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Date Night Beauty: The Best Beauty Tips for the Perfect Makeup Look
Whether it’s your first date with someone new or you and your partner’s weekly date night, getting glammed up for a special dinner date and drinks always feels like a treat.
Occasion makeup can be a tricky one; of course, you want to look like yourself but, perhaps, an elevated version of yourself? Not only does the date night makeup look itself need to have the wow factor, but it also needs to last through a three-course meal, drinks and (hopefully) hours of fun conversation.
So, what are the beauty products that cut for such a glam look? I’m here to share all my favourite date-night prep tips and the products you’re going to need to create your glam date night look.
My Favourite Date Night Makeup and Skincare Products
Although I love testing out new beauty products at every chance, when I want my makeup to look perfect, I like to keep things simple and go with products that I know will work and look great.
It all comes down to three things: glowing skin, a strong brow and long lashes — easy peasy.
Here are some of the makeup products I trust always to look great, last all night, and secure you a next date (if you want one):
Dr Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment
If there was a counter on the number of times I mentioned a product on Volumes of Beauty, I think this Colour Correcting Treatment from Dr Jart would probably be the highest.
It’s a green paste that, when warmed up in your fingers, blends into your skin, evens out your complexion and magically neutralises any redness. On my casual days, I’ll use this alone as my base, but if I want my makeup to be flawless, I’ll start with this before foundation.
VIEVE Skin Highlighter – Nova
I spent most of my teenage years and early 20s caking myself in powder and wondering why my face always looked so flat and dull. It turns out that a bit of radiance makes you look way healthier.
I like adding radiance to my complexion as soon as possible, so I’ll use the VIEVE Skin Highlighter in Nova as a primer. I saw a celebrity makeup artist use this and loved the natural, dewy glow it gave the skin with the slightest tint of colour. If you like a glow, you’ll want to try this product.
GLOSSIER Stretch Fluid Foundation
I haven’t been the closest follower of Glossier in recent years, but one launch that got me excited was the Stretch Fluid Foundation. I haven’t heard people talk about it much since it was released a couple of years ago, but it’s still my favourite foundation (and I’ve got backups waiting for when I finish my current bottle).
It’s a skin-like finish with just the right amount of coverage to even out my complexion without looking like I’m obviously wearing makeup. Every time I use this foundation, I wonder why I would ever choose anything else.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
Heavy concealers are no longer my thing anymore, but the dark circles aren’t going to cover themselves. The Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer is an excellent option for those who want coverage but in a lightweight formula that doesn’t look dry or cling to fine lines.
It’s made with a bunch of skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vegan collagen, glow peptide and vitamin C, which would explain why I’ve never had a problem with it looking dry and cakey.
Jones Road The Bronzer
I like the idea of a lot of Jones Road products, but in practice, none of them have excited me. I wanted to love the Miracle Balm, but the shade I had was too sticky and contained chunky glitter, although this may be a wrong colour choice (some of the other shades don’t seem to be so full of glitter).
However, one product I do love is The Bronzer, albeit in a not-so-bronze shade. The lightest shade of the powder bronzers is Dusty Rose, which looks like more of a blush than a bronzer. Although it is most definitely a blush, it has the same warmth of a bronzer, without the orange tinge (which makes it perfect for warming up pale skin tones). Even though it’s not your classic bronzer shade, it warms up my complexion and gives me a healthy glow; who needs bronzer anyway?
L’Oréal Paris Lumi Les Glass Sticks
These are one of L’Oréal’s newer launches, and I am already in love with the shade Pink Ballet, a translucent rosy pink. It reminds me very much of the stick version of Glossier’s Futuredew (which I also love) but with a bit more colour and shimmer. I’m always drawn to highlighters with a balmy texture, as they provide a much more natural glow to the skin.
ELF Brow Lift
I have naturally thick, dark brows, so finding something that makes them stay put for longer than a few minutes is a tall order. I’ve tried the newer, waxier brow products on the market, but I keep returning to the ELF Brow Lift. It’s affordable, doesn’t leave a weird white residue on the brows and keeps my brows in place pretty much all day.
Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara
Another firm favourite around these parts is the Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara. I have tried countless other mascaras since discovering this to find a dupe, but so far, nothing has come close.
This mascara lengthens each lash, adds volume without making my lashes look clumpy, and separates them perfectly. I wouldn’t say it’s a false-lash effect necessarily, but I will say that when I wear it, I almost always get complimented on how good my lashes are — make of that what you will.
Saie Glossybounce High-Shine Hydrating Lip Gloss Oil
You may have been expecting me to talk about a liquid lipstick or some other long-lasting lip colour, but when I’m heading out for the evening, I would much rather have a lip product that gracefully fades away. I don’t want to worry about lipstick smearing across my face or heading to the bathroom for touch-ups, so instead, I’ll use a touch of lip liner and a gloss.
With all the different lip oils, I think the Saie Glossybounce is my favourite. I have the shade Bounce, a rosy pink shade that resembles my natural lip colour. It’s nice and glossy, comfortable on the lips, and wears off nicely – plus, I can reapply it without the help of a mirror.
Makeup Tips for a First Date Look
You may have all the best makeup products, but I believe great makeup is 50% product and 50% technique. There’s a reason why your makeup doesn’t look the same as a makeup artist’s, even when you use the same products!
I’ve rounded up my best advice so you can achieve perfect makeup for your date:
1. Skin prep is everything
If you’re not prepping your skin before makeup, it won’t turn out looking great. Get your skincare routine sorted and focus on hydration so your skin is soft and smooth before rummaging through your makeup bag.
You can use a serum, like hyaluronic acid, to moisturize your skin and don’t forget to let each skincare product sit on your skin before going in with the next.
2. Put lip balm on straight away
I always put on lip balm as I start my makeup; by the time I’m ready to use lip liner/lipstick/gloss, my lips feel super smooth and it ensures that lip products don’t cling to any dry patches.
3. Use thin layers of foundation and concealer, then build up where needed
Less is more with complexion products, so start with a small amount of product and then layer up coverage where you need it. It’s not just about saving your expensive products, but it will also help you achieve a naturally flawless base.
4. Use a setting spray between each step if you want seriously long-lasting makeup
Does your makeup need to stay on all night? A quick spritz of setting spray as the finishing touch isn’t going to cut it. For seriously long-lasting makeup, spritz your face between each step to lock it in (but maybe not after eyeliner and mascara; spraying at this stage may do the opposite of keeping them in place).
5. Removing your makeup properly is just as important as applying it
No matter where the night takes you, I hope you remove your makeup properly. A double cleanse is especially important when wearing a full face of makeup to remove every last scrap of product (look back at previous posts to find out what my favourite cleansers are).
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