5 make-up artist-approved tricks to melt-proof your look during the monsoon

We ask the experts about what to keep in mind to make sure your make-up lasts in the rainy season

There is a lot about the monsoon that we look forward to but melting eyeliner, smeared lipstick and a creased-up base aren’t among them. When you’ve taken an hour to apply your concealer, zhush up your lids and contour your face, you want your make-up to last. But how do you make sure you’re getting it all locked down without it looking too unnatural, sticky or cakey in the process? We asked the experts—three celebrity and bridal make-up artists—all of whom have different techniques, but will still get you the results you’re looking for. If you’re up for a little trial and error, here’s what to do now.

To prime or not to prime

Primers are often debated—some make-up artists won’t go to the next step without it, while others prefer to leave it by the wayside most of the time. When it’s humid outside, your make-up can tend to slip-slide all over, and a primer can blur pores, even out skin and serve as something for make-up to grip on to, which will keep your foundation, blush and concealer in place. “[Using] primer is an important step because it fills the pores and smooths the skin’s surface,” says Meera Sakhrani, a New Delhi-based celebrity and bridal make-up artist. She likes to start with a moisturiser and then move on to a primer to prevent streaking. Mausam Gandhi, on the other hand, thinks that primers are “totally skippable.” The bridal and editorial make-up artist says that it is essentially for people with visible pores and is only needed on those specific areas, like the T-zone. “You may need it if you’re a bride or on a long shoot day, but otherwise you can skip it,” she says.

Set your base

Once you’ve moisturised and prepped your skin, Gandhi says it is best to pick products that’ll work for you, not against you. “I suggest avoiding cream-based products during the monsoon because they are already sticky in nature; the humidity makes it feel even stickier. Using a matte finish foundation can be a great way to set your base,” she says. If you’re not doing a full face, a lighter product, like a BB cream or a CC cream can create an even skin tone without feeling sticky or thick. After that, the way to set the base is to apply a setting powder. “Press it into your skin gently with a powder brush; pressing it on will prevent the foundation from moving around or streaking in the process,” says Sakhrani.

But don’t pile it on either. Too much powder, when it emulsifies and mixes with water and oil, can become a chalky mess on the skin. Instead, just use enough to blot and then brush off the excess.

Use setting spray wisely

“Setting sprays don’t actually make a huge difference—I feel like they give you the mental satisfaction of tying everything together rather than actually helping the make-up adhere to the skin,” says Mumbai-based Shradha Luthra. Sakhrani, on the other hand, is a big fan, and says that she likes to spritz it all over to ensure that the make-up doesn’t smudge. If you’re just going to the office, you may not need it. But if you’re attending a wedding or an all-day work event, you might need a little bit extra assurance. Essentially, setting sprays contain alcohol and water to prevent cracking and smudging, and many have temperature-control technologies that lower the temperature of the make-up to prevent it from fading, which is ideal if you’re spending time in a humid and super warm environment.

Layer your eyeliner

There’s nothing worse than raccoon eyes, so if you want to stick with your go-to cat-eye, it makes sense to ensure that it won’t move once it's drawn on. Luthra likes to use a gel liner first, and then layer it with a felt-tip liner for that extra precision. Also, this isn’t the time to experiment with a product that claims to be creamy or blendable. “Look out for the terms ‘waterproof,’ ‘water-resistant’ or ‘smudge-proof’ on the packaging,” says Gandhi. These products have polymers that are resistant to water and heat, making them an ideal pick.

Tie it all together with a bold brow

You don’t want your brows flopping all over in the wind and rain, so setting them is just as important as setting your base. “First, I make sure that the brow area is totally clean, so the brow products can really deposit pigment. I use an eye pencil to draw on thin, fine lines and then use a brow gel to brush it into place. I also use a little setting powder on the brows to prevent any fading,” says Sakhrani, promising that this will lock it all in place.

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