Ok, so perhaps the title is a bit of an exaggeration but todays post is about long lasting makeup. Perhaps you are after something that will be tear, sweat, touch and humidity proof for a special occasion or during the heat of summer. Or maybe your work and lifestyle means that you are out of the house for 15 hours a day and don’t want the hassle of constant touch ups. Regardless, I have put together a list of products that I have tried and tested which will give you a full face of makeup  that will last and last with minimal touch ups. Consider it your 9 step program to looking fantastic all day!

1. Primer

Depending on the makeup you use and the look you want to achieve  you will need to go for one of two types of primers; a silicone based or a lotion type. Long lasting foundations tend to be a little drying so I always go the lotion style to give me a smooth and hydrated look under my foundations. If I were super oily or had very large pores I might consider using a silicone primer such as the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer or Maybelline Instant Age rewind primer. But for me a lotion type such as the Face Of Australia Primer (or the absolutely identical but much more pricey Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot) does the job.

2. Foundation

Rest assured that the product I’m about to recommend is tried and tested! I felt guilty visiting the counters of Estee Lauder a few times to request samples of different shades but am glad that I played around with it and persisted because now I’m convinced its a great investment. The foundation is Estee Lauder Double Wear and the devotees are many.  Be warned that this is full coverage and is quite matte, but once you’re used to it you will wonder why anyone would use anything else. I find that this foundation actually looks better as the day goes on and will eliminate the need for concealer unless you have a big break out or like me some serious dark circles. This stuff is budge proof. Be sure to use only a little bit as it can look heavy and cakey if you over do it. Try mixing it with some illuminator if you want a slightly less matte look.

3. Concealer

MAC Prolongwear concealer is new to my collection but I can see why people love it so much. I use this on any areas of redness or breakouts but tend not to use it under my eyes as I will need to practise with this a little more. IT doesn’t get over broken up by oil and tends to stick around for a while. The packaging is a little love/hate in my opinion as I like that it is more sanitary than a little pot but the amount that comes out of the pump is a little excessive.

4. Eyeshadow

If you know that you have a problem with eye shadows staying put I recommend two things, one is to invest in an eye shadow primer such as the Too Faced Shadow  Insurance Primer and two is to stick to neutral, nude and matte shades that will not look as obvious if they end up creasing. If you’re after something a little special I really recommend trying the Covergirl flamed out shadow pencils*, you can see my review on them here, I was super impressed that they lasted so long without primer on my super oily lids. I’m hoping these get released in more colours as I would definitely purchase some neutrals.

5. Eyeliner

Pencil eyeliners are great for a smokey eye for one reason; they smudge and blend well, but when you are looking for a long lasting liner that will give you a crisp fine or thick line you cant go past liquid liner. The Max Factor Colour Xpert liner* is waterproof and long lasting. It provides a glossy and budge proof line all day without fading or flaking which is a win in my books. Be sure to remove excess liquid off the brush to avoid running and in one smooth move give yourself a subtle or dramatic line easily.

6. Mascara

When people complain that they cant get their mascara off its a sign of a long lasting product. Benefit Theyre Real mascara has taken the world by storm and quickly became Australia’s biggest selling mascara because it is budge proof, non flaking and very volumising.  In terms of removing the product I’ve never had an issue using some coconut oil rubbed gently on the lashes. Of course this wont be an issue for much longer as Benefit are about to release their solution in the form of the They’re real remover.

7. Blush

TheBalm have come up with an amazing powder product that also doubles as a stain in the form of Instain blushes. traditionally stains have come in a liquid or gel form and while theyre long lasting they can also look a little patchy if you’re not a master blender. The Instain is great because it applies like a normal powder blush but the colour sticks around for hours and hours. You can see a mini review of this product here. Theyre available in a number of shades that are suitable for all seasons.

8. Lips

While I’m a fan of a gorgeous glossy lip, lip butters and glosses just don’t stick around for long, in the past if you wanted a long lasting lip colour you needed to opt for a matte formula which could sometimes be very drying. Max Factors Lipfinity lip Colours* bring the best of two worlds together a long lasting, glossy lip in fashion shades. The two step process colours and hydrates the lips all day with minimal flaking or colour transferring. The colour look revived every time you reapply the clear (mess proof) top coat. You can see a full review of the product here! I really recommend you try these as the formula has come a long way from the extremely drying and flaking formulas from a decade ago.