Looking to update your makeup look before you head out for a night on the town? “A casual date night with your significant other can be the perfect way to experiment with a makeup look, products, or techniques before a wedding, anniversary, or big party,” says Mal Strong, Chicago makeup maven and co-founder of Goldplaited, a finishing salon that she owns with sister Coco. “Test the longevity, take lots of photos in different lighting, and discover which makeup trends flatter your face and which ones just aren’t right for you.” Here are five of the season’s top makeup trends to try now (plus the best natural, eco-friendly products to use) — just in time for Valentine’s Day date night.
Pre-Game With a Sheet Mask
Glowing, hydrating skin is the perfect primer for any makeup look. So whatever look you want to try, prep your skin for success. The Feel Brilliant Bamboo Charcoal Facial Sheet Mask is a favorite, from a brand that is 100 percent cruelty free and made with all natural ingredients. The bamboo fiber mask contains active charcoal to deep clean and purify pores, while simultaneously infusing your face with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid. At Goldplaited, guests can add on a natural botanical RE:FRESH sheet mask before makeup application.
Fresh Face
“Skin is in,” green beauty guru Jenny Duranski of Lena Rose proclaims. “Our skin is the largest organ, so of course when we use products that are nutrient dense and formulated with quality ingredients our skin glows from the inside out.” If you’re taking great care of your skin, show it off by keeping your makeup clean and minimal. At the SAG Awards, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson, and Margot Robbie all rocked light eyes and lips for a dewy fresh-faced glow. RMS Beauty is a favorite green beauty brand that actually heals and nourishes skin with its raw, food grade and organic ingredients. The “Un” Cover-Up is available in eight shades for light, even coverage that’s easy to apply and blend with fingers.
Lady in Red
When you can’t decide on your perfect red, nail technician Skyy Hadley recommends a monochromatic look with various shades of red. “Red nail polish is the ultimate statement of glamour,” she says. “It marks you out as someone who is daring, dramatic, outgoing, and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. Red nail polish is always a classic, and hot color for fall and winter. I like using a variety of different red shades because it’s festive and fun, but at the same time low-key.”
Butter London, Smith & Cult, and Oribe are all “8-free formulas,” meaning they’re free of the worst chemicals normally found in nail polish. Colors like Kundalini Hustle, The Red, Saucy Jack, Knees Up, and Firecracker are all great picks to showcase this trend.
Don’t Shy Away From Shimmer
Mal Strong recommends a soft shimmer to make eyes pop. “A little shimmer brightens and defines the eye without looking like a disco ball,” she explains. “Use a glitter primer to adhere a small amount of shimmer to the inner corner of the eye, the ball of the eye, or in a thin line above your gel liner.” RMS Beauty has sheer metallic eye polishes made with unrefined, organic ingredients.
Bright Purple Eyeshadow
Searches for bright eyeshadow are up 63 percent on Pinterest and Pantone’s 2018 color of the year is ultra violet, described as a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade” that “suggests the mysteries of the cosmos” and “the intrigue of what lies ahead.” So pop the rich royal shade on your lids like Rihanna just did at the Grammys for a confident look that will leave your date wondering where the night will lead. Burt’s Bee’s eyeshadow trio in Countryside Lavender and RMS Beauty’s Enchanted Moonlight swift shadow are pretty purple shades to try.
Time to clear out that makeup drawer to make room for some new products. Be sure to check out our handy guide to where to recycle or donate your empty, used, and unwanted products.
More from Make It Better:
- What Your Hair Says About Your Health
- The Best Face Moisturizers for Dry Winter Skin
- 10 Lazy Beauty Tips That Save You Time for What Really Matters
Amber Gibson spends 340 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Four Seasons Magazine, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, Wine Folly, Plate, Chicago Magazine, Tasting Table and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses. She also admires and supports CAASE in Chicago. Follow her adventures on Instagram and Twitter.
