Updated for 2025
Is it just me, or is warmer weather arriving early this year? With summer just around the corner, I’ve been prepping my hot weather makeup routine for the Vegas highs— it can hit over 120 ° here! Any good summer makeup routine starts with a sweat proof foundation, but it can be hard to find one that really checks all the boxes.
Looking for an affordable sweat-resistant foundation for hot weather? Here are four drugstore foundations for summer that can beat the heat.
Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Skin Tint ($14-17)
Not only is this my personal favorite, but it’s also what my audience said they reach for the most often in hot weather! The Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Skin Tint offers buildable medium to full coverage with a natural skin finish. It has a soft radiance to it that doesn’t look greasy, and even when I’m sweating bullets it stays looking fresh with no patchiness. I personally wear it over my sunscreen without an additional primer for the most natural, second skin look. The formula also contains Vitamin C to help brighten skin over time. It holds up in both the dry desert heat and humidity— tested in the south on my trip to New Orleans! You can see my full review with before and after photos here.
Shop at Ulta, Target, Amazon
L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation ($14-17)
If you need a base for a full glam face of makeup that will hold up against nearly anything, it’s hard to top the L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation. It gives you breathable full coverage that doesn’t feel heavy, and resists sweat, water and transfer. It also contains SPF 25 which is a nice boost for your sun protection. Plus it’s available in 40 shades! Check out my wear test in 111 ° weather on TikTok.
Shop at Ulta, Target, Amazon
Wet n Wild Tinted Hydrator ($5.49)
Looking for something a bit lighter duty? The Wet n Wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator is another community favorite and one that surprised me! This is a tinted hydrator with hyaluronic acid and squalane that can give you sheer to medium buildable coverage in a semi-matte (not flat!) finish. As someone who deals with acne and hyperpigmentation, I felt that this gave me just the right amount of coverage to feel evened out for a no-makeup makeup look.
Shop at Target, Amazon, Walmart
e.l.f. Soft Glam Liquid Foundation ($8)
This is a “just right” foundation for me in many ways, and it seriously hangs in there in the heat. I tested the e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation for the first time in 104 ° heat, and after 9 hours of wear I still had a lot of even coverage left with only my darkest spots starting to peek through. It stayed feeling comfortable and flexible on the skin with a satin finish that never got too shiny. Alone, it’s great for casual wear but can also be “fortified” with concealer and a long wear primer/setting spray combo for even longer even wear. For $8? One of the best at the drugstore for the price.
Shop at e.l.f. Cosmetics, Ulta, Target
Revlon ColorStay Longwear Makeup ($12.48)
The great thing about the Revlon ColorStay Longwear Makeup is that it comes in two verisons— one formula for Normal/Dry skin and one for Combination/Oily Skin. This is an oil-free foundation with skin care benefits no matter which version you choose. The Normal/Dry skin version has hyaluronic acid to help boost moisture while the Combination/Oily skin version features antioxidant Vitamin E to nourish and multi-mineral powders to help control oil. Both versions resist heat, sweat and humidity and are available in over 20 shades.
Shop at Target, Amazon, Walmart
What’s your favorite drugstore foundation for summer?
– Miranda
