Um, we’re not sure who needs to hear this, but in order for your face to not fall apart in this heat, you’re going to have to add a few products to your regimen to really meltproof your make-up. Oil-based products work a treat if you’re cocooned in an air-conditioned office all day, but if you’re dashing to a meeting across town or hitting the party circuit, not so much. Make these beauty swaps, and staying polished will be a breeze.

Here’s how you can melt-proof your make-up this summer:

Liner And Balm

Two products are better than one.

If you’re going to be exposed to the sun, ditch the lipstick and gloss and try a stained look with a slick of balm for hydration. Your handy duos are a lipliner (which provides colour) and an SPF lip balm for lubrication and sun protection. “Stain your lips by filling them in with a coloured lip pencil to create a stay-put, drier textured pigment,” says make-up artist and hair stylist Fiona Gentry. “Next, sweep on SPF balm (colourless or matching your liner), which is a lip plumper for a thinner-looking pout.”

Eyeliner

Keep it clean.

“Before you line your eyes, check they’re free of any oily residue from your eye cream or oil-based make-up remover,” says Gentry.

“Use as little eye cream as possible before applying eyeliner. Cleaning off the excess moisture from your eye area (lashes, lids, brows and under your eyes) is essential, otherwise, your pencil will lose its hold.”

After sweeping away makeup, cleanse the area with warm water and a cotton pad to ensure that any trace of solvent is gone. As for your go-to liners, Gentry recommends waterproof and long-wear formulations for summer.

Mascara

Embrace waterproof eye products.

Summer is the perfect time to switch to waterproof mascara but while it has remarkable hold, it can leave you with panda eyes. Make-up artist Linda O’Connell’s recipe for removing waterproof mascara: cut a cotton pad in half and soak the halves in waterproof make-up remover (you can use other make-up removers but there’s a risk of having to rub too hard and losing eyelashes). Next, position the pad under your bottom lashes and close your eye, using the other half to gently sweep downwards, from the top of your lash bed, until the mascara is gone. Cleanse your skin after all your make-up is removed and apply your eye cream.

Foundation

Check your base is formulated for heat resistance.

Look for a foundation that states “long-wearing” on its label, suggests O’Connell. “These formulations are developed to withstand heat, perspiration and humidity,” she explains. For ethnic skin, try a mousse-textured, oil-free formulated foundation (think almost powdery) that beats any unwanted shine. Layering product onto your skin can also lead to a make-up meltdown. “Mix a little oil-free moisturiser into a long-wear formulation SPF foundation. You’ll create a stay-put base that offers sun protection and isn’t too cakey,” says Gentry.

Concealer

Use concealer strategically.

“I like to use a creamy concealer or crayon-type pencil,” says Gentry. “These aren’t as liquid in texture, so they mean less moisture on your skin and therefore more hold.” Apply your foundation and then conceal only the areas on your skin that your foundation hasn’t covered so you’re not adding unnecessary product.

If you’re the victim of too much red flush in your skin during summer, a minty-green shade of concealer will reduce it, suggests O’Connell. Or better yet – instead of applying blusher and making matters worse, use a highlighting powder to accentuate your cheekbones and embrace what Mother Nature has given you.

Blush

Swap powder for cream.

“Powder products mixed with perspiration can end up looking muddy,” O’Connell warns. She is a fan of cream blushers because they cake less and glisten gently when they catch the light. Don’t want to be parted from your powder blush? Don’t just dunk your brush into the powder and then dab it on, says Gentry. “The result will be colour that sits on top of your make-up and looks cakey. Use a tiny amount, shaking off any excess powder from your brush, and blend well into your cheeks.”

Eyeshadow

Prep your eyelids.

You’ve aced the smokey eye application, but how do you make sure your five o’clock shadow still looks good? Your eyelids move constantly throughout the day and this combination of movement and moisture means that your shadow ends up sitting in the crease – not a good look. Make-up pros solve this by prepping eyelids before adding eyeshadow. O’Connell recommends first smoothing out any creases made by foundation with your finger, then holding one eye closed and dusting a fleshy-coloured (or translucent) powder over your lid.

Before you apply 

Use skin primer

Yes, it’s another item in an already bulging make-up bag, but take it from us: if you live south of the equator, this is a beauty investment you have to make. “Apply a drop of a silicone primer after your moisturiser but before foundation or concealer. The primer forms a layer between your skin and foundation, making it less likely for makeup to slide off your face during extreme heat,” says O’Connell.