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Monsoon calls for a completely different makeup bag. Humidity changes how base makeup wears, rain makes waterproof formulas essential rather than optional, and anything heavy or long-wear tends to slide off faster than it should. So this season, the bag got a proper edit.
Six products made it through: a mattifying powder, a waterproof mascara, an oil-control primer, a makeup fixer, a lightweight SPF tinted moisturiser and a dry shampoo for the days hair just won’t cooperate. A few categories got left behind entirely. Here’s the full breakdown.
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Summer tends to bring out the shine; and when you’re juggling meetings and deadlines, the last thing you want is to look like you’ve been sweating all day. The Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder helps combat excess oil, keeping your skin matte without drying it out. The powder’s light texture ensures that you won’t end up with a cakey look; and it also works as a perfect finishing touch to your makeup. Simply dust it over your face to set your makeup or apply a light layer throughout the day when you need some shine control. It helps that it’s formulated with natural minerals and contains mint extract to cool your skin during summer. Plus, the compact packaging makes it perfect for your tote and reapplying as needed. Whether you’re dealing with humidity or just want a fresh look, this one will have you covered.
A makeup bag essential for balancing glow without dulling the look, the lightweight powder helps control shine while keeping the skin looking fresh and natural. It’s perfect for quick touchups, especially when switching between dewy and matte finishes throughout the day.
This finely milled powder helps control excess oil while keeping your skin looking fresh. It sets makeup without dulling the skin tone or feeling heavy. The compact size makes it easy to carry for touchups throughout the day. It’s particularly useful on warm afternoons, in crowded rooms or anywhere overhead lighting is unforgiving.
Few mascaras have reached cult status quite like Better Than Sex and it continues to remain relevant for good reason. The hourglass-shaped brush is designed to grip lashes right from the root, coating them evenly and creating length, fullness and lift in a way that feels balanced rather than overdone. The formula builds beautifully depending on the finish you want — one coat keeps lashes soft and defined, while additional layers create a more dramatic effect without becoming clumpy or stiff. It’s the kind of mascara that delivers impact while still feeling wearable, which is likely why it has remained a favourite for so long.
This is the makeup fixer that’s everywhere right now—yes, the one from viral K-beauty brand Tirtir. Not only does it lock in your makeup, but also guards your against environmental stressors. And it’s got centella asiatica, the soothing ingredient that calms dry, irritated skin. Bonus: It helps prevent breakouts by absorbing excess sebum and leaving behind an airbrushed, soft-focus finish. Using it is a breeze: just shake the bottle, spray it in an X and T motion from a few inches away and your makeup is locked and loaded for the day.
Setting sprays might feel like an extra step, but in this heat? Totally worth it. This one from TIRTIR acts like a topcoat for your makeup, locking everything in with a light mist that feels refreshing, not sticky. It keeps your base from sliding off your face even after hours in the sun or under a mask. Bonus—it helps your makeup look more natural and lived-in as the day goes on, not patchy or uneven.
Your makeup’s best insurance policy. This fine mist locks everything in place and keeps it looking fresh all day. It adds a soft glow without feeling sticky or heavy. A quick spritz before you head out, and you’re set—literally.
Long-wearing makeup is at the heart of TIRTIR's appeal and this setting spray feels like a natural extension of that philosophy. The lightweight formula creates an invisible layer over makeup, helping it withstand humidity without disrupting the finish underneath. It works particularly well with natural-looking base products, preserving their skin-like appearance rather than making them look overly set.
Priyanka describes this as "one of the most elegant dry shampoos available," and it's easy to see why. It delivers "excellent oil control, a refined fragrance, and impressive root lift while leaving hair feeling soft and touchable"—a combination that's surprisingly difficult to find. What really sets it apart, though, is how weightless the finish feels. Instead of leaving behind the tell-tale texture that many dry shampoos do, it leaves hair feeling clean, soft and easy to run your fingers through. The detoxifying formula also helps keep your scalp feeling fresh, making it a worthwhile investment if dry shampoo is already part of your regular routine.
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder in White is doing double duty as a mattifying step and a midday touch-up tool. A light dust over the T-zone keeps shine in check without looking chalky or sitting into fine lines.
Too Faced’s travel-size Better Than Sex waterproof mascara in Black is the one non-negotiable of the season. Waterproof isn’t a nice-to-have right now, it’s the entire brief, and this one holds a curl through a commute in the rain without flaking by evening.
Smashbox’s Photo Finish Oil Control Primer goes on before anything else touches the face. Built for exactly this kind of weather, it keeps oil managed under a base for hours longer than skin would manage on its own.
TIRTIR’s Mask Fit Makeup Fixer earns its spot as the step that locks everything in place without adding weight. A quick mist mid-afternoon revives makeup that’s started to slide, minus the tacky, stiff finish some setting sprays leave behind.
Laura Mercier’s Mini Tinted Moisturizer in Natural Dewy with SPF 30 replaces base makeup entirely on the more humid days. It gives skin a wash of coverage and the sun protection that matters even when the sun’s hiding behind the clouds, without the weight of a full foundation.
Olaplex’s No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo is the unlikely hero of the lineup. Monsoon hair goes limp and oily faster than usual, and this buys an extra day between washes while bringing back the volume humidity tends to flatten.
Full-coverage foundation is the first to go. Anything thick and matte sits differently on skin that’s already dealing with extra moisture in the air, and it tends to separate by midday.
Cream-based contour and highlighter are on the bench too. They travel more than usual on skin producing more oil than usual, and a good primer with powder does the shaping work instead.
Liquid eyeliner and kohl take a break as well. Waterproof versions exist, but the more honest call this season is fewer products near the waterline, so there’s less to worry about when it rains.
Regular setting spray steps aside in favour of a fixing mist formulated to work with humidity rather than fight it.
Heavy, matte lipsticks give way to tinted balms and lip oils. Anything that needs touch-ups every hour is more effort than the weather has any patience for.
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder in White is doing double duty as a mattifying step and a midday touch-up tool. A light dust over the T-zone keeps shine in check without looking chalky or sitting into fine lines.
Too Faced’s travel-size Better Than Sex waterproof mascara in Black is the one non-negotiable of the season. Waterproof isn’t a nice-to-have right now, it’s the entire brief, and this one holds a curl through a commute in the rain without flaking by evening.
Smashbox’s Photo Finish Oil Control Primer goes on before anything else touches the face. Built for exactly this kind of weather, it keeps oil managed under a base for hours longer than skin would manage on its own.
TIRTIR’s Mask Fit Makeup Fixer earns its spot as the step that locks everything in place without adding weight. A quick mist mid-afternoon revives makeup that’s started to slide, minus the tacky, stiff finish some setting sprays leave behind.
Laura Mercier’s Mini Tinted Moisturizer in Natural Dewy with SPF 30 replaces base makeup entirely on the more humid days. It gives skin a wash of coverage and the sun protection that matters even when the sun’s hiding behind the clouds, without the weight of a full foundation.
Olaplex’s No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo is the unlikely hero of the lineup. Monsoon hair goes limp and oily faster than usual, and this buys an extra day between washes while bringing back the volume humidity tends to flatten.
Full-coverage foundation is the first to go. Anything thick and matte sits differently on skin that’s already dealing with extra moisture in the air, and it tends to separate by midday.
Cream-based contour and highlighter are on the bench too. They travel more than usual on skin producing more oil than usual, and a good primer with powder does the shaping work instead.
Liquid eyeliner and kohl take a break as well. Waterproof versions exist, but the more honest call this season is fewer products near the waterline, so there’s less to worry about when it rains.
Regular setting spray steps aside in favour of a fixing mist formulated to work with humidity rather than fight it.
Heavy, matte lipsticks give way to tinted balms and lip oils. Anything that needs touch-ups every hour is more effort than the weather has any patience for.
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder in White is doing double duty as a mattifying step and a midday touch-up tool. A light dust over the T-zone keeps shine in check without looking chalky or sitting into fine lines.
Too Faced’s travel-size Better Than Sex waterproof mascara in Black is the one non-negotiable of the season. Waterproof isn’t a nice-to-have right now, it’s the entire brief, and this one holds a curl through a commute in the rain without flaking by evening.
Smashbox’s Photo Finish Oil Control Primer goes on before anything else touches the face. Built for exactly this kind of weather, it keeps oil managed under a base for hours longer than skin would manage on its own.
TIRTIR’s Mask Fit Makeup Fixer earns its spot as the step that locks everything in place without adding weight. A quick mist mid-afternoon revives makeup that’s started to slide, minus the tacky, stiff finish some setting sprays leave behind.
Laura Mercier’s Mini Tinted Moisturizer in Natural Dewy with SPF 30 replaces base makeup entirely on the more humid days. It gives skin a wash of coverage and the sun protection that matters even when the sun’s hiding behind the clouds, without the weight of a full foundation.
Olaplex’s No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo is the unlikely hero of the lineup. Monsoon hair goes limp and oily faster than usual, and this buys an extra day between washes while bringing back the volume humidity tends to flatten.
Full-coverage foundation is the first to go. Anything thick and matte sits differently on skin that’s already dealing with extra moisture in the air, and it tends to separate by midday.
Cream-based contour and highlighter are on the bench too. They travel more than usual on skin producing more oil than usual, and a good primer with powder does the shaping work instead.
Liquid eyeliner and kohl take a break as well. Waterproof versions exist, but the more honest call this season is fewer products near the waterline, so there’s less to worry about when it rains.
Regular setting spray steps aside in favour of a fixing mist formulated to work with humidity rather than fight it.
Heavy, matte lipsticks give way to tinted balms and lip oils. Anything that needs touch-ups every hour is more effort than the weather has any patience for.
