How to Get Your Makeup to Last Over 12 Hours (and get an airbrush finish)!

Note: post took months of research to find the best solution. I did not settle!

I recently left the world of working from home full time to begin an office job. I lived with a constant struggle of finding long lasting makeup- by noon my skin was red and uneven. My Sephora 10 hour foundation only lasted a few hours. I tried a few approaches for weeks until I found a solution.

My first approach involved trying out long lasting foundations such as Maybelline Super Stay foundation, L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation, Smashbox 24 hour, you name it. While these products look amazing in Youtube beauty tutorials and have excellent reviews, I found they look cakey and the color selection too yellow toned. Personally, I do not like full coverage foundations- I find the finish heavy and unnatural.

I then got into setting sprays, only to find while the color lasted, the smooth look from the initial application lasted only a few hours. By 2 PM, the indentations of my acnes scares were more noticeable than ever. I even tried the loose powder/setting spray combo for a few weeks- the color lasted, the smooth look did not last.

I then tried applying with a beauty blender. I find using a beauty blender with a setting spray instead of water helps with lasting powder. The continued issue is long lasting smoothness. The color is there, but my skin does not look smooth.

This week, I finally found the solution, which actually results in an airbrushed finish: apply your favorite foundation using a fluffy brush. I know, this will use up significantly more foundation. Its worth it- you will get the airbrush finish you see in magazines. Instead of using a fluffy brush to set the makeup, I wet a beauty blender with setting spray and applied a loose finishing powder with the beauty blender, dabbing it in. Surprisingly, with this method the finish is even more airbrushed.

Ten o’clock yesterday, 15 hours after application, my makeup was intact. I was amazed. I finally found a solution.

If you use this method, check the mirror at work at 3 PM- your makeup will still look as airbrushed as when you applied it!