Great summer skin can be a balancing act. Glowy? We love glowy. We seek out glow. But there’s always the danger that you’ll slide (ahem) into slick and sweaty-looking territory, especially if you're prone to oily skin.

Enter: Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup, which was tested and developed in a room designed to mimic the high-temperature, high-moisture climate similar to that of notoriously steamy Mexico City. To be specific, that humidity room was set to 32°C with a constant 80% humidity—a major makeup meltdown stress test.

When we heard that Clinique Colour Pro Florrie White was meeting up in Mexico City with local beauty blogger Ari Camacho of The Double Denim, we knew some genius oil-control beauty tips would be shared. After all, who better to squeeze Florrie for her shine-free strategies than a beauty junkie who walks in the hot zone each day?

Ari Camacho: What’s the best type of skin care for hot, humid climates?
Florrie White: Keep it super light. You don’t want to have more than two layers on your skin—one for moisture, one for makeup, so choose wisely. Many women don’t know that even oily skin needs moisture. An oil-free gel formula, like Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, is perfect if you're prone to oiliness because it's very light and won’t make you break out or leave you with a greasy finish. If you develop a shiny T-zone quickly, look for a moisturiser that has oil-controlling and mattifying properties like Pore Refining Solutions Stay-Matte Hydrator. Pep-Start HydroBlur Moisturizer is also pretty cool because it's a combination of primer and moisturiser, so really stays put. I love it because it’s oil-free, blurs imperfections and dries to a matte finish, but your skin still feels soft and supple.

AC: What about foundation? I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup when it’s very hot. It ends up melting off! 
FW: Same thing—look for a foundation that helps control oil production and is also humidity and sweat proof, without feeling too heavy. Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup is a lightweight, gel-cream formula with mattifying and oil absorbing ingredients and a silky smooth finish. Get the right shade that matches your skin tone perfectly so you can apply it sparingly only where you need it—around your nose, under your eyes, on your chin, and a little bit on your forehead. 

AC: Sunscreen is also hard to wear when your skin gets oily and sweaty. Any tips?
FW: A lot of people feel sunscreen makes them oily, but it doesn’t have to. The trick is to apply it right after you get out of the shower or wash your face in the morning, then give it time to sink in (along with the rest of your skin care) before you head out into the humidity. 

AC: What are some quick touch-up tricks if you start to feel a bit greasy?
FW: Powder compacts and blotting powders will be your lifesavers. Lightweight pressed powder is ideal for minimising mid-day oil and shine breakthroughs. It’s even better if it has SPF to keep skin protected at all times while still maintaining a natural-looking finish (meaning you can apply it over your makeup without any white streaks or greasiness).  Plus, you can slip them in your purse for touch ups whenever/wherever you need it. Almost Powder Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 is perfect for this. For after-dark touch ups, or when SPF isn’t an issue, use an invisible blotting powder, like Stay-Matte Universal Blotting Powder, to refresh makeup and absorb oil. Or try my new favorite trick: pat a little Pep-Start HydroBlur Moisturizer on top of your makeup to instantly mattify any shiny areas—it’s such an amazing multi-tasker!

Photos: Katrina Dickson | Words: Alix Light Perez