Quick Fixes: How to Get Ready for a Night Out in Record Time
Do you need to go straight from the office to a fancy dinner? Or are you going to be so busy running errands or driving your kids around that you can’t stop to freshen up before a night out? Maybe you have class tonight and can’t freshen up and change before going out afterwards. No worries – you don’t have to take a shower, wash your hair, and do a total remake to look good for your evening out.
Here are some tips on what you can to do freshen up fast.
1. Put on Your Eyes
Nothing says “night out” like smoky, dramatic eyes. But what if you don’t have your eye makeup? You can actually use an eye pencil for a quick darkening effect – smudge it along your eyelids and blend it with the day’s eye liner. You can also dab a few dots of lipstick along the bone over your eye, just below the outside of your eyebrows, and blend it in and outwards for subtle lift. If you have mascara with you, you can touch up your lashes over what you put on for daytime. But be careful – it may clump or look “overdone” if you don’t use a light touch.
2. Powder
Skin can look tired at the end of the day, and often a bit oily. Brush on some translucent powder to liven up your face, and follow with a powdered blush. Creams are often not the best thing to apply at the end of the day; they tend to create shine and produce a built-up look. But a little face powder and blush can give you a lift.
3. Go Red
If you can get your hands on some red lipstick, you can achieve a definite “evening glamor” look. It goes especially well with dark eyes, and if you do the lipstick-over-the-eyes trick, your look will be unified.
4. Take off the Flats
Did you bring your night-time going-out shoes with you? It’s amazing how a simple outfit can be transformed by wearing snazzy shoes. A nice pair of heels makes any outfit dressy, even jeans. If you have time to think ahead, why not keep a pair of neutral-colored pumps tucked away in your car or office drawer?
5. Evening Hair Styles
If you wore your hair down all day, use bobby pins (another good thing to stash away in your office or car!) to do a quick, sexy up-do. Or, if you wore your hair up all day, take it down. In the restroom of your office, or wherever you can grab a minute to freshen up, use travel-size mousse or gel to liven up your hair. Turn your head upside-down and use damp hands to give it some body. Then work a little mousse or gel into it to give it lift and volume.