Night makeup in 5 steps

Night makeup doesn't have to be complicated. With five steps and a handful of products, you can go from day to night in ten minutes. The key is choosing one star: usually either the eyes or the lips. If you want both bold, balance them with very clean skin and a soft blush.

You can see this full look on your own face in the night look before you start.

Step 1: prep the lid

Apply an eye primer — or, if you don't have one, a little well-blended concealer — and set it with translucent powder. The shadow won't crease and the colour will look richer.

Step 2: the smoky eye

Pick a deep matte shade — chocolate brown, taupe grey or even black — and pack it over the whole mobile lid with a flat brush. Then, with a clean blending brush, work in small circles upwards and outwards until there are no harsh edges.

Tip: always work from the inside out, with a little product at a time. It's easier to add than to take away.

Step 3: the lower lash line

Run the same shadow along your lower lash line with a small brush, stronger on the outer third and fading towards the inner corner. It "closes" the smoky eye and adds depth.

Step 4: smudged liner

Draw a line with a kohl pencil tight to the upper lashes and smudge it straight away with a small brush, before it sets. A shimmery brown kohl such as Teddy is softer than black and flatters almost every eye colour.

Finish with two coats of mascara.

Step 5: a bold lip (or not)

If the eye is very intense, you can go for a nude lip. If you'd rather go all in, reach for a burgundy or a deep red:

1. Line with a pencil in the same shade.
2. Fill in with lipstick.
3. Blot with a tissue and apply a second coat — it'll last much longer.

Make it last all night

• Set only your T-zone with powder.
• Keep the lipstick in your bag; liquid mattes are the most transfer-resistant.
• If you'll be photographed with flash, avoid very shimmery powders on the skin.

Choosing your smoky shade

• Brown eyes: anything goes; bronzes and plums make them glow.
• Green eyes: plum, burgundy and warm browns.
• Blue eyes: bronze, copper and chocolate brown.

It's all explained in The best eyeshadow for your eye colour.

Try it first

In the try-on you can pick the "smoky" eyeshadow style and the "smudged" liner style, adjust the intensity and compare several lipsticks on top. That way you know which combination suits you before you begin.