Five Steps to Make-up For a Romantic Night Out

Step One: Skin

It feels safe to apply loads of base if you’re concerned with complexion perfection, but rather than thinking blanket coverage, conceal only what you need to. After you’ve cleaned and moisturised your skin, dispense a small pump of your foundation onto the back of your hand (this acts as a palette) and using clean fingers, a triangular make-up sponge or a foundation brush, blend it in little by little. The trick means you apply more where you need it (to even out any patchy areas for instance) and less where you don’t.
Tip: Work from the middle of your face outwards making sure your foundation is properly blended into your skin so no lines around your hairline or jaw are visible.

Step Two: Eyes

For date night, we recommend you go with team eyes rather than a racy loud pout (yes, we’re thinking of that goodnight kiss). Choose sexy shimmery shadows and lots of mascara. Pick a neutral toned eye shadow (one that’s close to your own skin tone) with a sheeny texture (beige gold for paler skins and bronze and warm chocolate for darker skins), and wash your lids in colour. A ‘washing’ technique means you are blending the colour over your lids rather than patting it in which will give you a more opaque look. Wash the colour over your entire lid area, stopping at the crease. Next, line your top lash line in a metallic textured eye pencil (tight against your lashes from your inner to outer corners of your eye). Blondes look pretty with chocolate liner while girls with darker hair and complexions can pull of jet black with a metallic sheen – stay away from anything too glittery though. Last step is loads of mascara to give your lashes definition and length (try Bobbi Brown’s Extreme Party Mascara in Black, R285).

Step Three: Cheeks

Your cheek colour should always follow your eye make-up, says make-up artist Algria Ferreira. This is because if you’re painting a slightly strong eye, then you’ll only need a bit of colour on cheekbones or just a touch of bronzer, she says. Peachy-pink blush gives skin an instant wake-up call, while bronzer adds sun-kissed colour and warmth to the skin.

Step Four: Lips

Keep your mouth sexy but toned down because a bright coloured lipstick means re-application after eating and drinking. Bump up your natural lip colour by about two shades (this will help you choose the right hue for you) and stick to textures that aren’t too glossy nor too matt. We recommend a colour balm stick – try Clinique’s Chubby Sticks (R195 each) that come in a range of pretty shades. And all you need do is fill in your lips with the over-sized crayon and then top up your colour if you need to.

Step Five: Set your make-up

Spritzing your skin with facial spray to set your make-up (and give your skin a dewy look) completes your date night face (try MAC’s Fix+ Spray, R180 for 100ml). It also helps to boost radiance – and who doesn’t love a little extra glow?!