Makeup Artist Reveals a Foolproof, Little-Known Trick to Make Your Makeup Last for Hours

As summer approaches and temperatures start to climb, keeping makeup fresh and intact all day can feel like a real challenge. Between the heat, sweat, commuting, long workdays or those never-ending summer nights, it often takes only a few hours for the complexion to lose its glow, for concealer to migrate, or for blush to disappear. Yet, behind the scenes at major events, some makeup professionals manage to keep beauty looks flawless for hours, under the spotlights and under pressure.

It was during the preparations for the Flames ceremony, held a few weeks ago, that several NYX Professional Makeup artists shared their best tricks to ensure long wear for the artists and influencers on the red carpet. And among all their tips, one technique in particular drew attention: a simple, quick method that remains largely unknown to the general public.

Contrary to what one might think, the secret isn’t solely about a good foundation or an ultra-matte powder. The trick is actually to use the setting spray… well before the end of the makeup.

A Backstage Technique Used by Professionals

In a typical routine, setting spray is usually applied at the very end of makeup, right before leaving the house. Yet the makeup artists present at the event used a different method to dramatically reinforce the wear of the complexion.

The technique is very precise. First, apply your usual base makeup, then the foundation and concealer. Once the complexion is worked, set everything with a touch of powder. And it’s at that moment that professionals spray a first layer of setting spray, even before applying blush, bronzer, or highlighter.

This intermediate step acts like a kind of “second skin.” According to Lucie, a makeup artist met backstage, this method creates a new fixing base directly on the already worked complexion. “This grabs even more and it acts like a kind of second fixing base. With this, we’re sure it lasts all night”, she explains.

Once this first layer dries, the rest of the makeup can be applied normally: blush, contouring, highlighter, and eye makeup. Finally, a final coat of setting spray seals everything.