It might be easy to assume that coming on a Walt Disney World vacation, you won’t want to wear makeup; it’ll probably be hot and humid and at the end of a 12 hour day in the parks, your makeup won’t look how it did at the start of the day (if it’s still there at all!) But if you’re like me, you wear makeup every day and a Disney vacation isn’t going to change that – plus I want to look presentable in the photos too!
Living in Central Florida I battle the elements with my makeup every day so I have some tried and tested tips for the best makeup for Disney World, a few product recommendations for things I wear every single day, and how to keep that makeup looking good throughout your whole day at the parks!
Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase an item after clicking on the link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This is at no extra cost to you, and as always, all opinions and recommendations are my own.
Keep it simple
I try to keep my makeup as simple as possible when visiting the Walt Disney World parks; with the heat and the humidity there’s no point wearing a full face of makeup when most of it won’t last the day.
I try to stick to a few basics: foundation or CC cream, concealer, mascara, lip gloss, and definitely a setting spray. Occasionally I’ll add blush or a little more eye makeup but it depends on how long I’ll be in the parks and what the weather will be like, and for the most part, the basics are enough to make me feel a little more presentable!
Prepare your skin
Since moving to Central Florida I’ve discovered that my daytime moisturizer needs to be a lot lighter than my evening one, otherwise my makeup doesn’t last five minutes once I step out into the humidity!
I use a very rich moisturizer at night, but in the morning, I find Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer to be lightweight but also hydrating, and it acts as a great base.
As well as a lightweight moisturizer, I find the key to a long lasting makeup is a good primer. I’ve found a few that have worked well over the years, including ones that are more pricey and some that are super affordable; I currently switch back and forth between Elf Hydrating Primer and Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer.
My biggest recommendation with primer is to make sure it is 100% dry before putting any makeup on top of it so that everything else has a solid foundation.
I would also recommend a primer for oily skin, even if this isn’t something you would ordinarily use; you’re likely to get a lot more sweaty in the Florida heat and this will keep oil to a minimum, which not only ensures makeup looks better but prevents breakouts down the line.
Long lasting and waterproof products are a must
A long lasting foundation is going to hold up much better to the heat and humidity, but you also want to make sure it’s lightweight so your skin can breathe; I use Nars Naturally Radiant Longwear Foundation.
If the weather is particularly humid or if the day calls for showers, I also find that a powder works better than a liquid foundation since the latter has a tendency to slide off my face if I get wet; Bare Minerals Original Foundation works really well in the humidity.
A long lasting concealer is also a must. One of the first areas my makeup tends to start to slip is around my eyes and without concealer, I look like I haven’t slept in years (which is pretty accurate!)
Those Disney treats can also make my skin start to look a little irritated after a few days so covering those up with a long lasting concealer is important. I love Revlon Photoready Candid Concealer, which is not only long lasting, but super affordable!
If you don’t want to wear foundation in the heat, I’d recommend a more lightweight BB or CC cream instead; not only do these tend to feel less heavy, but they often offer better SPF protection as well.
A CC cream is going to offer a little more coverage, whereas a BB cream will act more like a tinted moisturizer. It Cosmetics CC cream is amazing and I’ve used it for years.
Waterproof eye makeup is a necessity, not just to combat the humidity or the inevitable summer thunderstorms, but for those water rides (and in case you shed a tear or two during the fireworks!)
Just remember to pack a really good eye makeup remover so you can take it all off at the end of the day! Covergirl Lashblast has been my go to waterproof mascara for years, and I use Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Lotion.
Finish with a setting spray
I never leave the house without a setting spray to keep all of my makeup in place. My go to setting spray is by Urban Decay – this kept my makeup in place all day on my wedding day in Florida in July, and that’s a pretty impressive feat! I also love Ben Nye Final Seal; I once heard that was the setting spray used by Disney entertainment Cast Members to keep their makeup in place and I can confirm it really does do a good job.
Don’t forget about sunscreen
Temperatures in Central Florida can reach the high 90’s in the summer months and that sun can be brutal.
While it’s important to choose makeup products that have high sun protection factors (SPF), those products can only do so much to protect against the sun; they might protect against sunburn but won’t necessarily protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays, and chances are you won’t be reapplying your makeup as often as you would normally apply sunscreen.
Wearing a hat with a wide brim, keeping to the shade as much as possible, and taking advantage of indoor attractions can reduce your skins exposure to the sun to keep it protected.
Product recommendations
All of these products are ones I either own currently or have previously owned but would still thoroughly recommend – in other words, all are tried and tested products and stand up well to the Florida heat and humidity!
Lightweight moisturizer
Primer
Foundation
Concealer
Mascara
Setting spray
Eye makeup remover
I’ve linked all to all of these products through Amazon since that’s where I get a lot of my makeup these days, but you can pick most of these products up at Ulta or Sephora, or even the drugstore or Target for some of the brands. I would recommend trying any new makeup or skincare products out before a trip to make sure they work for your skin, and that you’re not sensitive to any of the ingredients.
