Beauty Debate: Are You Pro or Con Wearing Makeup to the Beach?
June 24, 2020
When summer rolls around, beauty lovers everywhere face the same dilemma: to wear makeup to the beach or to not. The divide here is real, even among our editors. Ahead, read on to find out why one Makeup.com editor won’t forgo her full CC-cream plus SPF beat, while another sticks to a completely bare face and just sunscreen.
Why Associate Editor Alanna Is Pro Wearing Makeup to the Beach
There’s never a time I will go to the beach without a medium-coverage beat. I do this for a few reasons: One, being that I find it easier to layer sunscreen over and on top of makeup as opposed to just slapping it on my face, and two, I find that my sweat shows a lot less thanks to an SPF-charged CC cream. After applying a layer of sunscreen (the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Oil-Free SPF 60 is my go-to), I always add a layer of the IT Cosmetics CC+ Oil-Free Matte Cream with SPF 40 and finish it off with an sunscreen powder, like the Supergoop! Mineral Invincible Setting Powder. The combo of all three keeps me shine-free and matte, even during the most sweltering of days. Plus, the makeup helps serve as another shield from the sun. The powder SPF also sticks better when I’m wearing CC cream than it does on bare skin. I complete my beach makeup look with not much else — just a little swipe of liner on my lower lash line and a coat of mascara. If I’m feeling extra, I’ll add a touch of cream blush to give my cheeks some tint. I like the look of enhancing my natural features as much as possible, without going over the top with a full blown beat. To ensure my minimal makeup lasts, I always bring along a hydrating setting spray to spritz all over every few hours, like the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Setting Spray.
Why Assistant Editor Samantha Is Against Wearing Makeup to the Beach
On a normal day, I don’t leave the house without makeup. Even during social distancing, I’ve worn a full face nearly every day. The only time I opt to go makeup free is when I’m down the shore. It’s my free pass. In one regard, it’s a mental thing. I like to be low-maintenance, roll-out-of-bed-and-go when I’m in beach-mode. My 25-minute makeup routine simply doesn’t fit in with my summer vibe. Aside from the convenience factor, there’s also a very practical reason I don’t wear makeup to the beach, or even on the boardwalk for that matter. I have super fair skin and rosacea, so being out in the strong summer sun means I’m loading up on sunscreen (I like the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 100) and reapplying nearly every hour. If I were to wear foundation, or even a BB cream, my makeup likely wouldn’t look very good at the end of the day. What’s more, letting makeup mix with my inevitable sweat would undoubtedly lead to clogged pores and breakouts. At the beach, I need my skin to be able to breathe. Plus, I don’t mind a little sweat-induced glow. If I’m just going for a walk on the boardwalk (with my mask of course!), I may swipe on a bit of the Maybelline New York Super Stay Full-Coverage Long-Lasting Concealer under my eyes to look refreshed, but aside from that, I go makeup-free all summer long.Read more
