This foundation hack will see you through sweaty summer days

Makeup artists approve

Holly Berckelman

3 min read

November 8, 2023 - 4:31PM

This foundation hack might be your saviour from sweaty summer skin. Image: iStock

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Do you have dry skin that flakes away makeup midway through the day? Or an oily complexion that you can never get to look glowy without a sheen? This expert-approved makeup hack might be the solution you’ve been waiting for.

BeautyTok (that is, the beauty side of the TikTok algorithm) is an alluring place.

It’s where Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe were introduced to a whole new generation of 11-year-old beauty fanatics, where Rare Beauty’s highly pigmented liquid blushes went viral, and where Hailey Bieber’s glazed doughnut nails, lips, and skin were born.

There are always new techniques and products floating through the cosmetics side of the internet, and now, there’s a new one – and experts say it’s a hack worth paying attention to.

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For most people who wear makeup, their daily routine will look something like this: cleanser, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen, foundation and then whatever other beauty products they want to apply.

It’s the universally accepted order of ceremonies, and while it works, there are other ways you can make your makeup work harder. During summer, when humidity levels and temperatures rise, this is particularly important, when your foundation is at risk of travelling across your face, splitting, or just disappearing altogether.

This makeup artist-approved hack claims to be the solution. The theory is that when you mix hyaluronic acid in with your foundation, for an extra dose of deep hydration, it’ll not only keep your skin looking fresh, think a glassy, glossy effect, which also helps makeup last longer.

Sounds too good to be true? Surprisingly, it’s actually not.

They say the key to great makeup is great skincare, and professional makeup artist Camilla Leary agrees, telling Body+Soul, “This is a great trick for getting an extra boost of hydration into the skin, to make you look like you’ve had 2 litres of water by 9am.

“It can also help the longevity of your makeup because hyaluronic acid plumps the skin, meaning your makeup will not settle into fine lines as much.”

The hyaluronic acid + foundation trick is similar to the suggestion to mix moisturiser into your foundation, to thin it out and give a hydrated effect.

The difference? “When you mix in hyaluronic acid, you’re getting an even deeper boost of hydration.” says Leary.

While hyaluronic acid is great for those with dry skin, people with combo or oily complexions will also be a fan of the technique, as it gives skin a coveted glow, without looking shiny. Since the hyaluronic acid molecules are so much smaller than those in moisturiser, “it will sink into the skin further”, giving deep hydration, rather than on a surface level.

To get the effect yourself, all you need to do is pump some foundation onto your hand, then add one or two drops of the hyaluronic serum on top, and mix it together. Apply with your fingers or a brush, but brushes will give skin that glass-like finish that the technique aims to achieve.

We suggest waiting a few minutes between sunscreen and your acid-hydration mix, to lessen to risk of pilling – i.e. the opposite of glassy.

Mixing hyaluronic acid with foundation gives a glassy, glowy effect. Image: Pexels

For those who fall on the lazier end of the skincare spectrum, then fear not. Many beauty brands across the industry have begun infusing their foundation formulas with hyaluronic acid, so as to give people an added boost of moisture without them having to add it in.

However, a word of warning? “Always always always use hyaluronic acid on damp skin,” says Leary.

“Hyaluronic acid works by drawing in moisture from its environment and then expanding, plumping up your skin. When put onto dry skin, it will still draw in moisture from its environment, which means it could be sucking your skin dry!

“So do your skin a favour and only apply onto damp skin to really reap the rewards.”