Has this ever happened to you? You’ve taken the time to get yourself ready in the morning. You take care in applying your makeup and looking your best. But then, within a few hours your makeup slides off, disappears, or doesn’t stay on?? The struggle is real! And you’re not alone! Here are some tips on how to get your makeup to last all day so your time and product isn’t wasted. I want you to look your best not just for a few hours, but all day!!
FAQs
- Why does my makeup fade or melt off halfway through the day? Common culprits include skipping primer, using the wrong skincare underneath, too much product, or not setting your makeup properly. Oil production, humidity, and mature skin texture can also play a role. But the right prep + products = major staying power!
- Should I use primer if I have mature or dry skin? Yes, but choose wisely! A hydrating or smoothing primer can work great for women over 40.
- How can I prevent my foundation from settling into fine lines? Less is more! Use a lightweight, buildable formula and apply thin layers with a damp sponge. Press, don’t swipe. Set with a light dusting of finely milled powder only where needed (usually the T-zone).
- Does setting spray really help? 1000% yes. A good setting spray can lock in your look, reduce transfer, and give your makeup a more natural finish, especially when you’re aiming for all-day wear in heat, humidity, or long events.
- What skincare steps help makeup last longer? Glowy, long-lasting makeup starts with hydrated, balanced skin. Cleanse, use a non-greasy moisturizer, and always let products absorb before layering on makeup. Bonus points for using a gentle exfoliator 1–2x/week to smooth texture. (learn about the best exfoliators for your face!)
Why Does My Foundation Not Stay On?
That’s a good question! And one we’ve all asked ourselves! There are a few factors why your foundation doesn’t stay on all day. The reasons could be:
- Poor skincare
- Lack of skin preparation
- Aren’t using a primer
- Wrong colors
- You aren’t using powder
- You aren’t setting your makeup with setting spray
- You’re touching your face throughout the day
There’s no shame in any of these reasons. But knowledge is power. So, let’s break it down so you know how to get your makeup to last all day!
A Good Skincare Routine is Key for Long Lasting Makeup
A good skincare routine is so important for a great makeup application! You can’t paint your face on a dirty canvas and hope for the best! You need to give your skin some TLC. Commit to taking better care of your skin and you’ll notice a difference in your skin’s appearance and makeup application! Cleanse, tone, moisturize daily…especially at night!
You don’t have to do anything fancy in the morning, just a simple morning face routine will do.
Here’s my tried and true 3-step skincare routine I use before I apply my Olive Rose makeup. It’s simple. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s effective. And it will leave your skin feeling and looking hydrated and bouncy for your cream makeup.
- Prep
- Protect
- Hydrate
Let’s breakdown what products to use for these 3 steps…
- Prep– Use a toner to restore your skin’s pH and prep your skin for the other skincare products you will be applying. The F11 Facial Toner or the F67 Corrective Facial Tonic (my personal fave) are great ones to use.
- Protect– The F83 HT + Vitamin C Serum is a fantastic serum to use in the morning! It will help hydrate, brighten, and protect your skin.
- Hydrate– As we age, our skin is producing less oil and appears drier. It’s so important to invest in a good moisturizer/face cream that will hydrate our skin! Dry skin enhances fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrated skin helps you look glowy and youthful. My personal favorite face cream is the F42 Corrective Face Cream because it contains natural sun protection from UVA and UVB rays. It also contains tapioca starch so it helps absorb excess oil. That means this face cream won’t leave you looking greasy and oily!
Prep Your Face Properly
You don’t need both moisturizer and sunscreen. Your sunscreen can act as a moisturizer or your moisturizer could have sun protection in it. Adding too many products on your skin can affect the way your makeup applies, blends, and lasts.
After you apply your moisturizer and/or sunscreen, let it soak into your skin for 5ish minutes before you apply your makeup. This will allow the product to fully absorb into your skin so your makeup applies better and doesn’t slide off.
If you use cream makeup, make sure to avoid moisturizers and sunscreens that have silica or silicon in them. That ingredient doesn’t jive well with cream makeup and your makeup will slide off by the end of the day. No thank you!
Not all sunscreens are created equal. They might provide good sun coverage but they leave the skin oily, making it even worse for your makeup to last all day. Here are some great sunscreen options that work amazing with makeup:
Prime Your Face
Not everyone needs to do this step, but using a primer before you apply your makeup can help your makeup last all day! Simply apply a small amount and rub into your skin. Then apply your makeup as usual. Here’s a little hint too…you can use any setting spray as a primer too! Refer to the setting spray section for some great options. Here are some great primer options:
Make Sure You Have the Right Makeup Colors
One reason why your makeup may not be lasting all day is because you have the wrong makeup colors. Your foundation, contour, bronzer, or blush could be off. When you have the wrong colors, your makeup disappears throughout the day. It’s important to have the shades that will look best on your skin coloring.
Get Your Makeup to Last with Powder
Powder can be your best for to get your makeup to last! You can apply a light layer of power on your skin before you apply your makeup, you can set your makeup with powder, or you can do both! Powder will help your makeup stay and last all day!
If you have oily skin, you definitely don’t want to miss this step! If you have really oily skin, you can try the baking method. After you apply your makeup, apply a loose powder all over your skin. Lay it on thick! Let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the excess oils on your skin. Then take a fluffy brush and lightly dust off the excess powder. Voila! Your makeup will last all day!
Here are some great powder options:
Set Your Makeup with Setting Spray
Setting spray is like hairspray for your face! But please, don’t use hairspray on your face! Setting spray is specifically formulated to work on your face and won’t clog your pores. How do you use setting spray? You can use it before, after, or both of applying your makeup. You can spray your face directly with the spray and let it air dry or you can spray a damp makeup sponge and pat your face with it.
The great thing about makeup is that you can play around with techniques and see what works best for you!
Don’t Touch Your Face!
This is serious. Stop touching your face! Every time you touch your face, you are spreading germs and oils and dirt on your face. This can cause breakouts and wipe off your makeup. And that’s no good! Get in the habit of keeping your hands and fingers away from your face. Put your makeup on and leave it be. No more wiping. No more resting your chin on your hand. No more rubbing your eyes. Leave your face be. Please. =)
Best Makeup for Mature Skin
Using the right makeup matters! Ingredients matter! The older we get, the better, nourishing, and more hydrating makeup our skin needs. Our mature skin is drier, losing elasticity and collagen, and has more texture. So it’s important to invest in better products to get better results. What worked in your 20s and 30s won’t necessarily work anymore in your 40s and beyond!
As a certified makeup artist and a licensed esthetician, I recommend using skincare infused makeup that will be lightweight, hydrating, and nourishing. And with the proper skin prep and great makeup products, your makeup will last all day!
If you have trouble with your makeup sliding off, then try those tips on how to get your makeup to last all day! It’s trial and error but you’re bound to find something that works well for you! Good luck =)
Here are other blogposts that you might enjoy:
- The Complete Olive Rose Makeup Guide: Shades, Finishes & What to Buy First
- What’s the Difference Between Bronzer and Contour
- How to Apply Olive Rose Skin Tint (Without Settling Into Lines)
- Contour for Mature Faces: A Simple Guide
- Effortless & Elegant Easter Dresses for Women Over 40
- How to Apply Cream Blush for Women Over 40 (Using Olive Rose Blush Glow)
- Waterless Beauty Before You Buy: What You Need to Know
- Laser Hair Removal at Home: Does the JOVS Device Actually Work?
About the Author
JoEllen is a licensed esthetician, certified makeup artist, and certified John Maxwell coach, speaker, and trainer. She works with women helping them look and feel confident. She loves teaching women simple beauty techniques so they can feel empowered to try it at home. Her motto is that when you look and feel good, you do good!
*This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase an item featured in this post, I get a small portion from the sale. Thank you!
