The weather is warming up, and around here that means it’s almost wedding season! For me, I like to step-up my makeup for special events, and be a little more “extra” than usual! 

I enjoy doing my makeup, and it feels like self-care to me when I can take my time doing my makeup for special events. I’ll have a YouTube video playing, or listen to a Podcast, and make sure I’m enjoying my time. 

Start by thinking about what you’re going to wear. If you’re me, last year I wore the same dress multiple ways, and all with different makeup looks! 

Do you want to go for a smokey eye look, or a bright lip color? Try to have a loose plan before you start doing your makeup. Otherwise, the outcome will end up being a total surprise.  

Here are some of the elements I incorporate when I’m doing my makeup for special events!

Smokey Eyes & Neutral Lip

A smokey eye is a super sexy look for a night out, and it doesn’t have to be just black and gray shadows! You can use any shade of eyeshadow. Browns! Pink! Green! Anything goes!

The Tape Trick

A super easy way to do a smokey eye, and without all the mess, is with the tape trick! For the tape trick, you’re going to do your eyeshadow before your foundation, so it doesn’t come off. 

Take two small pieces of tape and put them on the back of your hand to get some of the stickiness off. 

Imagine there’s a line extended from your lower lash line out, and put the piece of tape there. Now you can apply your eyeshadow without worrying about getting it all over, and you’ll have a sharp line when you’re done! 

One of the most important things to remember is blend, blend, blend! You want your eyeshadow to blend seamlessly with the other colors you’re wearing. 

When I’m doing my eye makeup, especially a smokey eye, I use bigger, fluffier brushes with light colors, and then gradually work my way down to using darker colors with smaller brushes. 

How to:

1. Start with a neutral base shadow all over your lid and up through the crease
2. Using a smaller brush with a slightly darker color, put the shadow in your crease and blend
3. Now use an even darker color in the outside of the crease and outer corner of the eye. Use this brush, and the brush you used with the lighter shade to blend everything together
4. If you want to brighten up the look a little bit, use a lighter matte shade on the lid, and blend where it meets the outer edge color. Or, use a shimmer or glitter shade all over the lid!
5. Liner isn’t necessary, but you could use the darkest eyeshadow or a pencil liner to add a little extra definition across the lash line
6. Remove the tape after you’re happy with how everything is blended out, and clean up any fallout under your eyes or outside the line
7. Using a pencil brush and the same shadows, blend some color under your lash line and meet the color up with the outer corner of the eye

Bright Lips & Basic Eyes

The bright lipstick is the standout for this look! Use a lip liner and a liquid lipstick for staying power throughout the entire night, while drinking, eating and dancing!

Starting with the lip liner, define your lip shape. So if you want to overline your lips a little bit (drawing along the outside edge a little bit to make them look bigger), now’s the time! Fill in your lips with the liner too, for extra staying power. 

Apply your liquid lipstick and try to get as close to the edge as possible. And if you go over the line a little bit? No problem! Wait for the lipstick to dry, and grab a small synthetic brush and some concealer to cover up the smudge!

Eyes

When I have bright lipstick on, I keep my eyes neutral so the focus is on my lips! I follow somewhat similar steps as the smokey eye, but with lighter brown shades. 

I like doing a wing liner, because it makes my eyes look big. But you could do a pencil liner just across the lash line, or nothing at all!

Depending on the occasion and outfit, a shimmer or glitter eyeshadow on top would look gorgeous too!

False Lashes

I know false lashes are kind of scary, and I won’t lie, they do take practice. But they add an extra oomph to your makeup, that goes beyond an everyday look!

Get a pair of lashes, lash glue, scissors and tweezers before getting started!

1. Take the lashes off the package, and place them on your eyes to check the length. If they’re too long, snip a little bit off the outside edge, and check the length again. Repeat until you like the length and it fits your eyes. 
2. Put a thin line of glue along the lash band. Make sure you have enough glue at the inner and outer corners of the lashes! 
3. Wait at least a minute for the glue to start drying, so it’s tacky. If the glue is still really wet, it’s not going to stick!
4. Place your mirror lower so you’re looking down at it, this is a much easier angle to apply your lashes
5. Using a pair of tweezers, hold the lashes in the middle and gently place them on your lash line. It’s ok if they’re not in the exact spot you want them to be!
6. Use the tweezers to gently put the outer edge of the lash into place, and then do the inner corner 
7. Wait 5-10 minutes for the glue to dry completely, and apply a layer of mascara to “mesh” your real and false lashes together!

Contouring is also fun to do, and gives you a glamorous look too! If you’re not sure how to contour, check out this post, here!

So are you going to take any of these makeup for special events tips the next time you’re going out? Which ones? Leave a comment below!