Your Guide to Frat-Proof Makeup
*Screams over loud music* “Um hey girl you have mascara dripping down your face…”
by SAMANTHA SHENKER ★ OCTOBER 16, 2021
We all know the glitz and glam of going out in college. You spend hours getting ready just to sweat your makeup off in a sweaty frat basement. There's nothing wrong with parading around a party with splotches all over your face (you do you girl), but if you want your makeup to stay all night, keep reading. I’m no James Charles, but I do enjoy having my makeup last until I see it on my pillow the next morning.
The Base Is Your Savior
Start off with a good moisturizer and primer. I used to think this step was a hoax, but I’ve been proven wrong. Moisturizer ensures that your skin remains hydrated throughout the night and keeps your makeup from drying out. Primer allows the makeup to stay gripped to your face while you dance the night away.
Recommendations for moisturizer and primer:
Boujee:
Laneige: Water Bank Moisture Cream
Lancome: La Base Primer
Drugstore:
Neutrogena: Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer
Neutrogena: Shine Control Primer
Foundation is a NO BRO
It’s easy to want to try and hide skin texture or breakouts with a full coverage foundation. But, for partying, you want a product with a lightweight feel that is comfortable yet still has a flawless finish. Try a CC cream. CC stands for ‘color correcting’ and it evens out tones within your skin. While a foundation can provide a more full coverage look, the weight on your skin mixed with the sweat from dancing can cause the foundation to drip off your face. CC cream will have the same effect as the typical foundation without the heavy load.
Recommendations for CC cream:
Boujee:
IT Cosmetics: CC+ Cream
YSL: Top Secrets CC Cream
Drugstore:
Neutrogena: Skin-Clearing Complexion Perfector
Olay: Total Effects Tone Correcting CC Cream
Matte Is Hot
Setting your makeup in place is a crucial step in the getting ready process. It’s easy to go ham with the powder and end up looking like Tana Mongeau circa 2017, but my advice is to just chill. You want just enough powder to blur unwanted blemishes and keep your makeup in place all night long. For frat-partying, I would always suggest a set and smooth or matte finish powder no matter your skin type. Although a nice glowy finish might be your cup of tea, you don’t want to look more shiny and sweaty than you’re already going to be.
Recommendations for setting powder:
Boujee:
Hourglass: Veil Translucent Finishing Powder
Laura Mercier: Translucent Pressed Setting Powder
Drugstore:
Maybelline: Fit Me! Matte and Poreless Pressed Powder
Rimmel: Stay Matte Pressed Powder
Waterproof Mascara Is Canceled
Waterproof mascara SUCKS. It never comes off after the long night and it performs at a sub-par level. Although you may think this is the key to long-lasting makeup, it is not. The secret is… dipping your mascara wand in a loose powder! I know that may sound weird, but trust me. The powder will allow your lashes to lock in the mascara, keeping those lashes curled to heaven all night.
Recommendations For Mascara:
Boujee:
Dior: Diorshow Mascara
Thrive Causemetics: Liquid Lash Extensions
Drugstore:
L'oreal: Air Volume Mega Mascara
Maybelline: Lash Sensational Sky High
Recommendations For Loose Powder (for eyelash use):
Boujee:
Laura Mercier: Translucent Loose Powder
Drugstore:
Maybelline: Fit Me! Loose Finishing Powder
Kissable Lips That Last All Night
To ensure you’ll be gettin’ some at the party, lips are crucial. It’s hard to perfect the ‘frat-lip,’ but I have some tricks up my sleeve. First and foremost: lip stains. Lip stains will keep your lips looking flushed all night. No matter how many shots you take or dance-floor make-outs you have, a good lip stain will last. Designate a cheap sheer lip gloss as your ‘frat-gloss.’ A gloss that is shiny and blinding enough to get the guys circling but one that won’t make you look like a drunk fool if it's outside the lines. Slip it in your pocket before going out. A fun game is seeing whether or not your ‘frat-gloss’ makes it home that night.
Recommendation for lip stain:
Boujee:
Glossier: Cherry Balm Dotcom
Benefit: Benetint Rose Lip and Cheek Tint
Drugstore:
The Creme Shop: Permanent Popsicle Lip Juice Stain
Elf: Lip Stain
Recommendation for ‘frat-gloss’:
DO NOT BUY A BOUJEE GLOSS FOR FRATS. IT WILL PROBABLY END UP ON THE FLOOR.
Drugstore:
Covergirl: High-Shine Gloss
Maybelline: Lip Lifter Gloss
Lock It In
Setting spray is the final step. you want a spray that will keep your makeup on and won’t make you look oily. The setting spray will allow you to sweat without the makeup fully coming off.
Recommendations for setting sprays:
Boujee:
IT Cosmetics: Your Skin But Better Setting Spray
Mac: Prep and Set Fix+
Drugstore:
NYX: Matte Finish Setting Spray
Maybelline: Lasting Fix
Partying is about having fun. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the social pressures of college, but the most important thing is to be your true self. That said, there is nothing wrong with using makeup to enhance your beauty. I hope this guide to ‘frat-proof’ makeup serves you well and I can’t wait to see those beautiful faces out and about.
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest