What’s your go-to date night makeup look?
These days, if I do anything in particular, it might just be using whatever new products I finished testing but really enjoyed using, so I’ll use them again. I don’t think there’s a specific “look” or even color combination that I gravitate toward these days.
Since I can’t wear a lot of makeup during the workday, I’ll typically use a date night out (or in!) to wear a bold lip–which inevitably gets wiped off at some point haha–and I’ll actually take the time to do my eyeshadow…usually something shimmery!
It depends on where we’re going. Our favorite place is a restaurant/bar that has very warm, very dark lighting, which can affect certain colors. In their lighting, I’ve found that cool colors appear muddy, warm colors pop, and nude shades all but disappear. So my makeup for those nights usually consists of a mild version of a smoky eye (neutral mattes with a pop of gold or champagne shimmer), black eyeliner, and bold red lips. But no matter where we go at night, I like to wear black eyeliner and bold lips (red, fuchsia, or purple).
It depends on where I am going and what I am wearing, but I usually use whatever eye makeup I feel like that particular day and however much sparkle I think I can get away with. I like the Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eyeshadows for occasions where I want some sophisticated glitter.
Foundationwise I use my Guerlain Meteorites Primer (I prefer that one to the L’or, which is also nice, but the meteorites is better) and Lancome Teint Idole, which I can trust to look good all evening.
Lips will most likely be one of the Yves Saint Laurent Tattoos because they last a really long time, and I will top if off either with a neutral gloss or one of the Dior Glosses, which have the best, most subtle, elegant glitter ever.
I know there are many budgetfriendly products which are likely just as good, but I don’t know – when I go out on a date, I expect to be treated like I’m the most precious woman in the world (not a native speaker, so I’m not sure that makes sense in English), and so I like to treat myself like that, too, starting with using lots of luxury products. 🙂
Depends on what activity is on the agenda. If it’s just dinner or drinks, I usually go with balanced eyes and lips, maybe a little extra glowy highlighter, nothing too dramatic.
But if we’re going to a bar or music venue or somewhere dark, I’ll wear more dramatic makeup— false eyelashes, darker lips, darker eyebrows. You just have to use more color for anything to show up in dim lighting.
Just because of how I go about using makeup (as a creative outlet) I rarely am trying to create something I have done before. It certainly happens, but on nights out I feel like it is pretty rare because that is typically when I want to do something even more creative or fun.
I don’t have a go-to look per se, but I usually do an elaborate eye shadow look with 4-5 colors, a peachy pink or light coral blush and light coral lips. Other times I go for a smoky eye with the rest in light colors. It all depends on what outfit I’m wearing, my mood for the day, and what products I feel like using.
Gold highlighter in the inner corner of my eyes, a berry lip stain and bare skin.
I don’t have a go-to look per se as much as I have go-to products. I’m not usually one to be adventurous on a night out, I usually go with a look that’s safe.
For something long wearing I usually go with Marc Jacobs remarcable foundation, tarte blushes, and the highlighter of the moment that I’m loving. Eyes varies with the season, but when in doubt, I always use my HG tartelette in bloom palette. If I’m feeling something a bit more neutral then I usually lean towards my tarte clay play palette. I’m never one for eyeliner (I feel like my eyes are too small and it closes them off), false lashes (never tried them), or a bold lip (date = eating and I hate retouching). I usually will use a nude-ish lip colour that won’t look horrendous if it fades. The few times I have worn a bold lip I usually regret it.
I try to do something different every time, but I have a couple of defaults for when I’m pressed for time or low on creativity.:
1) Pin-up makeup with a matte face, neutral eye look (I pull out UD Naked Basics or their Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette) black winged liner, and red lips (MAC Von Teese, Jeffree Star Redrum, Too Faced Rebel Heart).
2) Either silver/black or purplish-gray smokey eyes (Kat von D Sinner True Romance Palette in Sinner), nude blush, and vampy lips.
It varies based on situation like the location and time of day/night, but almost always involves more berry colors, gold (e.g., shimmer lipstick), clearer / more delineated look (meaning, less all-over neutral and more key features and accenting).
A smoky shimmery (preferably glittery!) look with whatever palette I’m experimenting with at that moment but always with a bold (usually red) lip.
I usually do a smokey eye using a combination of black and silver. In particular I like my Ellis Faas Light Pen in E 301 in Antique Silver which I am currently hoarding as it seems to be out of stock on all the websites I have looked at. I knew I should have picked up a back-up, LOL. I use a light neutral cheek and usually a cool toned red lip. I will use just about any excuse to wear a red lip!! For special occasions I always wear ‘Joy” perfume. It is my favorite memory making perfume!
You mean this one? https://www.meccabeauty.co.nz/ellis-faas/eyelights/V-008798.html?cgpath=brands-ellis
Do I need to go shopping for you again, Deborah? 😉 🙂
If I can’t find it local in Spokane when I go over the weekend I may have to take you up on that offer. It is my holy grail silver shadow as it has an antique silver look, hence the name, Antique Silver, duh Deborah. I also love the Bordeaux Holographic. I will let you know if I can’t find it in Spokane. Thanks, Chris.
What is this magical and romantic thing you speak of; a date night?
It has been forever since I’ve been on a couple’s “date”! *sigh*
But if I the chance presents itself some time soon, I would go with something softly romantic, but not too cute, more sophisticated instead. Not one of my more wild, edgy looks until I knew who is inside, so i can then relax a bit and be myself style wise.
A dramatic gold and berry eye, lots of black liner, curled lashes with a tawny nude blush topped with a little gold or champagne highlighter and a rosy mauve stain on the lips.
I never wear lipstick on dates because a) it’s usually dinner and b) there is usually some canoodling going on 😉
I always go for sparkle and big fluttery eyelashes. My husband loves a dark vampy lipstick as well, but there too much hard work when mixed with food and restaurants, so I usually go for a bright saturated coral or pink instead.
For a night out, I tend to use shimmery eyeshadows and a bold lip – the colours depend on what I am wearing.
For me it’s about glowy (aka highlighted) skin, long lashes and light sheen on the lips in a natural-ish shade. Pretty simple but it’s what makes me feel prettiest. Blame it on coming of age in LA in the 70’s.
I haven’t dated in years, by choice-I really like being single. When I did, I never had one particular date night makeup look.
My SO and I don’t do date night (we both kinda despise going out), but on weekends when we’re together all day I wear my makeup in a way that I know appeals to him more than my M-F looks:
Full foundation (IT CC Cream) and powder with Hourglass Diffused Light; one of any of a number of light golden-brown shadows in a single-color look (from above crease to lower lid, surrounding eye in a semi-circular halo), skin color lower wetline liner, blue mascara (usually Make Up For Ever, but I have the NYX one too and do use it); Fenty Yacht Lyfe as a blush base, one of any number of very neutral blushes over top (usually Benefit Rockateur, but it varies); lip balm. Basically, neutral, almost no-makeup makeup in a way that makes my blue eyes stand out.
I’ll go for a bolder/more glam look if I’m going out alone or with friends, for a date I go as natural as possible, especially for skin/foundation. I try to make it look as good as possible up close and least like makeup, whereas on other occasions I go more bold and play with color more.