How to Do Beach Wedding Guest Makeup that Lasts: Tips to Take You Through Summer RSVP Season

Beach weddings are tons of fun. The warm breeze, the sand between your toes, and the gentle roar of the waves come together to create a magical experience for everyone involved–the couple, the wedding party, and you, the guest. 

But what’s not so magical? Your beautiful beach wedding makeup running in the sun. Summer wedding guest makeup is always a little challenging due to makeup’s tendency to get weird in the heat. Maybe it gets sticky, maybe it melts, maybe you sweat it off. Whatever misfortune befalls your maquillage, heat and makeup don’t always mix. Before you know it, your foundation’s uneven and your eye makeup is smudged.

That is, unless you take precautions. You can fight back against melting makeup by following these simple steps. You know that old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? It definitely holds up here. Here are my hacks for preserving your guest makeup for weddings on the beach and in the summer heat!

Makeup for a Beach Wedding

Shop the Look: Sweetest Dreams Navy Blue Satin Ruffled Two-Piece Pajama Set, Beautiful Soul Teal Green Floral Print Twist-Front Maxi Dress, Munro White Patent Strappy Ankle Strap High Heel Sandals, Resort Bound Beige Woven Straw Tote Bag

You will need:

• Moisturizer
• Primer
• Skin Tint
• Waterproof mascara
• Setting powder
• Setting spray
• Other makeup products (your choice)

Instructions:

1. Moisturize: The first step is using a high-quality moisturizer. This creates a good base for your makeup; moisturizer smoothes the skin so everything goes on evenly. Hydrating your skin also helps makeup last longer and prevents that cakey look.
2. Primer, primer, primer! Primer is the best way to keep your makeup long-lasting. On a beach day where you’re facing the elements, it’s absolutely essential.
3. Skin tint: You can use foundation if you want, but I prefer skin tint. It makes you look dewier, and it’s less likely to cake up.
4. Remember, sweat is mostly water: Even if you don’t normally use waterproof mascara, use it for a beach wedding guest makeup look. Sweat is inevitable, and waterproof mascara will keep your lashes looking good.
5. Set, but don’t forget: Once you’ve applied your liquid makeup, set it with powder. A little powder will keep everything in place throughout the day. Don’t use too much, though!
6. Set some more: When your look is complete, use a healthy amount of setting spray–then use some more. Lots of setting spray is the real key to long lasting makeup in the heat. With enough setting spray, you can keep your makeup from coming off at all.

And there you have it! You won’t have to worry about rescuing your makeup look when you can prevent it from becoming a problem in the first place. 

Show us your best beach wedding guest look! We’d love to see it on Instagram or TikTok @lulus using #lovelulus. Then, head to our Beach Wedding Guest Shop for more inspiration for this season’s seaside ceremonies!

Rachel Wilson is a fashion and lifestyle creator. Through her social media she shares her love of fashion and beauty. 

This blog was originally published in May 2024.