I tested 5 viral foundations in the gym to see which were ‘sweaty summer proof' – an £11 buy was a winner

The Sun

13-05-2025

WHILE there is no better feeling than enjoying glorious sunshine on your skin - with SPF, of course - beauty buffs absolutely despise the hotter days when the foundation slides and melts off in an instant.
While some prefer to go bare-faced or rock a tinted moisturiser, if you're a fake tan fanatic like me, you'll know that's not really an option - as the lighter tints won't match the rest of your Oompa Loompa complexion.
So, to find out which budget-friendly foundations are summer sweat-proof, I tried out five viral make-up buys, all £15 or under.
To see which foundations would perform the best in sweltering temperatures, I put them under the ultimate test - my two-hour long gym sessions, which included both weightlifting and cardio.
In order to give them a fair chance, I followed the exact same beauty routine with each - beginning with hyaluronic acid, a serum, moisturiser, sunscreen, and topping the foundation off with a bit of powder.
Here are the ones that stayed intact - and the ones that left random patches on my face.
L'Oreal Infaillible 32h Fresh Wear, £13.99
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This red-lidded foundation has been around for a years now, and pulls in rave 4.3-star ratings.
Formulated with Vitamin C, L'Oreal Infaillable Fresh Wear foundation offers full coverage yet feels lightweight on your skin - it's really a win-win.
The best part? I also found that you don't need to apply heaps to achieve the results you're after - so a little goes a long way.
I wore this SPF 25 foundation on a Monday - which are my heavy leg days in a gym where air conditioning doesn't seem to be a thing, and decided to torture myself even more by hopping onto the stair master for a further 20 minutes.
As I was contemplating this poor decision (amongst many others), I felt the sweat dripping on my forehead and feared I was looking like a hot, patchy mess.
But to my surprise, once I took a quick look at the reflection on the mirror, the foundation was still there - although there were some slight patches around my nose and just underneath my hairline.
I'm a fake tan pro and have tested all of them - a £22.99 option left me GREEN, but a £3.49 bargain is always a 10/10
Sweatproof rating: 4/5
L'Oreal True Match, £11.99
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L'Oreal True Match - available at Boots for just £11.99 - has been around for as long as I can remember.
Now available in a whopping 48 shades, this high street number provides perfect, natural and true-to-skin coverage.
Not only is it enriched with hyaluronic acid that provides up to 24-hour hydration, the foundation also has bold claims to '' improve skin quality in two weeks''.
While I wasn't able to test out the latter, I sure can tell you that the wallet-friendly foundation is gym girl-approved.
I put it to test on one of the hottest days the UK has seen this year and was shocked to see that not even 40 minutes of intense cardio could smudge it, even a little.
After I got home following the treadmill torture, the sweat had dried up - and the overall complexion looked almost as good as it had before the gym session, apart from the slight patch under my eyes.
Sweatproof rating: 5/5
e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, £15
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One of the more affordable brands on the high-street, e.l.f. has truly surprised me as of late, whether it's their brow pencil or liquid contour.
So when I spotted e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter on the shelves I snapped it up without much hesitation - especially after reading the thousands of rave reviews.
Although this is theoretically not a foundation, it can be worn as make-up and I found that with a few layers you can achieve the desired level of coverage.
However, do be warned - you will be left looking like a glazed doughnut and it's best to have your go-to powder at the ready.
Fabulous' £10 Fake Tan Test
FINDING the perfect fake tan isn't easy. That's why Fabulous tested a number of fake tans which cost less than £10..
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Superdrug Solait Self Tan Mousse Medium - £4.79 (was £5.99) - Buy Now
Tester: Abby Wilson, Senior Fabulous Digital Writer
Review: "This product give a very natural looking tan and if you wanted something a bit bolder, I'd suggest leaving it on longer or choosing a darker shade. I'm impressed with the results, but now my entire room stinks of the stuff. If you're on a budget and want a tan for last-minute plans, I would say this is one to try. "
bBold Dream Mousse Tan in Dark - £9.50 - Buy Now
Tester: Josie O'Brien, Senior Fabulous Digital Writer
Review: "The first thing that hit me about this tan was the 'juicy watermelon' scent - it's delicious. I was left with a natural bronze hue rather than orange glow. My only qualm is that the tan seemed to stick to my dry patches and accentuated 'strawberry skin' on my legs. I'm still adding this tan to my arsenal though - the smell, colour and texture are dreamy."
St Moriz Professional Medium Tanning Mousse - £4.99 - Buy Now
Tester: Kate Kulniece, Fabulous Writer
Review: "Not only does St. Moriz mousse leave you with a gorgeous bronzed glow, but it also smells fabulous - think Piña Colada on a sunny beach. At first, I was a little bit sceptical cause I'm a gradual fake tan girlie, but this quick developing St. Moriz number may change it all."
While I may have looked more shiny than I like to, this foundation hybrid didn't feel too cakey - and best of all, got me heaps of compliments at the gym.
I wore the £15 beauty bag must-have in sweltering 29C heat - and not only did it survive the muggy weather but also an intense lower body session, followed by 30 minutes on the stairmaster and some skipping.
While I quite enjoyed this product - which can even be used a highlighter - it's currently available in just 12 shades, only four or which are suited for darker complexions.
Sweatproof rating: 4/5
Maybelline Super Stay 24H Foundation + Vitamin C, £13.99
Whether it's their Sky High mascara or cheap lippies, Maybelline has been a firm staple in my make-up bag ever since I got into beauty as a teenager.
As someone who has an oily skin, I was a little hesitant trying Maybelline Super Stay 24H Foundation as Vitamin C products usually offer more glowy results - but much to my surprise, it gave me a natural radiance.
This make-up buy, priced at £13.99 at Superdrug, is great if you're a vegan like me, as it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
Right after applying it on my face, I was amazed at the healthy glow and how smooth my mega pores looked.
However, the biggest winner is that the foundation lived up to its promises - and resisted the intense workout and the mini treadmill run I did at the gym.
While there was a teeny bit of creasing under my eyes, the purse-friendly foundation stayed intact and almost glued to my face - a real winner if you've got a sunny holiday coming up or if you're a cardio bunny.
Sweatproof rating: 5/5
Rimmel Lasting Finish 35 Hour Foundation, £10.99
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Available in more than 30 shades, Rimmel Lasting Finish 35 Hour Foundation is one of the cheapest on the high street, setting you back just £10.99 at Boots.
This full-coverage beauty bag buy has a natural-looking finish with SPF20 - which is always an added bonus if you've run out of sunscreen.
The cruelty-free and vegan formula also boasts hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and 2% niacinamide, so not only will your skin be red carpet-ready - you'll also treat it with a whole lot of goodness.
Although I found the make-up buy on the thicker side, the end finish was pretty natural - but you can always go heavier to achieve a fuller coverage.
More than an hour of weight-lifting and 30 minutes of cardio later, the foundation had survived and my skin looked just as flawless as it did at the start of the session - despite the excessive sweating.
Sweatproof rating: 5/5