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14 Date Night Makeup Looks That Are So Easy To Pull Off

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There are plenty of ways to define Date Night: A night on the town with your significant other, a movie night with your besties, shopping with your mom, or even a dinner at home with your favorite person. But regardless of what your plans are, the goal remains the same—to create a makeup look you love that must be seen (whether it’s first-date makeup or a chill night in).

We know it can be easy to fall into a revolving door of the same makeup routine, swiping the same five-pan eyeshadow palette and lip gloss on repeat. So we did a deep dive to serve you some seriously gorgeous (and easy to pull off) makeup ideas. These 14 date-night makeup looks and tips bring on the fun, flirting, and romantic feels so you can star in your own love story, whatever that may be. 

Ready for a laugh? Check out our couple’s makeup challenge now:

1. Strawberry-Stained Lips

Close-up of a model with a glossy eyeshadow and strawberry-stained lips makeup look

Get the Look: Since great makeup starts with plenty of prep, scoop a small amount of HANALEI Sugar Lip Scrub onto your lips and massage in a circular motion to slough off any dead or dry skin. Remove residue with a tissue. Top it off with a lived-in wash of lip color on your lips. Using your finger, apply some GLOSSIER Ultralip Hydrating Shine + Color in Watermelon Red in a patting motion for a stained pout that feels so playful and romantic.

2. Blush, Baby, Blush

Close-up of a smiling model rocking a rose eyeshadow and blush makeup look

Get the Look: Apply a satin-finish foundation and spot-conceal for a glowy base. Dip the IT COSMETICS Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush into your preferred shade from the TARTE tartelette™ blush in bloom Amazonian clay cheek palette(or across all the shades at once for deep and unique color), dust off any excess powder, and swirl the brush directly onto the apples of your cheeks. Then blend outward for a diffused glow. Complete the look by applying a swipe of blush across your lids. Now all you need is someone to flirt with.

3. Pink Smoke

Close-up of a fierce model rocking a pink smoky eyeshadow makeup look and gold tassel earrings

Get the Look: After applying your foundation and grooming your brows, dust the “Big Apple “shade from the MORPHE COSMETICS 9P Petal Passion Artistry Palette on your entire eyelid and brow bone. With your finger, apply “Her” on your entire lid. For a smoky look, use a smudging brush to blend “Love & Lust” into the creases and along the waterline. Finish it off with “Go To” on the inner corners of your eyes, and watch as all eyes land on you.

4. Stiletto Lashes

Close-up of a model with a stiletto lashes and berry lips makeup look

Get the Look: No need for eyeshadow here—this look is all about the statement lashes. Curl your lashes and apply a coat of WANDER BEAUTY Unlashed Volume & Curl Mascara. Holding the wand horizontally, wiggle it at the roots of your lashes and shimmy it to the ends in an upward motion to coat even the shortest lashes. Before the first coat dries, hold the wand upright and use the tip to separate your lashes into sections. Now let your eyes do the talking.

5. Glow Girl

Close-up of a model rocking a glowy natural makeup look

Get the Look: Before applying makeup, melt a dollop of LXMI Pure Nilotica Melt Nourishing Balm-to-Oil between palms and gently massage it onto your face until fully absorbed. Apply makeup as usual. Then, swirl a fluffy brush in every shade of the CLARINS Bronzing Compact and apply onto the high points of your face, starting at your forehead and working to the bridge of your nose, cheeks, and chin. Use the bronzer on eyelids for a subtle shadow and some warmth. To amp up your luminance, apply more balm on your cheekbones, browbones, cupid’s bow, and the bridge of your nose with your finger, and you’ll be good to glow.

6. Go Graphic

Doja Cat rocking a graphic blue and black eyeliner makeup look on the red carpet
Photo by Rich Fury / Staff / Getty Images

Get the Look: Consider graphic eyeliner the LBD of eyeliner trends. It’s crazy cool, makes a bold statement, and is all you need to make your gorgeous eyes pop. Grab a skinny eyeliner brush and a gel-cream eyeliner (feel free to go jet black or play with color here). Start with a thin line from the inner corner of your eye and draw towards the outer, and then flicking up at the corners like you’re creating an exaggerated cat-eye. Now, go back to your inner corner and create an arching line along your crease, connecting your upper wing to your lower wing. Got shaky hands? We all do. Try starting off with dots and connecting them while resting your elbow on a table to help keep steady.

7. Bring Baby Blue Black

Dua Lipa rocking a shimmery baby blue eyeshadow makeup look
Photo by Robin Marchant / Stringer / Getty Images

Get the Look: When it comes to makeup trends, we can’t resist a good throwback. Especially a nostalgic 90’s makeup throwback like this powdery blue hue that’s perfect for a daytime-date-turned-nightcap. Start with a hydrating primer like E.L.F. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer. Then pat on a neutral eyeshadow base with your ring finger. This will help neutralize your skin tone to really make your blue pigment bolder. Lastly, grab a fluffy eyeshadow brush and pack on a sky-blue shadow like OFRA COSMETICS Eyeshadow in Sky Blue. Follow up with a coat of volumizing mascara.

8. Crush the Cat Eye

Millie Bobby Brown rocking a winged eyeliner makeup look with glossy pink lips
Photo by Rich Fury / Staff / Getty Images

Get the Look: Nothing turns up the heat like a romantic, come-hither cat eye. Take some inspiration from cat-eye fanatic Millie Bobby Brown and flaunt a fierce flick that’s flirty AF. Reach for a thin liquid liner pencil like THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Infinity Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner and follow this step-by-step guide to create a flawless, fool-proof wing.

9. Be a Siren

Bella Hadid rocking a clean makeup look paired with bold red lips
Photo by Andreas Rentz / Staff / Getty Images

Get the Look: Make them stop and stare (in a good way) with a bold matte-red lipstick that’s wine-and-dine proof while outlasting even the steamiest of kisses. Prep lips with a hydrating lip balm to prevent your red shade from feathering off into flakes and cracks. Next blot with a blotting paper to soak up excess moisture that can make your lipstick smudge or smear. Once your lips are perfectly prepped and ready, swipe on M·A·C COSMETICS Matte Lipstick in Russian Red for a universally flattering classic look that’ll linger on lips until the wee hours of the night.

10. Get Glass Skin

Close-up of a beautiful woman with clear glass skin and neutral makeup
Svetikd / Getty Images

Get the Look: A quick search for #glassskin on Instagram reveals a lengthy feed of gorgeous, poreless, dewy-skinned faces inspired by the popular K-beauty trend. Glass skin is all about glossy, glowy skin that looks lit from within, showing off your natural beauty and making it the perfect choice for a date night in. While the true glass skin trend is focused on skincare rather than makeup, you can create the look with makeup, too. Start with a rich moisturizer like GLOSSIER Priming Moisturizer. Follow up with a hydrating face mist. Next, reach for an illuminating tinted moisturizer like LAURA MERCIER Tinted Moisturizer Light Revealer Natural Skin Illuminator. Apply to your forehead, cheeks, chin, and t-zone lightly, using a blending sponge. Follow up with a sheer, glossy lip balm. Finally, toss your hair up in a messy bun and admire your glowy self in the mirror.

11. Smoky Eye Show

Zendaya rocking a smoky eyeshadow makeup look paired with glossy nude lips
Photo by Jamie McCarthy / Staff / Getty Images

Get the Look: Want to rock a smoky eye that’ll vibe with any kind of date? Here’s a tip: don’t over complicate it. Instead of reaching for the usual go-to shadows like jet blacks and purple hues, opt for a bronze to create your smoky eye look for a super sultry look that plays well with all date situations. Swipe a bronze eyeshadow across your lids. Then, grab a fluffy shadow brush and smoke out the corners. Add a dot of pale, gold shimmer to the middle of each lid to add some dimension and make your eyes pop. Finish with a lengthening mascara.

12. Bold Underliner

Janelle Monae rocking a bold underliner makeup look and nude lips
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / Getty Images

Get the Look: Getting ready for a fun night out? Whether you’re heading to a party or grabbing dinner with your bestie, a bold and colorful eyeliner look is something you’ll have fun planning any outfit around. Start by lining your upper lids with a black or brown pencil, then blend with a q-tip for a soft, diffused effect. Then, grab a bright eyeliner pencil (we love ARACELI BEAUTY Ojos Perfector Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Turquoise/Turquesa) and trace your lower lash line from the inner to outer corners of your eyes. Focus your mascara on your upper lashes to amplify the pigment on your bottom lids.

13. Embellish a Little

Dua Lipa rocking an embellished eyeliner makeup look
Photo by David Becker / Stringer / Getty Images

Get the Look: One of our favorite things about makeup trends this year is the way that gems, rhinestones, and glitter are everywhere. From eyes to cheeks, to lips, and hair, we all have the right to sparkle, so do it anywhere you wish. Add some small rhinestones to your inner eyes, outer corners, or along your brow bone for a look that’s uniquely you and sure to stun. You can even skip the eye makeup and let your gems shine for themselves.

14. Monochromatic Makeup

Kirsten Dunst rocking a monochromatic makeup look on the red carpet
Photo by Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images

Get the Look: There’s something about a monochromatic makeup look that’s just downright gorgeous. Using the same color palette for your eyes, cheeks, and lips is one of the best makeup techniques that makeup artists have been using for years. Grab a hydrating lipstick in your favorite orange shade and swipe it on your lids, blending it out onto the apples of your cheeks with your finger. Then layer it over your lips, adding on the layers for more intensity, and voila—you have yourself a romantic look that’s perfect for any date night.

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About the author
Runa Rhattacharya
Runa Bhattacharya
Runa is an NYC-based writer and Registered Nurse with over 8 years of experience covering beauty and wellness. She’s worked for publications like SELF, Cosmopolitan, and more. She’s passionate about beauty, science, and two careers that she loves!
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Article Last Updated June 30, 2022 12:00 AM