Face off

I have merely to think about stepping on the El during the morning rush hour on a 90-degree August day to work up a sweat. So between trips to the gym, high-noon hikes for lunch through the Loop and crowded CTA commutes, I had plenty of perspiration to test a face full of products. Among the dozen I selected that promised anti-melting, long-lasting powers, the following options fared best.

The creamy eye shadow in Cargo’s Melt-Proof 3-in-1 Palette for Eyes, Cheeks and Lips goes on thick and shimmery with a simple finger-swipe, and the bronzy tone complemented my first dewy, then drenched, face. Just keep your hands away from your eyes; the everlasting color rubs off with even a light touch. $39 (comes as part of a kit including mascara and bronzer) at Sephora, locations throughout the city.

After I waited 30 seconds for the gel to dry and applied my standard coat of liquid foundation, Smashbox’s Anti-Shine left my face with a remarkably smooth texture. Several hours later, my skin still retained its flawless matte finish, and even my upper lip remained rivulet-free. $27 at Sephora.

As sweat droplets formed a small pool on the treadmill during my run, I was shocked to find not even a hint of Clinique’s Work-Out Makeup All-Day Wear muddying the waters. Postexercise, only a few patches of skin showed signs of makeup melting, while the majority of the liquid foundation remained perfectly intact. $21 at clinique.com.

Since Stila’s cherry-scented Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain (dual function!) looks like a lip-gloss tube, I felt a little odd swiping the liquidy thin goo onto my cheeks—but it blended in with my freckles right away. After a few hours, my lips had the slightest hint of color left, but my cheeks looked just as pretty-in-pink as when I applied the stuff. A word to the wise: Apply to your cheeks with a Q-tip or makeup pads because this product stains your fingertips like berries. $24 at stilacosmetics.com.

By the end of a three-hour outdoor concert, a few streaks of Bare Escentuals’ Big Tease Mascara (part of the two-piece lips and lashes collection) rubbed off on the inside of my glasses, but for the most part, my elongated lashes stayed nice ’n’ dry. $15 at Sephora.

True to its name, Sally Hansen’s Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Cream Bronzer warmed the apples of my cheeks with a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow, which only looked better as the rising temp outside turned my face’s pale hue into a rosy pink. $12 at CVS, locations throughout the city.