Makeup tips for that first date
THE other day, I was helping a friend get ready for her first date. After a few outfit changes, she looked at me and asked: “Okay, how should I do my makeup?”
“Go for a natural look,” I told her. A combination of nude and pink lips, a swipe of dusty pink eyeshadow, a thin layer of eyeliner, some blusher and mascara will do the trick.
“You would still want to look like yourself and not like you’re trying too hard,” I assured her.
As my friend was already pretty even without makeup (lucky her), not much work was needed to enhance her beauty.
MEMORY LANE Helping her get ready brought me back to the day when I prepped for my first date with my boyfriend (now husband — I tied the knot recently so I’m just finding an excuse to use the word “husband” every opportunity I get).
I remember feeling confident and satisfied with my makeup for that date because I didn’t try to look like someone else. Back then, I thought I needed to slap on layers of makeup to make me look decent.
So for my first date with my husband, I was determined to take it down a notch.
I blended in some light foundation, added peach-coloured blush, rose pink lipstick and a thin layer of eyeliner. I didn’t even put on eyeshadow. I guess he liked it enough to eventually marry me.
If I were to share my makeup malfunction stories on past dates I’ve been on, you’d be mortified so I’ll save that for my diary.
But I’d like to share some tips when it comes to prepping your face for a first date. Do note that these are based on personal experiences.
CONSIDER THE OCCASION First, be sure to know where your date is taking you. Will it be outdoors or indoors and are there any activities involved? Will it be during the day or at night?
The most important thing is to look “effortlessly beautiful”, and to do that, you will have to prep your face according to the time and place.
Don’t put extra layers of foundation and compact powder for a picnic on a hot day!
RED LIPSTICK
Personally I don’t think girls should opt for red lipstick on a first date. Sure, it’s classy and it brings out confidence but it can come off as though you’re trying too hard.
Perhaps you can save the red shade for another date or a special occasion. First impressions are really important. Go for a shade that’s a little more subtle and that complements your skin tone in a soft and feminine way.
Check out Tarte’s range of Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint or Kat Von D’s range of Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. A cheaper option is SilkyGirl’s Matte Junkie Lip Cream which works just as good.
Wearing matte lipstick would be best to avoid unwanted stains on your teeth. Trust me, I learnt this the hard way.
THE BLUSH
You know how guys always say they like girls who don’t wear makeup? Pfft, we all
Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. Urban Decay Beached Bronzer works like a charm.
A soft shade like this one from Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint range will complement skin tones.
It’s normal to feel nervous and jittery on a first date. Be sure to know what kind of look you want. Try not to opt for a red lipstick on a first date.
know that’s a lie.
What they actually mean is that they like the “no makeup, makeup look”. One way to achieve this is to not wear a blush that’s too obvious. Go for a peachy, earthy blush that will give you a nice, sun-kissed glow. Put a few dabs on the apple of your cheeks and voila!
Check out Laura Mercier’s Cheek Colour Powder. I personally like Urban Decay’s
Beached Bronzer because it gives me that subtle glow I want. The pigmentation is good and the colour stays on the skin for a long time. It works well for both day and night.
SOFT ON THE EYES
This can be tricky. You’d want your eyes to appear alive and not tired but you don’t want to overdo it. Save the smoky eye look for a later date (at night) and go for nice, earthy shades.
BE CONFIDENT
It’s natural to be super nervous and jittery on a first date. The best way to tone that down is to feel satisfied and confident in how you look.
Take charge of how you want your makeup to appear on that special day. I could give you advice and your friends could too but in the end, you have to be comfortable in your own skin.