Your foundation might survive brunch, but at sunrise in Grenada—when feathers, sequins, and soca fill the streets—Carnival makeup has to last until the next sunrise. That kind of staying power is no accident. It’s the work of Caribbean makeup artists like Grenada’s Tanie Layne, who books up a year in advance for Spicemas, the island’s 12-day celebration, where Carnival Tuesday is the main event.
“Many of them are repeat customers,” says the self-taught artist, whose clients include Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams, soca icons Destra Garcia and Alison Hinds, and publicist Yvette Noel-Schure (yes, Beyoncé’s publicist). This year, she’ll see about 60 people over just a few days, and around 30 percent of her annual income comes from Carnival season.
While most masqueraders are thinking about costumes and the latest soca hits, Layne is focused on one thing: making sure their makeup lasts from sunrise fetes to midnight parades. “Carnival makeup artistry does not get the recognition that it deserves in the global beauty industry, and we have a long way to go,” she says.
Carnival is big business in the Caribbean, generating millions in revenue and visitors each year. In the seven days leading up to Carnival, the Grenada Tourism Board reports a 33.3 percent increase in international visitors this year compared to 2023. The season kicks off with Saint Kitts Sugar Mas in mid-November and continues into early January, but Trinidad’s February celebration really sets the tone for the year. No matter the island, one thing stays the same: the demand for glam that doesn’t budge.
If it can survive Carnival, it can survive anything—weddings, festivals, and yes, even August in the NYC subway. Ahead, three Caribbean makeup artists share their must-have tips, products, and pro tricks to achieve a sweat-proof, transfer-proof look that lasts all day (and all night).
Start with Skin Prep
“Makeup always stays better on skin that’s been well prepped,” says Melissa Deane, a Trinidad-based makeup artist with over a decade experience. She tells clients to cleanse, tone, treat (with a targeted serum), moisturize, and apply SPF daily.
Making sure your skin is adequately moisturized is key for helping your makeup sit smoothly. Layne recommends a hydrating face mask, like Dr. Althea Aqua Blue Hydration Mask, before going in with your base makeup. Kai Forde, owner of Simply Beautiful studio in St. James, Trinidad, also recommends drinking plenty of water to hydrate the skin from the inside out.
Clean skin is a must prior to makeup, so reach for a gentle cleanser—yes, even for acne-prone skin. La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser is a go-to option. Follow with a hydrating toner, like TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner and a serum rich in humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin. This helps to keep your skin supple and plump, allowing your makeup to lay more smoothly and evenly. Deane swears by Embroylisse Lait-Créme Concentré because “it adds hydration without feeling heavy.” She notes that there’s also a matte version, which is great for oily skin.
Layne adjusts the moisturizer to account for skin type: “Use a formula that’s water-based for oily skin, like Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water Gel Moisturizer, and oil-based for dry skin—my go-to is Nivea Creme. It’s a water-in-oil emulsion that deeply hydrates.” As for the best SPF, choose a lightweight, no-white-cast formula, SPF50+, like IT Cosmetics Hello Sunshine Invisible Hydrating Serum Sunscreen SPF50, to protect the skin during a daytime celebration.
The final (and most important) prep step is primer. For mature, dry skin, Layne doubles up on primers, and uses a hydrating formula around the eye area and by the nose “where makeup is more prone to separate in the heat.” However, Layne shares a secret Carnival priming tip: calamine lotion. “It gives you a matte finish and also helps if you have any type of irritation.” She applies it lightly and evenly with a brush, focusing on the t-zone. “I’ve tried other primers but nothing else really gives me that long-wear. Living in the Caribbean, it’s very hot, and this keeps your makeup from slipping.” When she doesn’t use calamine lotion, Layne turns to One/Size Secure The Blur Makeup Magnet Primer, adding that “not only does it grip your makeup, you instantly see the difference on textured skin.”
The Carnival Product Playbook
- All three artists start with eyes. Layne suggests using an eye primer and prefers MAC Prep + Prime 24 Hour Extend Eye Base, but when it’s hard to find in the Caribbean, she swaps in L.A. Girl Lightweight HD Pro Creamy Concealer, “it really doesn’t move and keeps your eye makeup in place.” Deane likes Too Faced Eye Shadow Primer for glitter-heavy looks. Pat eyeshadow onto the lids versus swiping for better pay-off and stick to powders in hot weather. Layne’s go-tos include Juvia’s Place Culture and Culture 2 palettes because they are highly pigmented and look great across skin tones. She calls Pat McGrath Labs Eyeshadow Palettes her “holy grail.”
- For eyeliner, Deane uses Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner in Perversion, “it’s very dark, very long-wearing, and great for a smoky eye.” She also likes Inglot AMC Eye Liner Gel in 77, noting that “it won’t come off unless you use eye makeup remover.”
- Before foundation, Layne applies Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer and color corrector only if needed. Let the concealer dry slightly, then pat in for maximum coverage. If you see any lines, use a concealer brush and buff up and out to remove them.
- For foundation, Layne uses NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation while Deane likes the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation. Many Caribbean makeup artists swear by Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation. Application matters most—Layne recommends pressing the foundation into skin with a sponge or stippling brush instead of swiping to avoid streaks and caking.
- For Deane, blush is all about dimension. She builds color with a cream base—either Pat McGrath Legendary Glow Color Balm or Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Blush—then adds a sweep of Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush for a soft-focus finish that lasts.
- After your “base face,” lock it in with setting spray to help makeup withstand heat and humidity. Deane mists MAC Prep and Prime Fix Setting Spray with a brush for a lighter, more even finish. Once it’s fully dry, Layne uses a “triangular sponge to layer powder for maximum coverage.” Deane then sets the undereyes and T-zone with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, and seals everything with a theater-grade setting spray like Kryolan Fixing Spray or Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Setting Spray. Don’t be afraid to be heavy handed with the setting spray, let it dry completely, and use a mini fan to help speed up the process.
Even with the best prep, Carnival conditions can test your glam. Heavy humidity and scorching temperatures are going to put the pressure on your most long-lasting formulas. Deane warns against heavy powdering: “Too much powder makes the makeup look cakey.” For a long-lasting, flawless look, layer lightly and build.
Expert Tips for Long-Lasting Makeup
Forde’s best tip for makeup that looks flawless for hours, regardless of the heat? Never wipe away sweat. “Pat your face or use a personal fan,” she says. “Fan drying is the most effective means of keeping your makeup in place.”
Just remember—looking good on the road is part of the Carnival experience. “It instills a sense of confidence that sets the day right,” says Forde.
“Historically, makeup was reserved for the Queens of the bands, but now with social media, everyone wants their makeup done,” adds Deane. Knowing how to prolong your makeup look like a pro will allow you to focus on the joy of the day. But Carnival glam is about more than longevity; it’s about showing up fully and being present in the moment. You’re not supposed to be worrying about if your makeup is slipping off your face—and with these tips and tricks, it won’t! So test them out, and you might just find that your glam can go the distance, even in boiling temperatures and while celebrating the night away.
