5 cool-girl makeup looks to rock on a big date

Look #1: Metallic eyes

Credit: Instagram/tomfordbeauty

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A smoky eye is as classic as it gets and it’s perfect for date nights too. For a glamorous update, up the ante with metallic eyeshadows in hues of pewter, bronze or even gold. Keep it wearable by pairing it with a neutral lip and a touch of peach blusher or bronzer. Not convinced? Just look at American’s sweetheart, Reese Witherspoon, at the 2020 Golden Globes.

Get The Look: Chanel Ombre Premiere Lacque in Rising Sun, Desert Wind and Vastness, $53 each

Credit: Chanel Beauty

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A single layer blended over the lids gives a sheer wash or layered for a deeper iridescent sheen. Best bit? Once applied, it stays. Each is really long-lasting, doesn’t fade, flake or crease, and can even survive being caught off-guard by the rain.

Look #2: Imperfect eyeliner

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Defining the eyes just got a little easier. Forget the cat-eye flick or tight waterlines, open the eyes with a double eyeliner. But instead of the sleek lines that go from the inner to outer corners of the eyes, concentrate only on the outer corners. For an extra dose of glam, add a dab of gold glitter shadow in the space between the two lines for bright-eyed peepers, just like the models did at the Dior Haute Couture 2020 show.

Get The Look: Dior Backstage Custom Eye Palette 001 Universal Neutral, $83

Credit: Sephora

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From shadows to liners, this eye palette has everything you need to achieve any look you want. And here’s our little trick: For a quick and super easy eye-defining liner, just draw two extended lines from the top and bottom lash lines, like two little “wings”, at the outer corners of the eyes. Especially great if you don’t excel at getting perfectly even lines.

Look #3: Cherry red lips

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We have to admit that there’s nothing more alluring than a red lip for a special occasion, and Valentine’s Day is definitely on the list.

For a modern touch, opt for a cherry-red hue or one that has a bit of orange in it for a youthful touch. Pair it with a clean complexion – we love one that also has a subtle lit-from-within glow – and bold brows for a cool girl vibe. Just make sure that you find one with a budge-proof, long-lasting formula so that it survives drinks, dinner and beyond.

Get The Look: Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Amplified Flame Edition RD141 and Rouge Unlimited Matte Glitter Flame Edition OR551, $42 each

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The Amplified version drenches the lips in rich creamy colour. But if you’re looking to spice things up, the Matte lipstick is infused with gold glitter to give lips a dazzling iridescent finish.

Look #4: Twinkle eyes

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Time to sparkle and shine as glitter and shimmer take centrestage on your lids this Valentine’s. Instead of going over-the-top and looking like a disco ball, keep the look soft and subtle. You can go big like the cast of HBO’s hottest show, Euphoria, or you can keep it simple like K-pop idol group, Twice’s Chaeyeon and Dahyun. 

You don’t need to go full-out by decking your eyes with sequins, shimmer and shine. Opt for a wash of lilac or pink, or level-up a perfectly defined eye by adding glitter eyeliner on the lower lash line. Alternatively, dab a little gold glitter on the centre of the lids.

Get The Look: Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in 30 Arabesque, $127

Credit: Sephora

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Four ultra-pigmented shades to help you achieve a multitude of looks. The palette’s buildable eyeshadows blend like a dream and don’t have a glitter fallout, ensuring a longwearing finish. Use dry for a sheer finish or wet to achieve intense, luscious colour.

Look #5: Gloss is back

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Move over matte, gloss is back. Whether it’s a swipe of translucent gloss or a sheen of coral pink or even a crimson pout slick with shine, lips are drenched with shine. Worn alone or over your favourite lip colour, a high-shine gloss can also make the lips appear plump and instantly kissable too.

But gloss isn’t just meant for the lips. Add a dazzling glow to the eyes and cheeks by lightly tapping on a high-shine highlighter to create a luminous finish.

Get The Look: Milani Ludicrous Lip Gloss, $19.50

Credit: Milani Cosmetics

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This gel-like gloss glides on effortlessly and remains super comfortable on the lips too. Its non-tacky finish means that you won’t have to worry about strands of hair sticking to the lips and leaving swipes of colour on the face.

It also contains a blend of polymers to deliver a 3D shine and glossy finish to give the illusion of fuller lips in an instant. Available in 10 high-shine shades.