I’m just going to be complete honest – I have really good sex, and I’m also really sick of getting my makeup all over the place during the act. But y’all, I’ve got AMAZING news – I’ve discovered a sex-proof makeup routine that’ll keep your face on, even if it’s been shoved into the pillows. Here are 15 products that will keep you fresh, no matter how long your sesh is. .;)
1. Milani Erase Base Blemish Control Primer
I don’t necessarily have acne on my face (just some clogged comedones from time to time, but nothing that comes to a head). But I do love using Milani’s Erase Base Blemish Control Primer for my beginning layer of my sex-proof makeup routine. It goes on thick, but as you spread it out, it becomes sticky – think elf’s Power Grip Primer.
Why I prefer it over elf’s Power Grip Primer, despite the similar feel: Milani includes salicylic acid to help fight any blemishes and excess oil, while glycerin fights potential dryness from the BHA and tea tree oil is a nice antibacterial and antifungal. We love skincare in our makeup base!
SHOP – $12.99
2. about-face Fractal Eye Paint in Apollo Empire
While my primer is setting, I work on my eyes.
I love a good one-swipe liquid eyeliner. Dealing with brushes and blending when I’m in a rush to get to my FWB’s house is just not the vibe, friends. But I’m not about to go bare face. about-face’s Fractal Eye Paint in Apollo Empire pulls out the gold in my hazel eyes, gives glitter, and is easy to shape. It’s not overly obvious, either – just flattering.
I usually swipe 1-3 times to fully cover each lid, then let that dry before moving on to my brows.
SHOP – $17
3. Benefit Precisely My Brow Tinted Eyebrow Wax in 3.5
It took me literal years to figure out what I liked best for my eyebrows – gel? Pencil? Wax? – and it turns out, Benefit’s brow gel/wax is what works for me (thanks IPSY!).
I get the shade 3.5 – it’s a perfect neutral brown match to my natural eyebrow color, so rather than having eyebrow blindness, it feels in the sparse spots and gives me shape without looking… well, crazy. And despite being a wax, it’s sex-proof, promise — not all makeup is universally the same!
SHOP – $27
4. Natasha Denona Macro Blade Liquid Eyeliner
I didn’t get buying a $27 liquid eyeliner. What made THIS liquid eyeliner so much better? Natasha Denona’s name? Come on, please, as if.
Look. I’m a fool. I’ll admit it right away.
This liquid eyeliner is heavy in the hand, so you don’t feel like you’re holding some cheap, light plastic to drag a black liquid against your eye without fucking up. Its pen – because it’s not a brush, thank fucking god – goes from super fine to thick with just a little pressure,so you don’t have to jam the pen into your eye.
And while it does take a little bit to dry, honestly? It’s so worth it, because it stays on. Like I said, I’ve had my face in pillows, and this liner didn’t flake or fade – totally sex-proof. I had the perfect wing after rolling around in the sheets. Can you say that about your Maybelline? Even your Stila? Didn’t think so. (I know from experience!)
SHOP – $27
5. tarte tartelette tubing mascara in Black
I was a Benefit Bad Gal Bang! Gal for soooo long. Nothing touched my lashes the way that shit did. Nothing elongated them to the perfect length. And I hate fake lashes (lol okay confession: I just don’t know how to apply them. ANYWAYYY).
But also, no one ever commented on my short and stubby lashes looking long and luscious with Bad Gal Bang. And ever since trying tarte’s tartelette tubing mascara, I understand why – shit just wasn’t that impressive.
This tubing mascara (in black for me) is the creme de la creme. I can build layers while the first layer is still drying, which means I never have weird, spider-leg, clustered mascara on my eye that makes me look like I have approximately 3 weirdly-large lashes. Instead, my lashes are full, long, and stick to my waterline.
I also no longer have to use eyeliner on my bottom waterline – if you apply with some pressure, the tartelette tubing mascara will print on your bottom lashline to give you a darkened look, while still covering your lower lashes. We love!
SHOP – $28
6. elf Green Camo Color Corrector
I am a RED girl. I got slapped cheek syndrome, aka parvovirus, aka fifth disease, earlier in 2024, and it took me the FUCK out.
Despite being 29, I received the red nose and cheeks of a toddler with the illness. And then, they just… never went away, and eventually developed into a very cute rosacea. Lucky me! So, long story short, green color corrector has become my thing on days when the rosacea is like “hiiii pay attention to meeeee!”
I don’t spend a lot on my green corrector, because elf’s Green Camo Color Corrector does the job for me at $4. I simply draw the applicator over the redness, blot it into my skin, and voila – redness down and ready for concealer and foundation. It rubs in easily, but you can’t let it sit for too long, because it WILL dry down – the only downside to using the most affordable color corrector on the market.
SHOP – $4
7. Kosas Revealer Concealer in Tone 2.3 N
I received Kosas in an IPSY bag, and I fell in love with the formula. While working at Ulta, I snuck over to the Sephora in the Kohl’s (we don’t have an actual Sephora store in Santa Cruz County, tragic) and bought a full tube of Kosas’ Revealer Concealer in Tone 2.3 N – a neutral that works perfectly and lightens up darkness on my face.
After using elf’s Green Camo Color Corrector, I apply Kosas’ Revealer Concealer to the spots I’m desperate to cover up. If I have dark undereyes, I’ll apply a tiny bit there too to lighten the spot up. I DON’T put on an obscene amount, because creasing is the last thing I need, and a little goes a long way with this concealer.
I use the concealer side of my elf dual-sided brush to tap the concealer into place, blending where I need to, and then move on to my foundation.
SHOP – $32
8. about-face The Performer Foundation in L1NEUTRAL
While Hourglass is my holy grail foundation, I save it for very special occasions because it’s expensive. But about-face’s The Performer comes soooo close AND at an affordable price. And guess what: it’s also in my sex-proof makeup stash! I’m L1NEUTRAL (Light Neutral), and it fits my skin perfectly.
The doe-foot applicator is huge, meaning it covers my face the perfect amount without wasting excess foundation. I apply two strokes to my cheeks, one to my nose, one to my forehead, a smudge on my chin, two dots on each temple, and a line underneath my chin for blending purposes.
I then go in with my Real Techniques Kabuki Brush and rub it in using downward strokes, occasionally diagonal to really blend it in right. The under-the-chin line is important, because it is critical to blending correctly and not making a weird shift from my perfectly-even face to my lighter neck area.
SHOP – $22
9. Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
To keep the base of my look on and keep my makeup truly sex-proof, I take a fluffy brush and push Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder – NOT the Ultra Blur, the original! – into my skin. I use what some may consider an excessive amount, but with all of the liquid on my face, I want it to be set.
I generally dip a fluffy brush into the powder lightly and powder my cheeks, then my forehead, then my nose and chin. It takes all of 20 seconds. Easy peasy!
SHOP – $43
10. Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Self Starter
Okay, I SWEAR by this liquid lipstick with everything in me. Want to drink? Eat? Kiss? Drag your mouth over anything and everything (no judgement from me)? Maybelline’s SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is the one for you.
My neutral is more of a peachy coral, so I use the Self Starter shade. I sweep it onto my lips, etch out my cupid’s bow, then let it sit for three minutes. No blotting – it will ruin the long-lasting nature. You’ve just got to be patient and let it sit. I know, boring. But that’s why you move onto the rest of your look.
SHOP – $10.99
11 + 12. elf Camo Liquid Blush in Dusty Rosé and Revolution Blush Bomb Cream Blusher in Peach Filter
The sunset blush trend was the best trend in blush, in my opinion. When I’m not doing a crazy eye and/or lip combo, I go with a sunset blush look, no questions asked.
I apply one dot of elf’s Camo Liquid Blush in Dusty Rosé kitty corner to the outside of my eye, kind of by my temple; I also apply Revolution’s Blush Bomb Cream Blusher in Peach Filter lower, diagonally following my cheek bone toward the apples of my cheeks, but stopping riiiiiight before it actually touches my cheeks.
I then blend inwards. I start by blending in the Camo Liquid Blush, then move my brush down and in to the Blush Bomb Cream Blusher. I dance back and forth between the placement of the two, then place my brush on the apple of my cheeks (where Revolution’s blush is) and sweep from the apples up to my temples, where elf’s blush is.
This way, I get both colors imprinted into my cheeks, then can blend while sweeping upward to give a subtly snatched look, rather than a blobby mess of blush. Peach on my cheeks looks better than pink while doing this look, but I recommend trying out both ways and seeing which works for you!
13. Revolution Beam Bright Highlighter in Diamond Glow
I love a strong highlight. It makes me feel beautiful and regal and fun and popp-y and like I’m saying, “I’M SHINY, NOTICE ME!”
Using my fan brush from elf, I sweep into Revolution’s (admittedly small but strong) Beam Bright Highlighter in Diamond Glow – a super bright white highlighter, not subtle AT ALL – and tap it onto my cheek bones. I also brush it down my nose – my favorite body part, because I have an amazing nose if I do say so myself – focusing on the tip of my nose. I also light up my cupid’s bow and a bit of my chin.
And the wildest part is it’s sex-proof – yes, there will be a little glitter on body parts and mirrors and pillows, but the makeup will still be glowing.
SHOP – $12
14 + 15. Youthforia PREGAME and Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Sprays
I don’t trust a man. I also don’t trust one setting spray. So, I double up, and it’s the right move, I’m telling ya.
I first spray Youthforia’s Pregame Setting Spray all over, which is a nice mist that wets the face without soaking it. In my head, it’s a gentle spray that’s pressing the makeup deeply into my pores, rather than isolating each part of the makeup. To speed up the process, I’ll also press a fluffy brush into the wetness, partially to make my skin absorb it and partially to absorb excess spray that I don’t actually need.
Then I pair it with Urban Decay’s All Nighter Waterproof Setting Spray, which acts as my guard to the environment. I don’t need extra mattifying power, but I know that I get some shine from the liquid makeup and ESPECIALLY the Revolution highlighter, so it balances out for me.
I let that dry without messing with it, fanning it in and going about gentle movements while it dries. I would never mess with this final part of the routine, because I know it’s what locks it in and keeps pillows and mirrors and bedsheets from fucking it all up and rearranging all of my hard work.
And that’s my sex-proof makeup routine! I HIGHLY recommend trying it out if you’re looking for something that’ll last through hookups, no matter how hot and sweaty they get. I’m sure there are other products out there – and I’ve tried a lot of them! – but nothing sticks to my face the way these 15 products do.
If you know of any other products that are sex-proof, let me know in the comments! Disagree with me? Tell me! I won’t be able to sleep well until I know all of us have found a makeup routine that is absolutely fuckable.