Last week we set out to find a makeup routine that could be done easily in the morning with only five minutes. The end result was a fresh, but not too minimal, look that would be perfect for work, school, or just a day running errands. As rushed as we often are in the morning, sometimes we’re just as rushed at night. Whether you’re going to a formal event or a casual dinner date, it’s nice to have a heavier, more dramatic makeup look for the evening, so here are a few tips that can take you into the night without having to completely reapply your makeup:
0:00 – 1:00 – If you ran with the 5 minute morning makeup routine, you should have a pretty good base of tinted moisturizer and concealer. If you have acne or other more severe skin problems, take a cleansing wipe and remove the makeup from the area with the blemishes. I find that rather than packing on more makeup at night, it’s faster and more efficient to reapply concealer on clean skin. If you don’t need to reapply completely, use this time to touch up any areas of your base that may have worn off or smudged during the day.
1:00 – 2:00 – Take the eyeshadow pencil you used in the morning, Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-on $20, and build a heavier color base around the top and bottom of your lash line blending as you go. It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing this with a subtle taupe or a dramatic forest green, the added color will automatically step up your look. If you want more added definition, take a dark kohl liner and apply it to the waterline and into the lash line. A gel liner applied on top of your shadow can also add definition but it takes a practiced hand to do it on the fly.
2:00 – 3:00 – Your lashes should be in pretty good shape unless you spent the day chopping onions or dealing with allergies, so more mascara isn’t always necessary. If you want your look to pop, try applying one or two individual false lashes such as Make Up For Ever’s Individuals $19 just to the outer corner of your eye. This will only take a few seconds and can add some serious drama to your look. Don’t be scared of false lashes, they’re easier to apply than you think.
3:00 – 4:00 – Lipstick is the easiest way to step up your makeup look so choose a rich, dramatic shade in a formulation that will last all night long such as NARS’ Pure Matte Lipstick $25. Apply one coat to clean lips and blot off the excess with a tissue. This will create a solid base for your second coat and make your lipstick stay in place for hours.
4:00 – 5:00 – Take a quick look over your face and make sure that your eyes are symmetrical and you’ve not missed any areas. Should you look tired or haggard from the day, a light-reflecting pen applied strategically under the eyes can hide any flaws. Finish with a makeup sealing spray such as Urban Decay’s All Nighter $11 and you’ll have a flawless face all night long.
Photos: IMAXtree
