I'm constantly on the go and I sweat quite a bit, especially in summer. My current BB cream from dm always smudges after a couple of hours. Do you have any recommendations for something that stays put in the heat and sweat?
Try prepping your skin with a mattifying primer before your BB cream - that's honestly half the battle. A good primer creates a barrier between your skin and the product, so sweat doesn't run straight underneath it. Especially if you're outside a lot and sweating, that's the difference between "looks like it melted after two hours" and "actually stays put."
As for the BB cream itself: Check out waterproof products or ones with longer wear time, like Maybelline Fit Me or Estée Lauder Double Wear. The latter is more of a foundation than a BB cream, but if you're looking for something that'll definitely stay on all day, that's an option. Some people also swear by BB creams from Asian brands like Missha or Skin79 - they're often specifically developed for humid, warm climates and hold up better in heat than European versions, which are often formulated too light.
One more trick: Finish your makeup with a setting spray. Might sound like overkill for daytime, but if you're out in the morning and know you're gonna sweat, a hydrating setting spray (not powder!) makes your whole makeup way more long-lasting. You only need two or three spritzes on your face.
The most important thing is probably using a good primer beforehand - it makes more of a difference than the BB cream itself. I noticed that with myself because I'm outside on the farm a lot and sweat like crazy when I'm working in the garden. With a mattifying primer, even a cheaper foundation lasts way longer than without one. The Maybelline Fit Me Primer is solid for that, or if you've got more budget, the Benefit POREfessional.
As for the BB cream itself, honestly I'd rather reach for a light foundation instead. A lot of BB creams just aren't waterproof enough for your problem. The Catrice HD Ultra Light Coverage Foundation or the Essence Make Me Last are both relatively cheap and hold up way better than typical BB creams. If you really need waterproof, check out the L'Oréal True Match or the Maybelline SuperStay - they're specifically made so they don't smudge even with sweat. With me the Maybelline still holds up after a whole day in the garden.
But the most important thing is: set your makeup with spray after applying it. A cheap UrbanDecay All Nighter or even just the setting spray from dm - that extends how long it lasts way more. And powder up again after a few hours if you're out and about, that's easier than redoing everything.
I spend a lot of time on the water with my kayak and I know this problem all too well - whether I'm paddling or at the beach, my makeup just runs all over my face otherwise. After years of trying different things, I can tell you that a primer alone isn't enough if you're really sweating a lot. The primer helps, sure, but the BB cream itself just has to have the right consistency and staying power.
My absolute favorite solution these days is to use a BB cream with waterproof or sweat-resistant finish - something like Maybelline Fit Me or the one from Essence are pretty solid options. But I actually found it even better to work with something powdery in between. I apply the BB cream, let it set for a minute, and then fix it with a light powder or setting powder. That seriously lasts me the whole day, even when I'm out and actively sweating. Without the powder it always runs for me, no matter how good the cream is.
One more thing I think is important: check out your skin prep. If your skin is too oily, the BB cream will run faster. Especially in summer, I use a mattifying toner or a light moisturizer so the base stays stable. Then honestly almost any decent BB cream will hold better than you might think.
If you really need something robust, it's worth putting a setting powder over it too - not too much or it'll look cakey, but that locks everything in place and lasts way longer than just primer alone. For me in summer it was an absolute game changer.
Forget the dm creams for your situation, they're just not formulated for that kind of thing. The primer + powder setup that was already mentioned here is really the way to go - only I'd add that you should dry your skin really well beforehand before putting anything on it. What's your skin type, more oily or normal? Depending on that, I'd also recommend using a light mattifying face cream instead of a heavy basic cream beforehand, that already helps a lot with the longevity issue.
I don't think there's a single BB cream that'll hold up all day on its own without some tricks - but the others are right that primer and setting products do most of the heavy lifting! That said, what's really important is that the BB cream itself actually needs to be sweat- and heat-resistant as a formula, so specifically made for that kind of thing. A lot of the dm products just aren't designed to hold up when you're actually sweating - it's really worth looking at waterproof formulas that come more from the sports or makeup artist side of things.
I'd recommend this: Start with a mattifying primer (like I said, that makes a huge difference!), then your BB cream, and finish with a finely-milled setting powder on top - but not too much or it'll look all plasticky. Some people also use a setting spray after the powder, which seals everything in one more time. The trick is really to dry your skin first and then lock everything in with layers instead of relying on one single product.
When you're actually buying, I'd look for products that explicitly say "water-resistant" or "sweat-proof" - it's usually on the package. They're usually a bit pricier than standard BB creams, but for you it's probably worth it more than touching up every two hours!
Log into answer.
