If you’re anything like me, you put on makeup for every occasion — even the ones that aren’t really considered occasions. If I’m picking up eggs and milk at the grocery store, at the very least, I’m wearing eyeliner and long-wearing foundation. If I’m in my sweats watching my guilty-pleasure shows in the living room (I’m embarrassingly into The Bachelor this season; full-fledged gasps regularly ensue), I probably have on concealer and blush. I don’t go to the gym nearly as much as I should, but if I did, it’d be a full-faced kind of event. Don’t judge.
Naturally, I’m of the belief that every girl deserves long-lasting makeup that looks as fresh as it did the second after it was applied. However, girls like me simply need the resilient stuff. I want to apply my makeup in the morning and not have to touch it until it comes off on a wet-wipe 12 hours later. That means I need brands that are sweat-proof, tear-proof, humidity-proof, oil-proof, and shoveling-two-feet-of-snow-off-the-driveway-proof. That’s where these guys — the makeup picks that actually stay fresh all day — come in. They’re the best makeup brands on the market for long-lasting wear, and they’ll help us single-application people stay looking fresh all throughout the day, whatever the occasion.
1. Get One-Stop Coverage With This Concealer Stick
Vichy Laboratories Dermafinish Corrective Stick, $28, Amazon
This buildable concealer stick offers 12-hour coverage from dark circles, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. While other corrective formulas can make skin look pretty greasy after a few hours of wear, this creamy concealer is crafted with hydrating Vichy Thermal Spa Water, which keeps dry skin from overproducing oil to compensate. Its easy-to-blend formula provides great coverage that lasts all day without settling into pores.
2. Absorb Oil With This Pressed Powder Foundation
Too Faced Amazing Face Powder Foundation, $17, Amazon
If you’re more of a powder lady, this bamboo silk-infused Face Powder Foundation is for you. Its Regu-Seb ingredient regulates skin's oil production, while its finely milled, SPF 15 powder gives you the coverage you need — keeping your face shine-free for hours on end. For everyday use, I need something that absorbs oil, feels lightweight, and won’t cake up, all while concealing imperfections and uneven skin tones.
3. Achieve Precision And Permanence With This Liquid Eyeliner
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner, $21, Amazon
Smeared eyeliner is quite possibly the easiest way to go from “classy lady” to “hot mess.” Especially if you have a long day ahead of you, you need the Stila Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. It glides on and stays on, and it won’t transfer, smudge, or smear. Best of all, it’s got a thin, accurate point, because no one should sacrifice precision in their attempt to find all-day permanence.
4. Stain Your Lips With All-Day Color
Etude House Dear Darling Tint, $5, Amazon
If you’re big into lip color, but you're not about to reapply in ten-minute intervals, you should switch out your lipstick for a good-quality stain. Choosing a tint by Etude House gets you long-lasting color without smudges, and it won’t settle into the dried skin on your lips (ew) like most lipsticks do. Even better, you can personalize your color by adjusting the amount of coats, and the wear is resilient.
5. Preserve Your Plumped-Up Lashes
Xtava Thickening Mascara, $14, Amazon
Mascara is a biggie. If your eyes tend to chronically tear up due to contacts, belly laughs, or puppy GIFs, Xtava's top-rated thickening mascara should be a staple in your makeup bag. It’s gentle on the eyes and has an easy-to-use brush, but don’t for a second assume that this mascara is a weakling. It plumps up lashes like crazy, provides intense volume without clumping, and stays on as long as you need without flaking.
6. Keep Everything In Place With This 16-Hour Setting Spray
Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finish, $29, Amazon
To seal your makeup, a good setting spray is one of the best tools you can have. This Skindinavia Makeup Finish was formulated specially for handling long-wear events, and with a 16-hour hold, it eliminates the need for constant touch-ups. It’s oil-free, so there isn’t any leftover shine, and it will keep makeup from drying up in the winter as well as melting off in the summer.
7. Use A Moisturizer That Conquers Dryness and Oil
Retinol Moisturizer Cream, $20, Amazon
The wrong moisturizer can sabotage your attempts at looking fresh, either by drying out your face and causing it to flake, or by adding so much oil to the mix that people see their faces reflected back in yours. This all-day moisturizer finds a nice middle ground. This formula conditions the skin with natural ingredients like aloe, green tea, and jojoba, and it can be used all over the face — including under your eyes and across your T-zone. Makeup goes on silky smooth, and even the most sensitive skin stays healthy and hydrated all day.
8. Keep Your Cheeks Nice And Rosy
Grace My Face All Day Mineral Blush, $12, Amazon
Rosy cheeks are an indication that someone’s healthy, happy, and well-rested, and your blush should remain vibrant and bright — even when your life's coming way too close to that of the Energizer Bunny's. This Radiant Mineral Blush by Grace My Face gives your skin an airbrushed-looking glow that works well for contouring and highlighting, and a little bit goes a long, long way.
9. Get Under-Eyes Covered With This Hydrating Cream-Based Concealer
Watts Beauty Mineral Cream Concealer , $11, Amazon
When you’re trying to cover up under-eye circles, but you’re in it for the long-haul, you need to be careful with your concealers. A quick-drying concealer can flake off, cake up, or draw attention to wrinkles and dry skin. This top-rated Watts Beauty Mineral Cream Concealer is wonderful because it rehydrates sensitive under-eye areas while it covers. It goes on smooth and counteracts redness, but it’s also non-drying, so your makeup won’t cake on when applied over it.
10. Remove Your Makeup The Right Way
Boots Botanics Face Wipes, $13, Amazon
Finally, with all these waterproof and smudge-resistant cosmetics, at the end of the day, you’ll need something to remove it without scrubbing or hassle. These cleansing towelettes are extremely convenient when it comes to removing dirt, make-up, and impurities. Even the most durable and long-lasting cosmetics come off with a few easy swipes, and they’re specifically formulated with hibiscus plant extracts to revitalize even the most sensitive skin for a fresh palette the next morning.
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