One of my best friends usually has her makeup purse with her everywhere she goes. It doesnt matter if she is at work, school, church, or anywhere else. She would slip into the restroom during breaks, usually around noon, to reapply her makeup. She silently lamented why I didnt do the same, given our mutual love of makeup. It wasnt until later that she finally said the words, slightly irritated. But Jade, how come when you do your makeup, it stays on all day? she asked. It sounded more like blame than asking my opinion. I just stared at her in astonishment, wondering how long she had it at the back of her mind since we have been friends since high school. I went on to explain to her what sounded like a magical secret all of a sudden, and hearing myself, one would believe Im some kind of beauty guru... Lol. By the way, there may be other queens and gents out there that may benefit from some advice on how to keep ones makeup fresh all day. These are not exhaustive, but I hope they are useful. Wash your face and stay hydrated It is not a myth that drinking plenty of water maintains your skin clear and smooth. Making sure your skin is clean before applying makeup can make a big difference in how long your makeup lasts. If you try to layer makeup on top of dry skin or skin that hasnt been washed in a few hours, the makeup will soon melt and fade. Alternatively, if you use powder, your skin may appear cracked. Because your skin may have accumulated natural oils, the makeup you apply may not be able to adhere to it. If your skin is dry due to a medical condition, temperature, or any other reason, you can apply a hydrating moisturizing gel that helps to smooth the skin, or even better, contact your dermatologist. Quality comes at a price Im sorry, fellas, but the truth is that these low-cost products are rarely of good quality. This might explain why your makeup doesnt stay as long if it isnt causing you allergies or any other medical condition already. If you want something of excellent quality, you may need to invest a little extra. However, not everything that is pricey is definitely suitable for you. Learn to identify what works best for your body/skin. Try waterproof makeup Some waterproof makeup products include sticky lipsticks, waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and so on. This can be challenging and inconvenient because waterproof makeup is more difficult to remove at the end of the day. But, sis, if thats the price to pay for looking stunning all day, get up and go wash your face. Waterproof makeup is especially beneficial for people with oily skin, whose makeup smudges or wears off as a result of oil accumulation on the skin. PS: You dont have to use makeup to look and feel beautiful. However, for those of us who enjoy that extra, albeit artificial, touch, lets rock it properly. Weve all experienced the discomfort of continually wondering if our makeup is still fresh and on point, or if its appearing odd on our faces. “One of the reasons why I love makeup is because it can help you change your attitude by wearing your lipstick or eyeliner differently.”