
Busy days often mean there isn't a lot of time to change your makeup for an evening out. Here are some easy makeup tips for achieving both simple daytime and dramatic evening looks.
The Daytime Look
Regardless of whether you are running errands or going to work, you'll want a simple and fresh makeup look that works well for daytime wear.
Skin: First thing, prepare your skin to achieve a natural glow.
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and follow with a light moisturizer for a dewy, fresh look
- Dot and blend concealer to cover blemishes and any under-eye circles. Use a light hand here — you don't want it to look "caked.
- Either pass on foundation all together or opt for a light dusting of powder on shiny areas
- Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. Again, remember that a light touch is important for day wear. Use just enough to give you a little color. Crème blush is a wonderful option that leaves your skin looking fresh and natural.
Eyes: Lighter shades and simple use of shadow and liner highlight eyes without being too dramatic.
- Curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler and use an eyebrow brush to comb your brows
- Use a light eyeshadow in a neutral color for the lid and brow area of your eye. Add a little bit of a darker shade in the crease of the eyelid. Try not to choose something too dark — you'll want to add emphasis without being overly obvious
- Use a pencil eyeliner to define your eyelid at the lash line. If you opt to do the lower lash line, make sure to put it on very lightly and smudge just a touch with a cotton swab so that it maintains a natural look. Neutral colors work well
Lips: Line and color with a shade that is close to your own lip color for an effortless daytime look. Most women look great with a color that works in the pinky-brown range.
- Use the natural-color lip liner to define your lip line and to color in your lip area as well.
- Add a natural-color lipstick or a little bit of gloss to finish the look.
The Evening Look
Taking your makeup from day to night shouldn't be too difficult as you have already done much of the preparation. You just need to update your makeup accordingly, adding a bit more drama to certain features. Choose either your lips or your eyes as the focal point of a stunning effect.
Skin: You may want to add a little foundation coverage or powder. Nothing too excessive, keep the blush and powder light.
Eyes: To take your eyes to the next level, you'll want to darken the palette, adding more dramatic eyeliner and volume to the lashes.
- Eyeshadow is a great tool to emphasize the eyes for evening. Brush a darker shade over your entire lid and add a lighter one to the area underneath your eyebrows
- Switch to black liner for evening and draw a thicker line. Smudge for a sultry look, or leave intact for additional emphasis. You can also opt for liquid liner, which gives eyes a very intense look
- Use light strokes with a pencil to darken your eyebrows
- Brush on two coats of mascara for long, pretty lashes
Lips: Lip color can make quite an impression in the evening with just a little effort. Tuck a more intense lipstick and liner into your purse for a quick switch to evening makeup. Red is a classic favorite, but there are other options as well.
- Line and fill lips with pencil. Try to keep a steady hand, as intense colors are less forgiving than natural colors if you make a mistake.
- Color with a lipstick in a complementary shade. Reapply as needed to keep your evening look vibrant. If you'll be out for hours, consider a long-wearing lipstick, or apply multiple coats and powder in between. If you prefer an easier look, you can also go with a lip gloss that has a darker hue or try out a dark lipstick with a frost for added glamour.
With emphasis on your eyes or lips in the evening, you can create drama without having to buy and carry around two full sets of makeup. Play up your best features; add a change of hairstyle and earrings and your daytime look is quickly updated for the evening.