Best Waterproof Makeup for Holidays

There is a specific kind of holiday photo we have all taken: sun's out, cocktail in hand, and a suspicious grey smudge migrating from your lash line down towards your cheekbone. You look less "beach goddess" and more "someone who has been quietly crying about the room service prices." The culprit is nearly always makeup that was never built for heat, sweat, factor 50 and the odd dunplanned dip in the sea.

Waterproof makeup for holidays is not about caking yourself in armour. It is about picking two or three things that genuinely stay put so you can forget about your face and actually enjoy the trip. Here is what I would pack.

Start with the eyes - this is where holidays go wrong

If you only waterproof one part of your face, make it the eyes. Nothing gives the game away faster than a panda situation by 2pm. A gel or liquid liner that actually sets is non-negotiable, and this Stila is my desert island pick. It goes on in one clean stroke, sets fast, and does not budge through sweat, suncream or salt water. The felt tip makes a flick genuinely easy even if you are doing it in a wobbly hotel mirror.

The cosmic pink shade is a bit of holiday fun, but if you want something more everyday I would happily wear the intense black version to dinner. Pair it with a bare lid and a swipe of highlighter and you look put together in under a minute.

For anyone who prefers a softer, smudged look rather than a sharp line, the Stila Smudge & Set gel pencil is the clever one. You get about ten seconds to blend it into a smoky wing, and then it locks. After that it is going nowhere until your remover comes out. I love a bronzey or khaki tone for tanned summer skin rather than flat black.

Mascara that survives the pool

Waterproof mascara is a bit of a personal minefield - the stuff that never moves can also be a pain to remove, so I like something that holds a curl all day without turning to concrete. This Revolution 5D lash is the one I keep recommending because it is genuinely cheap, lengthens beautifully and holds up through humidity and a quick swim.

At this price you can throw it in your beach bag and not care if it gets sandy or lost. If you want a little more drama for evenings, the Max Factor Divine Lashes is a step up - properly volumising and rated to stay put for hours, which is exactly what you want when you are dancing somewhere warm.

One tip either way: hold off on waterproof mascara if your lashes are on the fragile side, and always remove it gently rather than rubbing. Which brings me to the unsung hero of this whole list.

The remover that makes waterproof makeup worth it

Here is the thing nobody tells you: waterproof makeup is only as good as the remover that takes it off. Scrubbing at set liner and mascara with a flannel is how you end up with sparse lashes and red, irritated eyes by day three. A proper dual-phase remover dissolves everything in seconds so you can be lazy and kind to your skin at the same time.

This Lord&Berry two-phase remover shakes up into an oil-and-water blend that lifts even the most stubborn waterproof formulas without any dragging. Keep it by the sink and one soaked cotton pad does the whole eye. If you are packing waterproof anything, pack this too - I promise it is the difference between a holiday your skin enjoys and one it resents.

Base that does not slide off in the heat

The mistake people make on holiday is wearing their normal winter foundation and wondering why it is pooling in their smile lines by lunch. Heat is your enemy here, so the fix is a lightweight, long-wear base with actual sun protection built in rather than a heavy full-coverage formula.

This Inglot Skin Focused foundation gives you SPF 50+ and a comfortable, skin-like finish that holds up when it is hot. I want to be clear - a foundation SPF is never a replacement for proper suncream, so wear your factor 50 underneath. But having that extra layer of protection in your base is a lovely bit of insurance on a face that is going to be out in the sun all day.

On the very hottest days I honestly skip foundation entirely and just do a bit of concealer where I need it. Less is genuinely more when you are sweating - a full base has nowhere to go but sideways.

One long-wear lip so you are not reapplying every ten minutes

Nobody wants to be topping up lipstick between every sip of sangria. A liquid lipstick that dries down and stays is the holiday move, and I am fond of this Aquarius matte formula because it survives eating, drinking and the general chaos of a day out without transferring onto your glass.

The brown is a gorgeous neutral that flatters a tan, though matte formulas can feel drying in the sun, so keep a plain balm in your bag for evenings and reapply over the top when you want a fresher finish. Blot, don't slather, and it lasts even longer.

How to build the whole face so it lasts

A few things I have learned the hard way over many sweaty summers:

• Prep less, not more. Heavy skincare under makeup in the heat is a recipe for slippage. A light moisturiser, sun protection, then makeup.
• Set your eye makeup before anything else can smudge it. Liner and mascara first, then base, so you are not cleaning up fallout later.
• Powder only where you get shiny. Usually the T-zone. Powdering your whole face flat looks worse as the day goes on.
• Waterproof does not mean sunscreen-proof planning. Reapply your SPF and just pat makeup back over the top rather than starting again.

FAQ

What is the best waterproof makeup for holidays if I only buy a few things?

Prioritise eyes and lips, because those are what smudge and fade fastest. A waterproof liner, a waterproof mascara and a long-wear liquid lip will carry you through almost any hot-weather situation. Add a lightweight SPF base only if you actually wear foundation day to day.

Will waterproof makeup survive actual swimming?

It will survive a quick dip and plenty of splashing, but no makeup is designed for lengthy underwater swimming with goggles on. Waterproof formulas resist water rather than being fully immune to it, so pat your face dry gently afterwards rather than rubbing, and expect to touch up your lips.

How do I take waterproof makeup off without wrecking my lashes?

Use a dual-phase or oil-based remover and let it sit on the lashes for a few seconds before wiping. That dissolves the formula so it slides off with no scrubbing. Rubbing at set mascara is the fastest way to lose lashes, so patience beats force every time.

Does waterproof foundation feel heavy in hot weather?

It can if you choose a full-coverage one, which is why I steer people towards lightweight, long-wear formulas instead. You want something that sits like skin and breathes a little. On really hot days, a bit of concealer where you need it often looks fresher than a full face anyway.

Ready to build your holiday kit? Have a browse through our full range of makeup and pick the pieces that will actually make it home in your suitcase looking as good as they did on day one.