Sweat Cosmetics // Makeup for Active Women

I’ll admit that I’m not super athletic. I don’t frequent the gym. I don’t go running. I do, however, spend a good amount of the summer outside in the Boston heat & humidity, so finding makeup that will last, provide sun protection and not give me cake face is a must! Enter Sweat Cosmetics. Sweat was founded by an incredible group of five female athletes, who wanted to create products that would last through a workout. They designed a handful of on-the-go products that were sweat & water resistant (for an hour-long workout). All of Sweat Cosmetics products are also hypoallergenic, not tested on animals, formulated without oils, silicone or fragrance, and provide sun protection. Sounds great, right? Well, I put Sweat Cosmetics foundation & bronzer to the test over the last couple of weeks. If you want to hear my thoughts, keep reading!

We’ll start with the packaging. All of Sweat Cosmetic’s foundations, bronzers and illuminators come in convenient, on-the-go packaging. The tube shaped packaging has a retractable brush on one side, while the actual product screws easily onto the other end. I love that Sweat’s products are refillable. Once you’ve purchased the starter set once, you only have to buy the refills moving forward. The brush is removable and can be easily cleaned with your other makeup brushes. The products are also color-coded, gold for the illuminator & bronzer, grey for the foundation and white for their translucent powder. Once closed, the tube can be thrown into your handbag without worrying about the product spilling all over the inside of your Chanel.

To use the product, simply pop off the brush cap and click it into the “open” position. Then tap the brush, upside down, into the palm of your hand to disperse some of the powder into the brush. Click the brush into the “buff” position and begin to apply to the face. In theory, this is a great system, but I found it a bit difficult to distribute a decent amount of product into the brush to cover my entire face. I found myself having to reopen the brush, tap into my hand and buff at least twice to get the desired coverage. I can, however, forgive that tiny flaw, as I adore the portability.

The powders themselves are fantastic! The foundation, bronzer & illuminator are all mineral based, soft and finely milled. The foundation comes in five shades, all with SPF 30, and provides light, slightly buildable coverage. I wish the shade range was a bit larger, as not all women fit into one of five skin tone categories. I used shade 100, and although it was entirely too light for me, I could make it work as the coverage is pretty light. A little bit of bronzer did the trick! The bronzer shade is gorgeous, with just a hint of shimmer for a sexy summer glow and SPF 25. The brush tip on the bronzer is tapered, to allow for easier application to the hollows of your cheeks. All of the product tends to disperse towards the tip of the brush, so I’ve found that it’s best to gently place the product where you want it, then buff it in to avoid patchiness.

So, the all-important question – does it hold up? Well, I tested it under a variety of circumstances and I was pretty impressed! Today was the ultimate test. New England summers are ridiculously hot and humid and today was no exception – it was so hot that you felt as if you may melt. I spent half of the 90-degree day in a hot car (minus air conditioning, on purpose) and the other half, hanging out poolside. The foundation & bronzer held up well after spending two hours in my steaming hot Mini Cooper with black leather seats. I was shocked to find that my skin looked almost the same as it did when I left my house (with the smallest hint of shine). Next up was the pool. I gave myself a soft reapplication before heading outside, mostly for sun protection. Sweat Cosmetics promises water resistance up to 40 minutes. Although I didn’t fully immerse my face in water, I did endure a few splashes to the face, thanks to my playful, little nephew. Two hours later, I looked in the mirror and found that my skin looked almost as I left it. Again, there was a bit of shine, but nothing a little touch-up couldn’t handle.

Although I prefer a liquid or cream foundation for every day, I can definitely see myself using these products regularly, especially during the summer. At the beach or by the pool, I usually don’t wear makeup, but it’s nice to have the option of a lightweight product with sun protection that will stand up to the heat and humidity without leaving my face looking cakey. The super portable packaging is great to throw in your beach or gym bag. Sweat Cosmetics products are a great choice if you’re wanting to look just a little more put together during a workout or just a hot day in the sun.

Sweat Cosmetics are available at Sephora.