Seeing as Spring will probably creep up on us in a flash, I'm trying to create as many warm, smokey eyes as possible, before the usual pastel tones take over. Wearing a bold lip with colour on the eyes isn't for everyone, but I love it for when I'm going out-out. Now that I'm not such a spring chicken, going for dinner and drinks is all I can hack, without the next day being a total write-off. So, I tend to go all out with my makeup, even if I'm not planning to hit the clubs.

For my base, I started with the Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer, which preps the skin, leaving a smooth, matte canvas ready for foundation. On top of that, I buffed in a drop of the Clinique Even Better Foundation with the fluffy, Real Techniques Cheek Brush from the Nic's Picks Set. Giving a dewy, glowing finish, it has a medium coverage that doesn't look heavy. A skincare and makeup hybrid, this base is meant to improve the look of hyper-pigmentation and brighten the complexion, with regular use. It does contain spf 15, but I wasn't planning on having any photographs taken, so I wasn't worried about flashback. I have done a full review of it, if you want to read more of an in-depth low-down. Under my eyes and around my nose, I dabbed some of my holy-grail, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and blended it in with the Real Techniques Contour Brush, which is one of my favourites for concealer. 

To tone down any excess shine across my T-zone, I dusted some of the Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot Powder, which is weightless and totally translucent, so it suits all skin tones without ever looking ashy. As I planned to make both my eyes and lips quite dramatic, I wanted to keep the cheeks quite plain. I applied a gentle sweeping of The Body Shop Honey Matte Bronzer underneath my cheekbones and around my hairline for some subtle contouring and then made sure it was properly blended with the brush I used for foundation. On the apples of my cheeks, I went for the Rimmel Santa Rose Blush, which is a matte, pale, peachy-pink. Perfect for wearing with bold eyes and lips, it perks up the complexion, without adding a load of shimmer or strong pigment. 

Moving onto eyes, I had to go for my beloved Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita EyeshadowPalette, using the prime shade as a base, the burnt amber shade in the outer third and under the eye and the pressed glitter as an accent in the centre of the lid. To define, I took some MAC Mystery Eyeshadow close to both the top and bottom lash-lines, as the plum undertone complimented the other, warm eyeshadows. Along the water-line, I used some of my number one eyeliner, Nars' Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Via Appia. The shimmery, coppery, bronze shade is less harsh than a standard black and softly adds depth. After pumping away at my lashes with the Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curlers, I slicked on a couple of coats of the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Ultra Black Mascara, which gives lashes a serious boost in length and volume thanks to the monstrous, plastic wand. For brows, I lightly dusted a mixture of MAC Omega and Brun eyeshadows through any sparse areas, using my MAC 266 Small Angle Brush and finished them off with a slick of the Benefit Speed Brow Gel, which acts like glue to keep any stray hairs in place.

I skipped lipliner with this look, as I think the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Shine Lacquer in Muse Bouche looks better on its own and I didn't want it to look too perfected. Long-lasting, this non-sticky gloss is super-charged with opaque pigment. Despite the vinyl-shine, the lacquer isn't too light or slippery and remains on the lips for hours, even through eating and drinking, which helps when you're going out for dinner and a cocktail or two!

Which products do you turn to when you're going out?

AGB X