Packing your purse to take you from day to night poses a conundrum. Unless you’re an A-list celebrity with an entourage to tote your tote around, you’ll want to keep it to the bare necessities.
I think we’re all in agreement that when it comes to packing your evening bag with cosmetics, less is inevitably more. Unless you fancy sitting down all night babysitting a product-plumped, over-sized handbag that could fit a small dog in it, you will probably want to carry a small handbag or clutch. So when space is at a premium think like a strategist, weighing up the minimum number of tools to turn your look from day to night, with maximum impact.
If you stock your purse or a desk drawer with these items, you’ll never be caught short transitioning from office to evening out. Pare it back to basics but don’t forget to tailor your makeup itinerary to include what works best for you.
The makeup essentials
Illuminate
Daytime makeup should look soft and natural but as the light fades you want your face to glow in its place. Steal the limelight from the candles in restaurants and bars with some illuminating product. This can be a dusting of highlighting loose powder, an illuminiser stick or even an illuminating concealer. Applied to the brow bones under the brows, top of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, inner corners of the eyes, and on the lip contour for added fullness, it will smooth and highlight at the same time. Don’t forget to blend, blend, blend.
Define
Eyeliner is the quickest and easiest way to intensify your eyes. While browns and charcoals cut it in the daytime, we love the strength of black, deep plum/purple or bold slate grey for night. Line the top lashes with either a pencil or liquid liner (extended out with a flourish). If you’re not planning on making your lips a colour feature, line the inner rim of your lower lid, which will draw attention upwards and give the illusion of denser lashes. If you’re seeking to smoulder, smudge liner along the outer corner of the eye at the lash line.
Shadow
Dramatic eyes will never go out of fashion for a night out on the town. If you’re pressed for time and need to transform your day look into an evening look, have no fear. With a few simple alterations, the look of your eyes will turn from droll to doll in no time. For a quick eye colour update, select a shade several shades darker than your day hues. A shimmery or shiny metallic shade adds a dramatic flair while a lusty charcoal gives a sultry stare.
Dab a shadow brush into the medium shadow and tap it on the edge of a counter or sink to get rid of the excess, then apply all over the lid and blend up the crease. Apply the darkest eye shadow in the outer crease of the eye, layering the shadow on a little at a time to intensify the result. You may also like to blend it into the lash line of the lower outer lid.
Highlight the brow bone area by sweeping a shimmery neutral shade from the top of the eyelid up to the underside of the eyebrow. Fashion colours like silver, white and very soft gold are good for this and they also complement most skin tones. Blend so you can’t see a line where one colour ends and the other begins. Finish with a fresh coat of mascara to help make your eyes pop.
Blush
While we all love the coquettish effect of a blushing cheek, we want to avoid looking like an overly made-up doll. Save blush for last when you’ll know if you’re being too free and easy with it. You can choose a deeper or more punchy shade for night as plums and bronzes show up well in dim lighting. However, if you’re going to a well-lit locale stick with a hue that is a slinkier version of your daytime blush. For a fresh appearance, a creme blush blended lightly on the apples of your cheeks and gently smooth upward towards your temple can create a subtle illusion of higher cheekbones. Alternatively, use a stain that will tend to both your lips and your cheeks.
Pout
Nothing steals the show like a perfect pout, so pay heed to dressing your lips for the occasion. For dramatic lips, a richly pigmented red, pink or burgundy lipstick is a makeup bag must. If you’re colour shy, go for a gold or bronze hue to add depth to your lips without being excessive. Don’t forget the matching liner to add some depth to the mouth and enhance your existing lip colour. If you’ve gone for big eyes steer clear of big lips – a coloured gloss or more delicate nude tones overlayed with gloss will leave you subtle yet sexy.
Preen
Turning work hair to evening hair is as simple as product and a comb, no matter what look you’re after. Be aware of what atmosphere you may be exposed to as well. If you are going to be outside, depending on the weather, you may want to carry a small bottle of anti-frizz serum to tame any hair flyaways you may encounter. If it’s windy carry bobby pins to execute a smooth up-do, while hairspray and a teasing comb can help you transform into a sexy bedheaded bombshell in seconds flat.
Tools of the trade
Always carry a compact with a mirror and of course the usual suspects like your identification, money, a credit card and your mobile. Don’t forget the tools you need to complete your itinerary – these may include eyes, lip, cheek and loose powder or bronzer brushes, an eyelash curler or eyebrow comb and makeup sponges. If you are single and ready to mingle, you may want to pack a small compact toothbrush and a small travel size toothpaste.
Stick to the essentials and you should have no problems painting the town a bright shade of red (to match your lips, or course!)
