Tried and tested: Here are nine waterproof cosmetics you can swim with
With the hot summer season is in full swing, we’ve been looking for ways to relieve ourselves from the heat. Skin cooling and soothing products are extremely handy but, given the opportunity, we’d definitely want to dive into a pool or soak at the beach! If you’ve got outings planned and want to look your best even in the water, waterproof makeup is the way to go.
A lot of products are labeled as “waterproof” but how well do they actually perform? To test their claims, I put on my swimsuit and literally went swimming with a full face of these products! Will they survive? Read on to find out!
For my base, I used the Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF 50+ PA++++ Sunscreen (P2,100), which is labeled “Very Water Resistant” and features their Wet Force Technology. I regularly use this on my face whenever I go swimming and haven’t been sunburned, though my shoulders were (they were covered using a different sunblock). Another option if you’d like a bit more coverage is Shiseido’s famous Sun Protection Liquid Foundation with SPF 43 PA+++. Of course, it is still best to wear a separate sunscreen underneath. I concealed blemishes with the Pink Sugar Our Lil’ Secret Concealer (P349), which has been said to “set like cement”.
On days when I don’t have enough time to do my brows but I need a semblance of polish, I just sweep on the MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow (P1,000). It stays on all day but I haven’t really tested out its waterproof claims ’til now! I use Brown Ebony while our editor Liz has Quiet Brunette.
The Make Up For Ever Aqua Line features several waterproof products and for this test, we have the MUFE Aqua XL Extra Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil in No. M-60 (P1,250), which they reformulated last year. The MUFE Aqua Smoky Lash Waterproof Mascara (P1,200~) is a sample I’ve been loving for budge-proof lashes, and it was also one of the hardest to remove during our micellar water throwdown.
Cult-fave Cargo Cosmetics burst into the local beauty scene last year courtesy of Beauty Bar and brought in their Swimmables line. These Cargo Swimmables Eye Pencils in Pebble Beach, Loch Ness, Karon Beach, and Black Sea (P1,750 for a limited edition set or P850 each) are waterproof, smudge-proof, and long-wearing. The formula seriously won’t budge until you decide to take it off!
For the cheeks, the Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza (P1,250) is an instant perk-me-up, while the Cargo Water Resistant Bronzer (P1,350) comes in one shade that prettily warms up the complexion and gives it a hint of highlight. I love using the bronzer on my cheeks before popping on the pink Ibiza blush for a summery version of draping!
For the lips, I’ve been road-testing the new Ellana Mineral Cosmetics Lip in Luxe Liquid Lipsticks (P499 each), which perform impressively under normal circumstances. These have great longevity and come in four shades of which Love is True (red) and Love is Devotion (nude) are the darkest.
Swatches, from left: MUFE Mascara, MUFE Eye Pencil in M-60, Cargo Eye Pencils in Karon Beach, Loch Ness, Pebble Beach, Black Sea, MAC Brow Set, Pink Sugar Concealer, Cargo Bronzer, Cargo Blush in Ibiza, Ellana Liquid Lipstick in Love is Devotion, Love is True
I didn’t want to emerge from the water looking like a raccoon, especially since there were other people around! So before diving into the pool, I put the products through two tests: the Faucet Test and Tissue Test.
After the Faucet Test
Faucet Test: I swatched the products on my arm and let the swatches set undisturbed for around 30 minutes. Afterwards, I put the whole thing under running water and very lightly tried to rub them of. I was so amazed at the result – they still didn’t move! There is some noticeable fading in the color vibrancy but the swatches didn’t budge.
After the Tissue Test
Tissue Test: Exposure to water can affect the resilience of a product so I performed a tissue test to see if there would be transfer. I lightly patted a clean tissue over the wet swatches so I could see even the faintest change in color. Good news – no makeup transferred!
Before the Swimming Test
Swimming Test: After seeing how the products performed in the first two tests, I felt ready to pile on the makeup and finally take that dip in the pool. The products used for my swimming #FOTD were: Shiseido Sunscreen, Pink Sugar Concealer, MAC Brow Set, MUFE Eye Pencil for the upper lash line, Cargo Eye Pencil for the lower lash line, MUFE mascara, Cargo Bronzer and Blush in Ibiza, and Ellana Liquid Lipstick in Love is Devotion.
I waded into the pool and did a couple of laps before taking the after photos. There was some fading with the blush and bronzer but you can still clearly see the colors. My eyebrows remained intact while my eye liners and mascara did not move at all. I did experience some caking with the concealer but it was only noticeable up close. The liquid lipstick also lightened but my lips were still covered in pigment.
After the Swimming Test
The MUFE mascara smudged on my lower lids although some still remained clinging on my lashes. Unless you really, really can't live without mascara, I suggest skipping this step. Just curl your lashes to make your lashes pop.
Overall, these products passed the swimming test with flying colors! I went on swimming for an hour more after taking these photos and my makeup continued to stay on! Fading is to be expected though, so at best this will stay on for about two hours of swimming (sans rubbing). It should last for less though if you're swimming in the sea as the saltwater may dissolve the makeup faster.
Do you have plans to swim this summer? What are your go-to waterproof makeup products?
