A black tie dinner, the races, a fortieth, a big night out: these are the nights when it is hardest to get your own makeup right. Evening makeup has a lot to survive, from candlelight to camera flash to dancing in a warm room.
Evening light is different
Daytime makeup is made for daylight, which shows everything. Evening light is warmer and softer, so you can wear more definition without it looking heavy, and camera flash will flatten anything too subtle.
- A little more contour and blush than you would wear in the day.
- A deeper eye, or a bolder lip, but usually not both.
- Shimmer on the lids and the high points of the cheeks, kept away from the forehead.
Choose one feature
The most elegant evening looks have one hero: a smoky eye with a soft lip, or a red lip with soft, defined eyes. Bring a photo of your outfit and tell me which feature you love on yourself, and we build around it.
Skin that lasts
- Prep is what keeps a base fresh into the evening, so I start with skincare before anything else.
- A satin finish base photographs better than very matte or very dewy.
- A light setting spray at the end helps everything last through a warm room.
A lip that survives dinner
- A lip liner all over the lips before the lipstick gives colour something to hold on to.
- Blot, add another layer, blot again.
- Pack the lipstick. A long night needs one top-up after dinner.
What to pack
- Your lipstick and lip liner
- Blotting papers or a pressed powder
- A cotton bud for under the eyes
- Plasters for your heels, because no makeup survives sore feet
The races and daytime events
Outdoor events in daylight need a lighter base and a little more sun protection, and the wind will find any loose powder. Soft, defined eyes and a lip that lasts work well from the paddock to the evening.
Booking occasion makeup
Occasion makeup happens at my studio in Bingham, just outside Nottingham, or at yours by quote. Your appointment is booked once it is paid. Wedding guests are welcome on weekdays; weekends are kept for my brides.
There is more on my services page, or send me the date and the occasion.