When the sun’s beating down and humidity levels are unbearable, wearing clothes, shoes, or anything that actually touches your skin can seem like the worst idea ever. But makeup artists have made it their job to keep people looking dewy, fresh, and pretty despite the withering heat. We asked some of the best makeup artists in the industry to throw down the beauty gauntlet and choose one — and only one — product from their arsenal of makeup and skin-care goodies that they absolutely cannot live without during these summer months. Click through to see what every makeup bag should contain to keep from feeling like a melting mess, from the perfect summertime lip shade to the best non-shimmery bronzer.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl
Alice Lane: “This lovely, vibrant colored pencil is matte and can be used on the lips and cheeks as a blush. It’s perfect for summer since it will not melt on your face in the heat.” NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, $24, NARS
RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Sublime
Natasha Smee: “This shade is great on any skin tone, gives a fun pop of color, and looks fab with a tan! It’s also formulated with nourishing organic oils, so it’s super hydrating.” RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Sublime, $25, RMS Beauty
Joanna Vargas Rejuvenatin Serum
Pati Dubroff: “For summer I want my skin-care routine to be stripped down to its most simple and essential. Especially for travel, it’s a way to keep things easy. This serum is the one for hydrated, glowing, healthy skin.” Joanna Vargas Rejuvenatin Serum, $100, Joanna Vargas Skincare
Elta MD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41
Alexa Rodulfo: “I have to say sunscreen, sunscreen, and sunscreen. My absolute favorite that I use everyday on myself and on my clients, before makeup or by itself, is the tinted EltaMD one. It enhances skin tone and prevents damage from UVA & UVB rays.”
Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer
Gucci Westman: “There are four shades in the palette, so you can use the lighter shades as just a bit of enhancer and just on outer cheekbones, and the darker shades as contour, and even for a bit of depth around eyes. I usually use a powder brush, but a blush brush size is good too. The main point is, I milk it for different needs. Plus, it’s non-shimmery.” Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer, $12.99, Drugstore.com
Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette
Daniel Martin: “This is a great sweat-proof concealer that won’t budge. I mix it with a tiny bit of powder to thicken the formula to cover and flatten raised acne.” Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette, $32, Sephora
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 in Blush
Rebecca Restrepo: “I cannot live without my Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 in Blush or Honey. It is a highly pigmented lip color that lasts for hours because of the pigments. I also love that it’s sheer, which makes it easy to wear for summer. I also find that it looks sexy and fresh while protecting my lips from the sun and not drying them out.” Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 in Blush, $19, Elizabeth Arden
Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Waterproof Eyeliner#2
Tina Turnbow: “I’m a big fan of accentuating the eyes, so a good run-proof eyeliner would be an essential. This one is blendable when applied, but stays put once you’ve got it where you want it.” Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Waterproof Eyeliner#2 (available in July), $28, Giorgio Armani Beauty
OCC Lip Tar in Queen
Kristie Streicher: “Just the right shade of ‘summer’ means a nice pop of color on the mouth. I love the wearability and ease of Obsessive Compulsive’s Lip Tars. Queen is a perfect not too pink, not too coral shade. The best way to describe these lip tars is that they are like a liquid lip liner. I apply liquid lip liner first, then blot with a tissue so all that’s left is a perfect, effortless-looking blast of color that’s not shiny nor matte.” OCC Lip Tar in Queen, $14.50, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer in Pure Bronze
Francelle Daly: “This gives skin a sheer, bronzed color that you can control and use all over for a healthy glow.” Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer in Pure Bronze, $59, Giorgio Armani Beauty