For too long now, a fiend has held our otherwise vibrant city in its iron grip, forcing our citizens indoors in panicked search of refuge. There is no greater enemy to a meticulously applied face of make-up than the Hong Kong weather, with its lethal combination of heat and humidity. Everywhere you look, there are carefully curled bangs plastering themselves onto sticky foreheads, and oily under-eyes falling victim to stubborn mascara stains. Under such vicious attack, we can only embark upon the Sisyphean task of helplessly, endlessly reapplying, even as sweat continues to trickle down the sides of our reddened faces.

Invigorated by the cooling comfort of the AC here at the Vogue Hong Kong office, I have developed a go-to make-up routine that will combat this summer heat. I hope that these tips and products may shield you from all the humid horrors that the weather throws your way.

Building Your Base

There are six crucial steps to building a strong base for any make-up look, and these are, in chronological order of application:

1. Sunscreen

A good sunscreen is vital for protection against the violent UV and definitely not to be overlooked. I recommend Kiehl’s Ultra Advanced Derm Solutions Light Daily UV Defence. In my opinion, there are two true tests for any sunscreen: the beach test and the snow test. This sunscreen has passed both with flying colours, having accompanied me all around the world, from the sunny beaches of the Amalfi Coast to the snowy peaks of the Alps. I swear by it—it has never let me down. 

2. Primer

Primer has always been a confusing but compulsory step in my make-up routine: I confess that I never knew what it actually did until recently. It essentially acts as a glue for your foundation to stay on your face, by smoothing out your skin for better application and adhesion—its significance, then, is pretty self-explanatory. I use Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Blurring Primer.

3. Foundation

Foundation can be optional, but if you’re going for a full-face of make-up, my personal favourite is the Clé de Peau Beauté foundation. Its weightlessness and breathability is a godsend in these sweaty climates. For something with lighter coverage, the Erborian BB Cream is a fantastic choice for evening out the skin tone without committing to a whole layer of foundation.

4. Concealer

I have tried several concealers, from Bobbi Brown to Nars, and they all do the job well, but my favourite is Chanel’s Le Correcteur longwear concealer. It is again very lightweight while still providing good coverage, and it lasts quite a long time. For higher coverage, I really recommend Chanel’s Sublimage Le Correcteur Yeux Radiance-Generating Care Concealer—it is expectedly heavier and on the more expensive end, but you only need to use a bit each time, and it boasts a much higher coverage which will definitely last you all day.