, and I’m here to share it with you. Just a few extra things to add to your current routine to make sure your makeup settles and sticks all day long. With long Toronto commuting days, and a 1.7km walk to and from Union Station every day, the hot, sweaty, makeup melting days are in full swing.

First step is PREP: It’s important to make sure your face is prepared for the hotter days. It’s important to make sure your face is clean and moisturized every single morning, as well as exfoliated a few days a week. Proper skincare is the first step to makeup; the step that most people skip. Makeup can hide a lot, but it’s always better to treat your skin with the proper care to ensure the your natural face is healthy and happy. I don’t start a day without a good wash and the Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet moisturizer to prep my face.

Next, is PRIME: You need to make sure your makeup has something to stick to. A well primed face is a longer lasting face. It doesn’t matter which primer you use – whichever works best for you. Just ensure it’s a step you don’t skip on the sweaty summer days. I like to stick to oil-free formulas to ensure I don’t add extra shine to my face. I’ve been loving the Rimmel Lasting Finish Skin Perfecting Primer. It claims to keep your makeup in place for up to 8 hours and it has yet to disappoint.

And finally, you need to SET: Set it all in place to make sure it stays. I like to set in to different ways. First I set with a mattifying powder to reduce any further shine (I’m all about the matte look if you haven’t already figured). For this I stick to the Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder, which I use under my eyes, forehead, nose and chin. And finally, I set my whole face with a good spritz of the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray. Just make sure you hold it a ways away from your face while you spray, or else your makeup will drip off before even hitting the hot streets.

And there you have it. You’re reading to shop till you drop, spend a day at the parks, do the tourist scene, walk 1.7km to work without raccoon eyes upon arrival. Once you prep, prime, and set you’ll beat that ‘unavoidable’ summer sweat….Ahem I mean ‘glow’