Ask Belle: Beating the Heat
May 27, 2014
Dear Belle,
Any suggestions for hot humid weather and how not to look and feel sweaty? I live in the south and would like to look professional in the heat, or at least try not have my clothes stick to me.
Thanks, Ariane
Keeping your looks together in the summer heat and humidity is not an easy task. But there are a few products that can help.
For the Body. The mistake many women make is just applying anti-persperant/deodorant to their underarms. Do not underestimate the power of spray deodorant for covering the chest, inner thighs, back and behind the knees. Nivea Calm & Care is a good brand for light perspiration, but I like Nivea’s Black and White spray for all-day protection.
If you have a problem with chafing, try Tri-Slide anti-chafe spray or Body Glide anti-chafe stick.
For the Hair. You need to layer on your coverage. First, you need a strong hold mousse like Tigi Catwalk or Pantene Stylers Mousse. Then, you need to add a good hairspray. My favorite is Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Spray. If you struggle with an oily scalp, I also recommend dry shampoo for late in the day touch ups.
If all else fails on the hair front, try a quick updo. I live in them when the weather gets hot.
For Your Makeup. To keep your makeup in place, you need primer. I like NARS Pro-Prime, but you can also give Monistat Anti-Chafe Gel a try. You’ll also need some blotting papers to touch up during the day.
I also recommend an eye makeup primer. Urban Decay makes the best one. If you need something from the drugstore, don’t miss L’Oreal De-Crease.
Um, am I reading this correctly that you’re suggesting Monistat Anti-Chafe Gel as a primer?
It’s just a stabilizing gel, it may be meant for something else but it’s virtually identical chemically to Smashbox primers (or so I’m told).
Fascinating! I was so dubious, but now I’m kind of tempted to try it!
I have been using this ‘trick’ for several years and I 100% endorse it!! Gives exact same results as my previously used Smashbox primer.
I’ve used Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel as a makeup primer for almost five years and it’s phenomenal for that purpose. I am used to getting an incredulous reaction, but it is nearly identical to the BareMinerals Prime Time primer at a fraction of the cost. I use a teeny, tiny amount – about the size of half a pea – to avoid being overly slick.
I also find that the MAC fix spray is great for hot days:
https://www.maccosmetics.com/product/177/388/Fix/index.tmpl
Along the lines of hair advice, I just cut my hair from mid-back-length to just shoulder-length. My normal summer strategy was the updo, but I’m looking for new ideas if anyone has suggestions?
The Beauty Department website has some really cute updo options for shorter/mid length hair…
https://thebeautydepartment.com/2014/05/knot-tie-updo-for-short-hair/
These are awesome, thanks so much!
I like gel eyeliner (Bobbi Brown’s) for the summer because it stays in place better in the humidity.
Also just wondering if you really were recommending Monistat Anti-Chafe for a makeup primer or was that in the wrong paragraph?
It’s pretty much identical to silicone-based primers, but at a fraction of the cost.
I would suggest using Sports Shield over Body Glide for anti-chafing. Body Glide can stain your clothes and I’ve never had an issue with Sports Shield. Love it for running and use it in the hot summer months when I’ll be walking around in a skirt.
You are wonderful! Thank you for this post!
I work in the Middle East, so I have to deal with not only intensely hot and humid (sort of like the swamps of Florida in an oven), but I also have to cover up more than I would in the US. I’ve found a few things are critical:
1) Wear washable clothes. No matter what else you do, you’re likely to sweat, so wear clothes that you can wash and don’t have to worry about ruining.
2) Pay attention to fabrics. Some cheaper polyester fabrics will cause you to sweat more, so make sure you’re buying clothes that won’t add to your problems.
3) Avoid tight clothes. They just make you feel worse when you’re hot and they’re far more likely to show sweat. I’ve been a big fan of the blousy Banana Republic 3/4 length shirts (https://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5039&vid=1&pid=970029002 – they’re washable, airy and I own them in pretty much every color/pattern).