3 Make-Up Artists Share Their Top Tips For Smudge-Proof Make-Up

As the season changes, so should your skincare. Swap out rich creams for lightweight gel moisturisers that sink quickly into skin but still go heavy on hydration. Our current obsession? Sisley Black Rose Concentrate Radiant Youth Serum, Dior Prestige Le Protecteur UV Jeunesse et Lumière and Cle de Peau Beauté Brightening Serum Supreme.

“Start your make-up by using a great primer,” says Warren Dowdall, senior pro artist at Bobbi Brown. “It should prep and smooth skin without feeling heavy.” Look for lightweight formulas that create a breathable barrier to extend make-up life. Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base Moisturiser & Primer has long been a go-to for make-up artists wanting to create a great canvas for foundation.

Consider a setting spray. As well as locking in your finished look, a spritz of Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray before your makeup (and after each layer of make-up) is a make-up artist secret for creating grip and avoiding sheen and slip.

Summer is the perfect time to experiment with a more pared-back make-up look. Think fresh skin, a hint of tan and flush of colour across cheeks.

For a natural sun-kissed effect, choose make-up staples that are infused with skincare. Celebrity make-up artist Zoë Taylor swears by Sisley’s Self Tanning Hydrating Facial Skin Care, which “instantly warms up the skin and leaves it looking healthy and fresh”. In the same vein, the complexion-boosting benefits found in Dr. Barbara Sturm Glow Drops are as much to thank for its success as the subtle wash of colour it leaves.

Speaking of colour, when it comes to injecting a fresh flush into your face heed advice from Jamie Genevieve, founder of Vieve: “It’s all about sheer layers of product to avoid the skin feeling cakey.” Look to cream bronzers and blushes such as Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Crème, Prada Beauty Touch Cream-to-Powder Blush and Dior Forever Skin Bronze which all melt beautifully into skin, delivering a soft wash of colour.

Weddings, garden parties and the races call for high-performance make-up that holds its own under pressure (and flash photography). If big events are on the agenda, Anastasia Soare, founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills, suggests opting for “formulas labelled long-wearing, transfer-resistant or waterproof”. Try Dior Forever Skin Glow, which keeps skin looking fresh no matter how many photos you take.

Swerve smudged eye and lip make-up this summer by seeking out formulas that stand up to water, heat and sweat. Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extension Mascara not only fans out lashes, but locks them in place thanks to its smudge-proof formula. Lip-wise, Taylor recommends lip tints: “They’re a great way to add sheer, lasting colour.” YSL Beauty’s Lovenude Lip Blusher spans the spectrum of nude hues for a ‘your lips but better’ finish, plus a concoction of nourishing ingredients helps care for your lips like a balm.

Finally, consider the ultimate pro tip for swerving shine while on the go. “Carry blotting papers or pressed powder,” says Soare. “They enable touch-ups without disturbing your look.” Suqqu’s Oil Rich Glow Loose Powder helps to set make-up without mattifying, while Sensai’s Cellular Performance Foundations Pressed Powder is exclusive to Harrods and has the dual benefit of being super-absorbent without drying out skin. In terms of application, try Dowdall’s tip: “Press your setting powder in, rather than dusting it on. It really helps bind the product to the skin.” If you want to look more matte still, opt for Huda Beauty’s Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder, which blots and blurs skin for an airbrushed finish.