When February 14 rolls around, you want to be looking your beauty best. Whether it’s a casual movie as a first date, an outdoorsy lunch with someone you’ve been seeing but haven’t quite figured it all out yet, or a quiet night in with your long-term partner, you want to be looking that little bit hotter than usual without coming on too strong.
Scroll through our tricks of the trade below, so they won’t be able to resist you. No matter the activity, we’ve got you covered.
The hot date
If you’ve got plans for the nighttime, it’s the perfect chance to get in the spirit and sport a sexy red lip. After all, it’s Valentine’s Day! Just be sure to keep blush and eye makeup to a minimum so you don’t scare the poor guy. And if he tries to kiss you? No fear, girlfriend. We suggest you opt for a resilient lippy, like ModelCo’s Party Proof Lipstick ($18) in Red Velvet. It’s kiss proof, drink proof, party proof promise means you don’t have to bat a perfectly mascara’d eyelid over a bit of harmless pashing.
The outdoorsy date
Fun and adventurous dates might seem like an easy one when it comes to makeup, but things can go forgotten and turn your day out into a date from hell. Sunscreen, for example. You don’t want to wind up looking like a cooked lobster when the sun goes down, especially when things were going so well up until that point. Cancer Council Australia’s Ultra roll-on 75ml ($10.95) is the perfect choice, so you can keep it in your handbag and reapply throughout the day.
While you’re at it, find a foundation that has in-built SPF so you can keep the beauty side of things at bay. Revlon ColorStay Natural Makeup ($33.69) is a good one, with SPF 20+ and provides lightweight, medium coverage that won’t rub off during your activities.
Photo: Getty
The all-day, all-night and all-morning date
Dates that never end can be the best kind of dates, if you don’t have to freak out about your makeup throughout. Given that Valentine’s Day is on a weekend this year, the possibility of a 24 hour-plus date isn’t so unlikely. Be prepared, because just bringing along your sunglasses won’t cut it (although they definitely help)!
We’re loving the Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Power ($69), which not only gives you nice matte skin, it has an in-built mirror and sponge for sneaky touch-ups. Mascara is your other essential, so get one that volumises your lashes so you look effortlessly amazing but is also waterproof and long lasting. The Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara ($52) is a lifesaver.
The staying-in date
Just because you might have decided to give the extravagant date thing a miss this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t get dolled up for your other half. We’re not suggesting smoky eyes or anything like that, though. We’d suggest a clean look with only minimal makeup, like a tinted moisturiser.
You can also show him you’ve gone to the effort with smaller things like a mani pedi, or a hair change. People out about town don’t have to have all the fun, and a small change will put you in the right mindset for your loved one.
