By 10 a.m., you've got raccoon eyes and by lunchtime, your favourite eye shadow is caked in the creases of your eyelids. What's a makeup-wearing woman to do when the weather sabotages her best face?

The most effective way to keep makeup looking fresh all day, according to Hilary Whitebread, professional makeup artist for Cosmetics Based On Nature, is to choose oil-free, lightweight products that prevent excessive shine. Before considering the following tips, protect your skin with a moisturizer containing sunscreen to block out harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Begin with the basics
Love foundation but hate that heavy, mask-wearing feeling? Try using a tinted moisturizer. "It's basically a moisturizer with colour," says Whitebread. She recommends Vichy's Lumineuse Sheer Radiance. For ultimate coverage without the heaviness, try Avene's water-based tinted foundation that both is waterproof and has an SPF of 50.

Another tip is to take your existing foundation and mix it with a lightweight moisturizer that has an SPF. Voilà! You've got flaw-minimizing coverage and sun protection in one step.

To extend makeup wear, seal the deal with a primer from your favourite beauty brand -- it creates a barrier between your skin and your foundation. While protecting skin with nourishing vitamins, it allows foundation to adhere to your skin in hot weather.

Powder up
Your next line of defence against runaway makeup is powder. This wonder product aids in the absorption of excess oil and helps lock makeup in place to keep it looking fresh all day. Check out Marcelle's face powder in Translucent (for all skin types), which is hypoallergenic and won't clog pores.

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Bronzed beauty
Why surrender your delicate skin to a tanning bed or the sun's rays when you can get a nice glow from your cosmetics? Whitebread can't say enough about the beauty benefits of bronzers; she especially likes the ones that contain skin-illuminating shimmer. "Make sure when you are choosing a bronzer that it is not too dark or orange-looking on your skin," Whitebread says. "You want it to look natural, not fake and baked!" She recommends using a brush for a light and even application over your face and body. Our makeup guru's favourite product is Bronzing Fx from Cover FX because it is both oil and fragrance free and comes in four colours that offer shimmer and glow. Try Pink Topaz and Gold for a sexy sun-kissed look.

Lasting lipwear
There's no reason to wear uncomfortable and drying long-wearing lip colour. For lips that feel moisturized and kissable throughout the day, Whitebread suggests using Fx Lip from Cover FX , a two-way lip product that offers both a treatment with SPF 15 and a sheer tint. Just use one side of the stick to apply the protective base and the other to smooth on lasting colour. "This product contains peppermint oil, jojoba and shea butter. It gives the lips a cool, tingly feel," she says. There are six shades; Whitebread's favourites for summer are Coral Chablis and Pink Copper.

The eyes have it
When applying eye colour, keep it from caking with a simple application. Apply one wash of colour over your eyelid instead of layering. For colour that won't creep into your creases, try M.A.C's Stay True crease-proof shades.

Last but not least, chase away those raccoon eyes with a waterproof product Whitebread can't live without. "Clarins' Fix Mascara is a formula that makes any mascara waterproof. Just apply over your favourite mascara for luxe lashes."

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