Okay, let’s be clear—I do not hate makeup. If you saw my bonkers bananas crazy bathroom storage, you’d know that I feel quite the opposite. Like, have you seen the Hermès 24 Faubourg Face & Eye Illuminating Powder or the Pat McGrath Labs MOTHERSHIP XII: Petalmorphosis palette? They’re art, plain and simple. I just don’t love how I look with a ton of makeup on my face. I have strong features (thank you, Dad, for the sharp jawline and big brows) and if I’m not careful I start to look very done, almost stage makeup-y. It’s why I’ve always erred on the side of minimalism with my products. But when I have a date on the books, I of course want to turn my glam up a few notches to make an *impression.*
Through plenty of trial and error, I’ve managed to perfect my date night makeup for people who hate would rather not wear too much makeup but still want to look jaw-droppingly hot. My primary rule for killer date night makeup is to make yourself look as though you’re candlelit the entire evening. That means plenty of highlighter, diffused color, and a bit of sculpting around the eyes to mimic those sultry shadows. I also prefer for everything to look lived-in and a little undone, almost as if you’ve, err, already spent some time with your date in the back corner booth at the bar enjoying each other’s company. Nothing should feel too precious or require constant touch-ups—your attention should ideally be elsewhere!
