Night-Out Makeup: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parties and Evenings

Evening makeup lets you play more: intense eyes, a little sparkle, lips with attitude. Artificial light and camera flashes change how makeup looks, so what looks perfect during the day can fall short at night.

Here is how to create a night-out look that looks great in person and in photos.

Day vs. night makeup: the differences

• More intensity: dim light mutes color, so you can turn up your eyeshadow, blush and contour a little.
• More definition: bolder eyeliner and more voluminous lashes.
• Strategic shine: highlighter and metallic shadows stand out under artificial light.
• Longer wear: parties run long, so setting your makeup well is key.

Night-out makeup, step by step

1. Prep your skin and eyes

Moisturize, apply face primer and eyeshadow primer on your lids. If you are doing a dark or glitter eye, do your eyes first so you can easily clean up any fallout.

2. Eyes with depth

1. A warm transition shade in the crease.
2. Dark brown, burgundy or black on the outer corner, blended upward.
3. Metallic shadow or glitter on the center of the lid, applied with your finger or a damp brush.
4. Liner: a wing or a smoky line with a blended pencil.
5. Two coats of mascara or false lashes.

3. Even, long-lasting skin

Use a medium- to full-coverage foundation, ideally long-wear. Apply concealer under the eyes and set well. Avoid sunscreens or powders with lots of white shimmer if you know there will be flash photography, since they can look whitish in photos.

4. Contour, blush and highlighter

Define your contour a bit more than you would during the day, apply blush in intense pinks, berries or terracotta, and highlight the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and your Cupid's bow.

5. Lips

Choose: intense eyes with nude lips, or a softer eye with red or wine lips. For staying power, line, fill in your whole lip with the pencil and apply lipstick on top.

6. Set

Finish with setting spray. If your skin is oily, choose a matte one; if it is dry, a hydrating one.

Night-out look ideas

• Brown smokey eye: softer than black and flattering on almost everyone.
• Gold eye with black liner: elegant for weddings and dinners.
• Glitter glam: perfect for birthdays, New Year's Eve or clubs.
• Classic red lip: with polished skin, a thin liner and lots of mascara.

Pro tips

• Take a flash photo before you leave to check how your makeup looks.
• Bring a touch-up kit: pressed powder, lipstick and blotting papers.
• Choose waterproof mascara if you will be dancing or the venue is hot.
• Do not forget your neck and chest if you are wearing a low-cut dress: a little bronzer or body highlighter ties everything together.

Common mistakes

• Intensifying everything at once: very strong eyes, blush and lips compete with each other.
• Too much powder under the eyes, which can look white with flash.
• Skipping eyeshadow primer and ending up with color creased in the fold.
• Not setting your makeup.

Find it at BeautyRosee

In our makeup collection you will find eyeshadow palettes with dark and metallic shades, gel and liquid eyeliners, false lashes, highlighters, long-wear foundations and setting sprays. Also check out the Kevin & Coco palettes and products from Beauty Creations.

FAQ

Which eyeshadows work for night makeup?

Dark browns, blacks, burgundy, golds and shimmer or glitter shadows all look great under artificial light.

How do I make my makeup last all night?

Use primer and long-wear foundation, set key areas with powder and finish with setting spray. Bring powder and lipstick for touch-ups.

Can I turn my day makeup into a night look?

Yes. Add a dark shadow to the outer corner, intensify your liner, add highlighter and switch to a bolder lipstick.

Bold eyes or bold lips?

The most balanced approach is to pick one as the star, though for glam events you can wear both if you keep your skin simple.

Nighttime is for shining and having fun with makeup. Find everything for your look in our makeup collection.