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Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The six biggest make-up mistakes that are making your face look cakey in hot weather, according to a top beauty expert
Sweaty skin, cakey cheeks, smudgy under-eyes: we all know the pains of trying to apply make-up in hot weather. You'll leave the house looking perfectly glam, and after an hour of travelling and standing in the sun, find your face resembles a half-melted wax figure from Madame Tussauds. If you can relate, it's likely you're making a few common make-up mishaps. Don't feel bad, we were too – at least until we spoke to Saffron Hughes, professional MUA at Hughes set us straight by highlighting the six biggest errors people make when it comes to heatwave make-up, and her top tips on how to avoid them. From piling on the powder to skipping setting spray, here are the mistakes to avoid if you want to stay looking hot in the heat. Using the wrong type of primer Primers are one of the least understood make-up products, and many people think wearing any – regardless of skin type and formula – is good enough. But, as Hughes points out, some primers are actually detrimental to make-up's staying power when it's warm outside. 'Oil-based primers can make your make-up feel like it's sliding off by lunchtime,' Hughes says. 'They're often too rich for warm weather, and can actually leave your skin looking shinier than intended.' 'I always recommend a silicone-based primer in the summer. It grips your make-up better and gives a smoother, more matte finish – especially when sweaty skin is producing more oil anyway. If you know your skin suits oil-based primers, opt for a lightweight formula that won't make your face look greasier.' Overlooking waterproof formulas We know it seems extra to have a 'summer' and 'winter' foundation, but the truth is it's worth investing in a longer-lasting waterproof formula that works harder when it's hot. 'Regular foundation might look fine in the morning, but once the heat kicks in, it can start to break down fast,' Hughes says. 'You really want to look for long-wear or waterproof on the label. 'These formulas are built to last through sweat, humidity, and the works. It sounds obvious, but a lot of people skip this step and end up wondering why their base has disappeared by midday.' It's not just your foundation that needs a change-up. 'The same goes for investing in waterproof eye products,' Hughes advises. 'If you're going to be out for hours, especially in the sun, your make-up needs to hold up without constant touch-ups.' Applying your base in one layer We're all guilty of slathering foundation on with our hands, usually when we're running late for work and can't locate a clean brush. But according to Hughes, it's one of the simplest reasons your make-up has zero staying power. 'Piling on product rarely works well in warm weather,' Hughes explains. 'It's much better to apply your foundation in thin layers and build gradually, using a damp beauty sponge. Let each layer set before adding more. That way, you avoid caking and help your make-up last without separating or settling.' 'This approach also allows your skin to breathe, which is key to avoiding that heavy, 'melted' look later in the day.' Overdoing it with powder 'A bit of translucent or setting powder is essential in summer,' Hughes says, 'as it helps absorb oil and keeps your make-up in place.' But use too much product and it can quickly backfire. 'Powder tends to cling to sweat or settle into fine lines,' Hughes says, 'especially in the sun, which can leave your skin looking cakey or textured.' So how can you remedy that weird cakey look that comes with too much powder? Hughes recommends using a light hand and focusing on the T-zone. 'Apply with a small fluffy brush rather than a puff or sponge,' she says, 'and only where you actually need it.' Skipping setting spray Lots of us imagine setting spray is an unnecessary cost – after all, if we've already spent extra on waterproof formulas, what's the need? But ask any good MUA like Hughes, and they'll tell you in the summer months, it's one of the most important products in your make-up bag. 'A good setting spray works like a veil,' Hughes says, 'helping to keep products in place even when your skin starts to warm up. Some formulas even help to cool and refresh the skin, which can make a huge difference on a hot day.' 'Look for sprays that specifically mention staying power or sweat-resistance, and let it dry naturally after spritzing.' Sticking to your usual mascara and eyeliner We know it's expensive to seasonally swap out your make-up items. But according to Hughes: 'Non-waterproof mascara and eyeliner just don't hold up in summer, especially if you're sweating or spending time outside. They're far more likely to smudge or transfer, which can undo your whole eye look.' She suggests switching to waterproof formulas during warmer months and, for added staying power, layering products. 'I often recommend applying false lashes using a strong lash adhesive for extra definition. It gives a cleaner finish and holds much better in the heat.'
Cosmopolitan
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Ends midnight: Maybelline Sky High Mascara 54% off for Prime Day 2025
Although beauty is mostly subjective, there's one product that pretty much all of us beauty editors agree is totally brill: Maybelline's New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. It's that rare high-street gem that actually lives up to the hype. And it's not just us who are fans – Molly Mae's MUA has even used it on her for various red-carpet events. So if it's Molly-approved, then there's nothing else to talk about, right? Well, other than the small matter that it's currently 54% off in the Amazon Prime Day sale – could this day get any better!? We're glad you asked. The first is that we beauty editors actually buy it. Yep, with so many free samples at our fingertips, we can truly vouch for a product when we're using our own cash to stock up on it. It's a genuine makeup bag staple. OK, next is the formula and wand. It has a plastic, slightly tapered wand that's big enough to coat all lashes with one swipe but small enough at the end that you can perfectly skim over your bottom lashes. It's also a flexible wand, which means it's really easy to wiggle through lashes – even the tricky little ones at the corners. That's a game-changer if you're after a full, fanned-out lash look without clumps or mess. And if your biggest mascara bugbear is when you look in the mirror to see huge black marks under your eyes by lunch, know you're in safe hands – this mascara ain't budging. Whether you're up against a sweaty commute, a full day at a festival, a pool party, or even a sad film moment (we've all been there), Sky High stays put without flaking, smudging or transferring. And yes, there's a waterproof version too, for extra staying power. It's so loved that Maybelline has expanded the line into a full-on Sky High fam, with waterproof, cosmic black, tinted shades, and even lash serums inspired by the original formula. And if you're already stocked up on this cult mascara and want more epic beauty deals, then check out our ultimate edit of the best beauty products to shop on Amazon, this hard-working eyebrow serum, and an unmissable roundup of top-rated hair dryers that are actually worth the hype. Clare Stephenson is the Senior Beauty Ecommerce Writer for Cosmopolitan and Women's Health, covering all things makeup, skincare and hair care, as well as deals events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Clare has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, writing matter-of-fact reviews such as deep dives into skin concerns and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need. When she's not typing away, Clare is in front of the camera creating shopping content for Cosmo's TikTok Shop, testing the most viral beauty products to know. Before working at Hearst UK, she received a BA degree in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on the world of magazines and editorial. From there, she worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events like Fashion Week and interviewing reputable brand founders. Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling along London's Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or horseback riding in the countryside. Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson
Cosmopolitan
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Maybelline Sky High Mascara: 54% off for Prime Day 2025
Although beauty is mostly subjective, there's one product that pretty much all of us beauty editors agree is totally brill: Maybelline's New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. It's that rare high-street gem that actually lives up to the hype. And it's not just us who are fans – Molly Mae's MUA has even used it on her for various red-carpet events. So if it's Molly-approved, then there's nothing else to talk about, right? Well, other than the small matter that it's currently 54% off in the Amazon Prime Day sale – could this day get any better!? We're glad you asked. The first is that we beauty editors actually buy it. Yep, with so many free samples at our fingertips, we can truly vouch for a product when we're using our own cash to stock up on it. It's a genuine makeup bag staple. OK, next is the formula and wand. It has a plastic, slightly tapered wand that's big enough to coat all lashes with one swipe but small enough at the end that you can perfectly skim over your bottom lashes. It's also a flexible wand, which means it's really easy to wiggle through lashes – even the tricky little ones at the corners. That's a game-changer if you're after a full, fanned-out lash look without clumps or mess. And if your biggest mascara bugbear is when you look in the mirror to see huge black marks under your eyes by lunch, know you're in safe hands – this mascara ain't budging. Whether you're up against a sweaty commute, a full day at a festival, a pool party, or even a sad film moment (we've all been there), Sky High stays put without flaking, smudging or transferring. And yes, there's a waterproof version too, for extra staying power. It's so loved that Maybelline has expanded the line into a full-on Sky High fam, with waterproof, cosmic black, tinted shades, and even lash serums inspired by the original formula. And if you're already stocked up on this cult mascara and want more epic beauty deals, then check out our ultimate edit of the best beauty products to shop on Amazon, this hard-working eyebrow serum, and an unmissable roundup of top-rated hair dryers that are actually worth the hype. Clare Stephenson is the Senior Beauty Ecommerce Writer for Cosmopolitan and Women's Health, covering all things makeup, skincare and hair care, as well as deals events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Clare has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, writing matter-of-fact reviews such as deep dives into skin concerns and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need. When she's not typing away, Clare is in front of the camera creating shopping content for Cosmo's TikTok Shop, testing the most viral beauty products to know. Before working at Hearst UK, she received a BA degree in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on the world of magazines and editorial. From there, she worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events like Fashion Week and interviewing reputable brand founders. Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling along London's Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or horseback riding in the countryside. Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Holly Willoughby's colour correcting primer is £10 less than the viral Stila one
Holly Willoughby is known for her fresh-faced natural beauty looks, and it turns out the secret behind her makeup is this affordable colour correcting primer After countless years appearing on our TV screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Holly Willoughby would have curated a beauty routine that's full of expensive products. However, her makeup artist Patsy O'Neill revealed that there's actually plenty of affordable products she uses to prep Holly's skin before heading on camera. As every beauty fan knows, the secret to long-lasting, flawless makeup all starts with your base, which is why we were thrilled to discover that Patsy actually uses a very affordable product on Holly. Whilst doing Holly's makeup for Dancing on Ice, the MUA shared that she used Super Facialist's Skin Perfecting Primer, which hydrates, protects, refines and colour corrects skin. You can pick up the multi-use primer for £16.98 on Amazon right now, making it the perfect affordable alternative to the cult favourite Stila One Step Correct Primer, which is priced at £28. The Super Facialist primer also comes in two different shades, medium-deep and fair-light, to suit all skin tones. It's packed with skin-nourishing ingredients like cica, which helps soothe and calm skin, niacinamide to control oil and improve texture, and hyaluronic acid which hydrates and boosts moisture retention. As well as benefitting your skin underneath, the primer also gets your skin ready for your makeup to be applied, giving you a solid base to let your products shine. It features blurring technology to help smooth imperfections and pores, as well as a built-in colour corrector thanks to the multiple pigments. This helps balance and even out skin tone, tone down any redness and brighten up sallow complexions, as well as improving all over dullness. If redness is your main concern, you could also try the Erborian CC Red Correct, which combines green pigments with nourishing ingredients to help neutralise redness and discolouration. To reduce dullness, you could also try out the Huda Beauty Faux Filter Color Corrector which comes in six shades and promises to brighten your skin tone and camouflage everything from dark circles to blemishes. However, Super Facialist's Skin Perfecting Primer promises to do all of these things in one, which is why it's not surprising it's gotten such good reviews on Amazon. One wrote: 'Great product for mid tone to dark skinned women. Evens out skin well and provides a good base for make up. Lightweight and breathable.' Whilst another agreed: 'Really lovely primer,smooth, easy to put on. Best I've ever used. Will definitely be buying again.' Some did find some issues, writing: 'Always wanted to try a colour correcting primer like this. Whilst it smooths on nicely, I don't notice any particular improvement in skin tone and I don't find it particularly suitable for oily skin.' However others couldn't get enough, with one reviewer praising: 'Absolutely amazing primer. Make a real difference under foundation and has a lasting effect,' and 'It tones my red down and for the price it's just as good as other more expensive brands.'
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
4 beauty writers try new £34 SPF that had a 20,000 person waitlist
The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 by Merit launched at the end of May and our beauty writers were eager to test outs coverage and protection Summer is the best month, in our humble opinion: the sunshine beating down, the natural sun-kissed glow, the ice cold Aperols, the light mornings and evenings, visits to the beach, floaty dresses, sandals - the list could go on and on. But one thing many of us do not appreciate during the height of June, July and August, when the temperatures creep up to a stifling number, is the disappointing rate at which our make-up melts off due to the heat - not to mention the slight rouge glow of sunburn due to said (rather heavy) make-up not having ample protection. It's why when summer comes around, most of us tend to switch out our normal, potentially heavier foundations (for me, it's Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Foundation) for a tinted moisturiser that ticks both the coverage and protection boxes. And one new launch from skincare brand Merit has had our beauty writers in awe over its silky smooth, blurring and protective formula that gives skin that air-brushed finish, whilst nourishing it and protecting from the sun with factor 50 SPF. Four of our beauty writers tested out this new and highly anticipated product (whose waitlist had over 20,000 people) to see if it was worth the hype. Eve's thoughts While my go to during the warmer days (since its launch last year) is Charlotte's Unreal Skin Tint foundation stick as a pretty lush, lightweight formula that gives that lovely hydration, my new discovery of Merit's new SPF 50 tinted moisturiser has me momentarily questioning my loyalty to the cult British MUA. The launch of this tinted moisturiser is a significant milestone for the brand as its second-ever complexion product and one that had a pretty monumental waitlist before it even launched - showcasing its quality before even landing on shelves. I have since discovered that Merit's The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is a bit of a summer makeup icon thanks to its broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Unlike many chemical-heavy sunscreens, 'which absorb UV rays and convert them into heat', The Uniform is a mineral sunscreen that 'reflects UV rays, forming a protective barrier against potential skin damage'. This formula omits the need for sunscreen underneath foundation (avoiding the dreaded potential pill) which is great for my holiday travel bag - although for those who want to be extra careful, additional suncream will never harm. The formula contains ultra-fine zinc oxide, which is a 100% naturally sourced active ingredient that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It also includes a plant-derived emollient - instead of the usual silicones - which provides the product's silky, velvety texture that is far from sticky (a dream, especially during summer) and an airbrush finish. This is most likely down to The Uniform moisturiser 's plant-based mineral SPF booster, which works to enhance the skin's softness, as well as its pigment dispersion technology, which we can confirm delivers a lovely 'blurred, seamless look'. A great option for trips abroad, as it's unbelievably lightweight, it stays put and offers solid, buildable coverage. A recent trip to France in 25+ degree heat, where I wore it every day, showed me that and left me pretty impressed. I will say that when spots are present (and staring us down in the mirror), the product isn't the best product on its own to cover them up. Concealer is definitely needed. Costing £34, it's a little more expensive than your usual tinted moisturiser - such as e.l.f's Halo Glow Skin Tint SPF 50 at £18 and Nivea's £4.99 NIVEA 24H Moisture Tinted Day Cream with Vitamin E Light Skin Tone SPF15 - and comes in 15 different shades. It feels silky smooth on application and is easy to rub in with your fingertips if a brush is not to hand. The pump applicator offers a generous amount of product and requires only one or two squeezes to dispense the right amount, hiding smaller blemishes, pores and smoothing out texture and pigmentation. After a few hours in the sun, I found that my complexion needed no touch-up (except a little on my nose), and my skin still had a nice glow without being too shiny, too matte, or too cakey. The brand also has a good shade-matching process, as it showcases the 15 shades on real women to help shoppers find their perfect hue for their skin tone. I personally went for number 22' light neutral-cool' - in anticipation of gaining a little bit of a sunkissed glow - and it was my perfect colour. My only gripe with the product is that the pump applicator has a risk of making the lid messy, especially if too much is pumped out, so I'll need to be cautious not to spill or pump out too much. However as a product, it's a pretty dreamy addition to the industry. It's not just me who has found this tinted moisturiser to be pretty hot for summer. Lauren's Whenever I hear about a product with a waitlist before it's even launched, you can bet I'm already signed up. This time, the buzz was around Merit's The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF, with 20,000 people in line ahead of its launch in mid-May. When it finally landed on my doorstep, I was seriously impressed. I opted for shade 28, a fair-neutral warm tone, which blended seamlessly into my skin. Plus, it felt lightweight and didn't have a cakey finish. It's buildable, too, so can be dialled up if you prefer extra coverage. I tend to suffer from inflammation around my nose, so it's helpful to have the option to ensure my skin looks even. But it's the built-in SPF that's the real winner here. It means I don't need to think about smearing sunscreen on before I head out for the day, knowing I already have strong protection to see me through. The Uniform has now become part of my makeup routine, meaning I've finally swapped out my beloved MAC foundation after years of use. In fact, I love The Uniform so much that I've already purchased a second. Saying that, another SPF I rate highly is Trinny London's BFF. I raved about it non-stop last year for its hydrating feel and glow-boosting finish. Bethan's I was introduced to Merit's The Minimalist complexion stick earlier this year and have absolutely loved using it as a quick, easy, lightweight daily base over my usual SPF. But when Merit announced that they were releasing a tinted SPF formula, I have to say I was intrigued. I've tried a handful of tinted SPFs over the past few years and never really found one I enjoyed using - but I have never met a Merit product I didn't immediately love and add to my routine. There's a reason for that 25,000 people waitlist - Merit's fuss-free, beginner-friendly formulas deliver, and The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 is no exception. The formula has been in development for over two years, undergoing more than 50 rounds of formulation. It's a mineral sunscreen, with UVA and UVB protection, working by reflecting UV rays and helping to prevent skin damage, something I'm into as I approach my 30s. I knew what shade I would be because Merit had handily matched their SPF to their The Minimalist shades. For those that wear Silk in the complexion stick are likely to be shade 28 in The Uniform, and the colour match was spot on. Designed for effortless, everyday wear, it offers light to medium, sheer, buildable coverage with a natural, skin-like finish - no need for foundation, making my morning routine so much faster. Available in 15 shades, it's a really silky consistency that blends effortlessly without any sticky residue. I have found that on particularly dry areas, the formula can cling, but with the right prep and hydration, it's easily resolved. If you're looking for a reliable, multitasking product to see you through the summer, this is it. Zoe's I may be a little late to the 'I love SPF party', but I have picked a good year to become a devotee. I've seen more and more launches from SPF brands promising tinted coverage to rival foundations, water-light textures to rival your usual day serum, and pore-diffusing formulas that mimic a good primer. I love Merit's The Uniform, and I never thought I'd say that about an SPF. I went a shade darker in the tint than I normally would in a foundation, and it gave me both the look of instant bronzing drops and a lightweight foundation. I felt like my skin looked healthier and smoother, and even my patches of pigmentation were covered. It's definitely lighter than a foundation, but it also meant I could skip a base layer. In fact, I tested layering it under my regular foundation, and I have to say it looks much better on its own. It's very quickly become my holiday, weekend and working from home go-to– and it's definitely worth the price.
