Day-to-night makeup is about building on what you are already wearing. By late afternoon, a morning base has usually picked up some oil and lost some color. With a few products and ten minutes, you can freshen it and add depth for the evening, without taking everything off.
The idea in one line
Blot first, repair the base lightly, then intensify one or two features.
A small kit to carry
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Blotting papers or tissues | Remove oil without removing makeup |
| Compact powder | Reset the T-zone |
| Concealer | Brighten under the eyes and tidy edges |
| Dark pencil liner (brown, black or plum) | Deepen the eyes |
| Mascara | Add another coat |
| Highlighter or a shimmery eyeshadow stick | Evening glow |
| A bolder lipstick, or a gloss | Change the mood of the look |
| Cotton swabs | Clean up smudges |
Step by step
1. Blot (30 seconds)
Press blotting paper or a tissue onto the forehead, nose and chin. Do not rub. Removing oil first stops the next layers from turning cakey. See Cakey Foundation: Common Causes and Application Tips.
2. Clean up (1 minute)
Use a cotton swab to remove mascara smudges under the eyes and any eyeshadow that has gathered in the crease. Smooth creased concealer with a fingertip.
3. Refresh the base (2 minutes)
- Tap a little concealer under the eyes, around the nose and on any spots that have reappeared.
- Press a small amount of powder on the T-zone.
- If your skin looks dry or flat, mist it lightly, or press a damp sponge over it.
Avoid a full new layer of foundation. It sits badly on top of the old one.
4. Deepen the eyes (3 minutes)
Choose one of these:
- Quick smudge. Draw a dark pencil along the upper lash line and the outer half of the lower lash line, and smudge it with a fingertip or cotton swab.
- Soft smoky. Smudge the pencil up onto the lid and blend the edge. See Smoky Eye Makeup: A Simple Step-by-Step Tutorial.
- A touch of shimmer. Press a metallic eyeshadow or a highlighter stick on the center of the lid.
Then add one more coat of mascara, wiggling the wand at the roots to avoid clumps.
5. Warm and glow (1 minute)
Add a little bronzer or blush to restore color, and tap highlighter onto the tops of the cheekbones.
6. Change the lip (2 minutes)
A deeper or brighter lip changes the whole look.
- Wipe off the daytime color.
- Line and fill the lips if you are going bold.
- Apply the new color in two thin coats, blotting between them. See How to Apply Red Lipstick Neatly for red.
If you have deepened your eyes a lot, a soft lip with a little gloss keeps the balance.
7. Set (30 seconds)
Finish with a mist of setting spray, if you have it. See Setting Powder vs Setting Spray: When to Use Each.
Three quick transformations
| Time you have | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 minutes | Blot, powder, bold lipstick |
| 5 minutes | Blot, concealer, smudged liner, mascara, lipstick |
| 10 minutes | The full routine above, with highlighter |
Hair and details count
A change of hairstyle, a spritz of fragrance or a pair of earrings does as much as makeup. Taking hair down, or smoothing it into a low bun, signals evening straight away.
Common mistakes
- Powdering over oil without blotting.
- Adding foundation on top of foundation.
- Going darker on eyes and lips and cheeks all at once, without stepping back to check.
- Forgetting the lower lash line, so the eyes look top-heavy.
- Using a magnifying mirror in dim light. Check in ordinary light at arm's length.
Plan ahead in the morning
If you know you will be going out, choose a daytime look that converts easily: neutral eyeshadow, a long-wearing base and brows that are already groomed. Everyday Makeup: A Simple Look for Work or College is designed with this in mind.
At the end of the night
Layers of makeup and a long day make thorough removal more important than usual. Take off eye and lip makeup first, then cleanse.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I remove my makeup and start again for the evening?
Not usually. If your base is in reasonable condition, blotting and light touch-ups look fresher and take far less time.
How do I refresh makeup without it looking cakey?
Blot oil first, use concealer only where needed, press powder on lightly and mist or press with a damp sponge to melt the layers together.
What is the fastest way to make day makeup look like evening makeup?
Add a bolder lipstick, or smudge a dark pencil along the lash lines. Either change takes about two minutes.