Monday 12 January 2015

HOT FOR TEACHER: First Date Makeup


I know it’s hard to believe, but once in a blue moon an actual human man takes it upon himself to ask me out (or I ask him, because I’m a strong independent woman, and all that). Today’s post is all about the look I would go for should this unlikely event actually occur.

This is a look I’d wear for a casual sort of date, lunch or brunch or any sort of daytime thing – for evening I’d maybe go a bit darker with the eyeshadow and add a liquid liner, but this one is very simple and easy, which I’m all about – in that kind of situation, you want to be having a nice time, and not worrying about whether your 18-shade smoky eye has smudged halfway down your face.

I apologise for my scary dead eyes in these photos – when I find a normal facial expression that still makes clear what I’ve done with my makeup, I’ll let you know. Also, between steps one and two, my hair appears to have gone MENTAL.

STEP ONE.
The first step to all makeup looks, ever, is a nice base. I used Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for primer, because it smells incredible and it can’t hurt to have a nice smelling face, can it? Then I went for Nars Sheer Glow foundation (in Deauville), applied with my shiny new Zoeva Silk Finish Brush. I like to use my fancier products for things like this, because it makes me feel a bit more done up even if the overall look I’m going for isn’t super dressy. I also added concealer under my eyes, around my nose and over any blemishes (Maybelline The Eraser in Light and also Clarins Instant Concealer in 01).

STEP TWO.
I didn’t really want to go mad with contouring or anything for this look - I used No7 Instant Radiance Bronzing Highlighter just along my jawline, under my cheekbones and up to my temples just for a bit of colour and definition, and then Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in Rose d’Or, which is a lovely bright pink with a hint of gold in it. For highlighter, I used my new Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Powder, which is a gorgeous peachy gold and gives a really nice, natural glow – kind of a “Hey, have you noticed I’m GLOWING like an ANGEL?” sort of thing.

STEP THREE.
I started off the eyes using a MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre (let’s play “spot the things from Noll’s Christmas haul post”) as a base shadow. Then, I lined my waterline and tightline using Soap & Glory’s Smoulder Kohl in Cocoa Bean. This is waterproof, so you can forget about touch-ups and just get on with being CHARMING and IRRESISTIBLE.






STEP FOUR.
Over the top of that, I added the shade Sin from the Urban Decay Vice3 palette – this is a soft, shimmery peach colour, which I took all over the lid and out to the socket, building up a little more colour in the inner corners. 








STEP FIVE.
Then, I added Honey Pot from the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette over the outer half of the lid. This is a warm, bright gold that’s super lovely especially this time of year, when everything can sometimes look a bit grey – you’re a GLOWING ANGEL, remember? In the crease, I added a tiny bit of Sonic from the Vice3 palette – this is a reddish brown that might not be for everyone depending on skin tone, so maybe play around a bit until you find the combination you like best. Any bronze or brown will work, or even a warm grey if you want a little more drama.

STEP SIX.
Along the lashline, I added Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Smokeout, which is an ashy brown, and smudged it into my lashes using a Real Techniques liner brush. If it’s an evening thing, or somewhere slightly fancier (or if I felt like it; let’s be honest), here’s where I might swap in liquid liner, or even a bit of colour if the mood took me.





STEP SEVEN.
Around the outer third of my upper and lower lashlines, I added some black pencil (Lollipops Eye Pencil in Goodbye Moon) and smudged that in too. If you’re a winged liner sort of girl, you can draw the black liner out with the brush to make a really nice soft wing. You can play around with the shape and direction depending on the shape of your eye, but a little pointed corner generally suits everybody and that’s what I went for.




STEP EIGHT.
I curled my lashes and added one coat of Bourjois Volume1-Seconde mascara and one of Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion (I couldn’t decide). Because this look is very soft with its definition because of the colours and the pencil, the mascara looks extra effective if you really work it into the root by wiggling the brush a little as you apply. This also helps it hold the curl a little (a GLOWING ANGEL with lovely WIDE EYES).




STEP NINE.
Last one! I filled in my eyebrows just a little using Soap & Glory’s Archery pencil in Brownie Points, and then brushed them through to make them look more natural. I set them with Benefit Speed Brow. Again, though, if this was a fancy/evening situation, here’s where I might add a bit more definition just to make the overall look more polished.

And you’re done! Depending on your skin tone, you can switch up the colours until you find your favourites, but I am a firm believer that there’s a gold to suit EVERYONE. After this I would sort out my mad hair, find something to wear that wasn’t a charity shop sweatshirt with the neck cut out, and be on my way.

This look is not worlds apart from how I wear my makeup every day, and that’s on purpose – on a first date with someone you should feel comfortable and confident, so that you can spend the time getting to know the person you’re with. You are excellent and wonderful, remember (and you have GREAT taste in blogs; I’m just saying), and if whoever you’re with doesn’t think so then you can always tell them to piss off and go and be a GLOWING ANGEL around people who appreciate you.

Let me know if you try this out, or what look you usually go for when you go out with actual human men or women!
N x

2 comments:

  1. Your eyes are stunning. xox

    http://www.rainbowsandunicornsblog.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw what a sweet thing to say! Thank you =) N x

      Delete