Monsoon Makeup Survival Guide: 6 Ways To Rainproof Your Look

You can get caught in the rain and still have your makeup last, just like in the movies, because I have discovered the best monsoon-friendly makeup tips that actually work. When I figured out I can have my skin still look even toned and have my blush stay intact, my feelings about a rainy day weren’t so gloomy anymore.

And the best part is these makeup tips are all about ‘less is more’. Read on to see how you can look fresh and put together in the rain without any melting makeup or panda eyes.

Optimise Primer

Primer is the one product that will give you a solid foundation for your makeup during the monsoons. A mattifying primer is the best kind to pick that will keep your skin shine-free and also prevent your foundation and blush from washing away. Primer also provides a protective barrier to the skin and prevents acne from forming.

Hack: Swipe on a thin layer of translucent powder after you’ve applied primer to make it work even better. This hack will make your base last super long.

A skincare-infused mattifying primer like the Type Beauty Matte Up Balancing Primer is the best product to use before makeup during the monsoons.

Powders Reign Supreme

Cream and liquid foundations are going to melt when you get caught in a drizzle of rain. But a powder foundation like a compact powder or loose tinted powder will still stay put. I find that the powders make my skin look even toned and refreshed with no greasiness.

Hack: Mix a little bit of translucent powder with a water-based foundation to make it last longer in the rain. This hack will also make the foundation more high coverage.

My favourite tinted face powder for the rainy season is the Sandiva SPF Top-Up Loose Powder since it is doubles up as a tinted sunscreen too.

Tints Rule

Since blush is a hot topic in 2023, this makeup tip is what will make your blush last through the humid weather. Ditch cream and powder blushes and opt for a lip and cheek tint or a lip and cheek stain instead. These are water-based and gel-based tints that will not get washed away easily and will never look patchy.

Hack: You can use the tint as eyeshadow too or to lightly sculpt your face by applying it on the temples and chin.

My favourite cheek stain in the market right now is the MyGlamm Tint It Up – Fever.

The Ideal Mascara

Only wear waterproof mascara or clear mascara and nothing else during the rains if you really want to avoid panda eyes.

Hack: To make your mascara even more waterproof, coat your lashes with powder in between applications. Put on one coat of mascara, dab translucent powder on your lashes with an eyeshadow brush, and then apply another coat of mascara. This also gives loads of volume to the lashes.

The best mascara that will never smudge or budge in the rain is the Etude Waterproof & Longwearing Curl Fix Mascara.

Eyeliner FTW

If you’re someone who can’t give up eyeliner even on a rainy day, waterproof formulas are the way to go. And you don’t need to stick to only black waterproof eyeliners. This season you can go in for more varied colours like dark blue or green as that will make your eyes look even more brighter and defined.

Hack: If you are using a waterproof kajal eyeliner and want to make it look super pigmented even in the rain, apply an eyeshadow of the same colour over the kajal liner application to set it.

The Estee Lauder Double Wear 24H Waterproof Gel Eye Pencil – Emerald Volt is a great waterproof eyeliner to try out.

Setting Your Makeup

I find that a spritz of a good setting spray always guarantees a makeup look that lasts the commute to anywhere when it’s raining. Setting sprays just lock in everything and rainproof the makeup.

Hack: I dampen my eyeshadow brush with setting spray and then use it to apply eyeshadow. It is a great hack for the monsoon season. It makes the eyeshadow look more pigmented and it also doesn’t smudge.

My go-to setting spray is the NYX Professional Makeup Setting Spray Dewy Finish.