Should you opt for cream- or powder-based make-up in the monsoon?

With the rains around the corner, wearing make-up becomes a task. We put together expert-approved tips (plus their preferred choice of texture) to bookmark for the coming months

If the scorching summers weren’t imperilling enough, the monsoon season is here to play nemesis to your make-up. Retaining a make-up look can be quite a struggle in the rainy season; you need to become strategic about what kind of make-up products you choose and how you layer them to maximise their longevity. Speaking of longevity, there’s always been a debate about whether powder- or cream-based make-up products are more long-lasting. We chat with four make-up experts who share their take on the aforementioned debate plus lend tips to increase the endurance of your make-up.

What’s the difference? 

While a cream blush is a staple for many as it provides a soft and natural look, a setting powder is equally essential to ensure your make-up stays in place. However, applying multiple layers of (cream- and powder-based) make-up products—especially for your base make-up—in the monsoon is a direct invitation to a messy meltdown. Therefore, it is key to downsize the number of products you use and curate the right vanity that works for your skin type after gauging the pros and cons of both cream- and powder-based products. 

Celebrity make-up artist Florian Hurel is of the opinion that powder-based products are better options as they perform better in humid weather and will ensure a sweat-proof make-up application. “However, they [powder-based make-up] can often become patchy and look like it has been caked on your face,” he warns. “If you’re looking for a smooth, glowing finish, a powder foundation probably won’t be the best choice.”

According to him, cream-based (base) products are perfect to deliver more pigment to your skin, while still allowing for its natural radiance to emit through. “Creamy make-up products, however, are more likely to melt and leave a mess if you do get caught in the rain,” adds Hurel. While celebrity make-up expert Shraddha Inder Mehta believes that cream-based products can feel heavy on the skin and clog your pores, she also thinks that it does last longer as compared to powder-based ones. “Also, anything that’s cream-based offers more coverage than its counterparts, so it’s a win in that sense.” Powder-based products, on the other hand, are better suited for oily skin, opines Mehta. “For dry skin, powder-based products should be avoided as much as one can.”

For editorial make-up expert and celebrity make-up artist Tanvi Chemburkar, powder-based products complement every skin type. “Powders are particularly great for outdoors because they mattify the skin and absorb the excessive oil production. And since you don’t need to have a particular skin type to use powder-based products, you can actually build them up or pick and choose from blushes, bronzers and loose powders,” says Chemburkar. “The biggest con is that it can make the skin dehydrated and it could settle into the fine lines and wrinkles on the face which could make the make-up look patchy,” she adds.

Flavia Giuliodori, an editorial and celebrity make-up artist, highlights the availability of mineral-based powder foundations that are an ideal choice for those with sensitive skin since it is not likely to clog the pores or irritate the skin. “While liquid/cream-based base products contain emollients and tend to be more hydrating, making them a great choice for matured and dry skin, they can oxidise on your skin and change colour.”

“You don’t necessarily need to pick between the two [powder- and cream-based products]; you can use both,” says Chemburkar, provided you layer them strategically. Besides the varying wear patterns across skin types, the two schools of make-up also have stringent rules when it comes to layering them, should you wish to achieve a long-stay make-up look. “For the application of a powder product, you definitely need to use either a sponge or a powder puff or a brush; it is not something that you can work in with your hands like you can in the case of cream-based products,” says Chemburkar. “Also, you can apply powder [products] on cream [products] but it isn’t recommended to do the other way round.”

Does waterproof make-up hold any merit?

Yes and no. While most of us own waterproof eyeliner and mascara to keep raccoon-like eyes at bay, the waterproof claim may not be that reliable in the case of base make-up products, irrespective of being cream- or powder-based. “I don’t think there are any waterproof make-up products; they are all water-resistant,” opines Chemburkar. Mehta, on the other hand, swears by waterproof make-up—base and otherwise—especially on film sets. “During shoots, when we have a scene where there’s rain involved, all I use is Kryolan’s waterproof make-up and waterproof mascaras from Maybelline. However, there are only a few brands that get waterproof make-up right.” 

Hurel and Giuliodori believe that you can still invest in waterproof make-up, given that they can control/reduce the amount of make-up breakdown if not preclude it completely. “Waterproof make-up can help the overall look last longer. The products are specially formulated to resist and stay put when exposed to water, humidity, or sweat due to high temperatures, containing adhesive materials that make the product stick to the skin,” says Giuliodori. She recommends using dual-phase or oil-based make-up removers to get rid of waterproof make-up. 

How to melt-proof your make-up 

“Honestly, during the rains, it’s just best to keep your make-up super light. If you have dry skin, stick to cream-based make-up, and if you have oily skin, opt for powder-based make-up,” says Mehta. In concurrence, Hurel says, “Less is more when it comes to slathering on make-up in the monsoon. However, I recommend using matte products as they have a lesser chance of melting or bleeding.” Hurel encourages one and all to dedicate a few moments to dust some setting powder as it can make all the difference in the longevity of your make-up look. “Replace glossy lipsticks with matte ones,” he adds. 

The make-up experts also recommend focusing on picking the right products to prep your skin well. From moisturisers to serums to base make-up, Chemburkar votes for water-based skincare and make-up products during the monsoons to max out the hydration game with minimal to zero greasiness. Along the same lines, she recommends using a primer if you have a combination or oily skin type as “it helps to control the sebum in the T-zone area.”

Giuliodori says, “In my opinion, there are no right or wrong products, as there are many variations and possibilities for every skin type these days. I would rather focus more on identifying what your skin needs.” If you don’t want to give up your regular foundation, then as a rule of thumb, “remember to start with a primer and set your make-up in place with translucent powder and follow that with a setting spray to add longevity,” she concludes.

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