Moving to Southwest Florida has had me thinking about a lot of practical things — and one of them, honestly, is my hair and makeup. Not because I’m particularly high maintenance about either, but because I know from our years of visiting Florida that humidity is a completely different beast than anything I deal with in Minnesota. My hair frizzes on a regular Minnesota day. I can only imagine what a Florida summer is going to do to it.
We’re also planning to spend so much more time outside than we do now — at the pool, at the beach, at the park, just living in the warm air that is one of the biggest reasons we made this move. I want to feel like myself in that life. Not overdone, not fussy — just put together enough that I feel good. And figuring out what products will actually hold up in heat and humidity before we arrive felt like a genuinely useful thing to do.
So here’s what I’ve landed on — what I’m keeping from my current routine, what I’m swapping, and what I’m adding specifically for Florida life.
The Hair Situation
My hair is wavy and frizzy — medium thickness, and genuinely prone to frizz even when I’ve just blow dried and curled it. In Minnesota humidity that’s manageable. In Florida humidity, without the right products, it’s going to be a whole different situation.
Here’s what I’m working with and what I’m adding.
What I’m Keeping: Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
The Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is already in my routine and it’s staying. It’s a heat-activated spray that goes on before you blow dry and essentially seals the hair shaft against moisture — creating what the brand calls an invisible cloak that keeps humidity out for up to three shampoos. It’s genuinely one of the most effective anti-humidity products available and consistently comes up as the top recommendation from hairstylists for humid climates. For wavy, frizzy hair in Florida, this is non-negotiable.
What I’m Keeping: The Dyson Airstrait
The Dyson Airstrait has been one of the best hair investments I’ve ever made. It straightens and smooths wet hair as you style it — without extreme heat — which means less damage and a genuinely polished result in a fraction of the time of a traditional blowout. As a busy mom, the speed and ease of it is everything. And the smoothing effect it creates is exactly what frizzy hair needs before heading into humidity.
What I’m Adding: Oribe Impereable Anti-Humidity Spray
The Oribe Impereable Anti-Humidity Spray is going straight into my routine. It’s consistently called one of the best anti-humidity finishing sprays available — and specifically by people who have tested it in Florida humidity, which matters. It goes on after styling as a finishing layer that creates a barrier between your hair and the moisture in the air. People who have moved from northern climates to Florida specifically call this one out as the product that finally made a difference. That’s the kind of endorsement I trust.
What I’m Adding: A Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner
Sulfate-free products are genuinely important in humid climates because sulfates strip the natural oils from your hair, leaving it drier and more prone to frizz. Switching to a clean, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner helps keep hair moisturized and smoother in a way that makes anti-humidity styling products work better. No Frizz by Living Proof is the perfect choice.
What I’m Adding: A Leave-In Conditioner
For wavy hair in a humid climate, a lightweight leave-in conditioner applied before styling is one of the most effective things you can do for frizz prevention. It adds moisture before your hair has a chance to absorb humidity from the air — which is exactly what causes frizz in the first place. Ouidad All-In-One Leave-In Conditioner is recommended for all hair types.
The Makeup Situation
My everyday makeup routine is already pretty minimal — which is genuinely good news for Florida. Heavy makeup in heat and humidity is a recipe for melting, and the lightweight, skincare-forward approach I already take is much better suited to a warm climate than a full coverage routine would be. That said, there are a few strategic additions and swaps worth making.
What I’m Keeping: My Typology Routine
My current routine is actually really well-suited to humidity. Lightweight, skincare-forward, minimal coverage. None of it is heavy or likely to melt. I wrote about this full 5-minute makeup routine in detail here. The one thing I’ll watch is the Tinted Serum in high heat — a dewy finish can look a little more dewy than intended in humidity. If that becomes an issue I’ll add a light setting powder specifically under the eyes and on the T-zone to control shine without changing the overall finish.
What I’m Adding: A Setting Spray
This is the single most impactful addition you can make to a makeup routine for humid weather, and it’s genuinely one of those products I can’t believe I didn’t use sooner. A good setting spray locks everything in place and creates a barrier between your makeup and the moisture in the air.
The Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is consistently the most recommended setting spray for hot and humid climates — it has a patented temperature control formula and promises up to 16 hours of wear. It’s the one product people who live in Florida consistently call out as essential, and I’m adding it immediately.
What I’m Adding: A Waterproof Mascara
My Typology Serum Mascara is wonderful for everyday life, but for days when we’re at the pool or the beach or in genuine heat, a waterproof mascara is a much smarter choice. The Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara is one of the most consistently well-reviewed waterproof mascaras available — buildable, voluminous, and genuinely waterproof rather than just water-resistant.
What I’m Adding: A Mattifying Primer for High-Heat Days
On days when we’re going to be outside for extended periods — at the beach, at the community pool, at an outdoor event — adding a mattifying primer under my Tinted Serum will help control oil and extend wear significantly. The e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer is a genuinely excellent affordable option that grips makeup beautifully and controls shine throughout the day.
What I’m Swapping: Lip Oil for a Tinted Lip Balm on Beach Days
My Typology Tinted Lip Oil is perfect for everyday life, but on beach and pool days I’ll swap it for a tinted lip balm with SPF — something that protects as well as adds color and stays on through water and sun. The Supergoop Play Lip Balm SPF 30 is one of my favorites for exactly this.
The One Thing That Matters Most
More than any specific product, the thing that matters most in a humid climate is lightness. Light layers of skincare. Light coverage makeup. Products that work with your skin and your hair rather than fighting the environment. The more you try to pile on in heat and humidity, the more there is to melt, to frizz, to feel heavy and uncomfortable.
My goal for Florida is feeling like myself in an active, outdoor life — comfortable, not overdone, and not spending my mornings fighting my own hair. These products are how I’m planning to get there. I’ll be sharing updates on what’s actually working once we’re settled in, so follow along on Instagram at @kellyzugay for real-time updates from Southwest Florida.
