My Cycling Instructor and I Tested 12 “Sweat-Proof” Beauty Products—Only These Passed the Test

For someone who loves to work out, there’s nothing I hate more than sweating.

Between the slick skin, the agonizing heat, and the icky way my hair sticks to my neck after a draining workout class, I’m using up every last bit of strength left to race to a shower and start smelling like a decent human being again. It’s even taken me 2 full years to stomach more than 20 minutes in a sauna (I’m from Chicago—I’m cold-blooded, okay?), a goal I was finally able to reach after making myself sit through two back-to-back plays of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).”

But while sweating is tolerable (and expected) at a gym, I have no patience for the way my clothes feel, body smells, or makeup slips in the brutal summer heat. Desperate to find beauty solutions to fix my perspiration problems ahead of another blazing New York City summer, I decided to join forces with the culprit behind my most intense sweat seshes—my Life Time Fitness cycle instructor, Casey Cohen—to test 12 beauty and wellness products that boast impressive long-wear claims to see which can *really* beat the heat. We tried each product during beach vacations and tough workouts before whittling it down to 7 surprising recommendations.

The Best Sweat-Proof Beauty Products, at a Glance

• Best Natural Deodorant: Each and Every Natural Fragrance Deodorant
• Best Dry Shampoo: Batiste Sweat-Activated Dry Shampoo
• Best Foundation: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Natural Matte Foundation with SPF 40
• Best Setting Spray: One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray
• Best Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

Sweat-Defying Deodorants

Best Natural Deodorant: Each and Every Day Dream Citrus & Vetiver Natural Fragrance Deodorant

Others We Liked

Smudge-Proof Setting Sprays

Best Setting Spray: One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray

Others We Liked

Stay-Put Primer

Best Primer: One/Size Secure The Sweat Waterproof Mattifying Primer

No-Mess Mascara

Best Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

Others We Liked

Gym-Approved Dry Shampoo

Best Dry Shampoo: Batiste Sweat-Activated Dry Shampoo

Face Card Foundation

Best Foundation: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Natural Matte Foundation with SPF 40

Spin-to-Sea Sunscreen

Best Face Sunscreen: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 Sunscreen