In honor of Valentine's Day right around the corner, I'll be sharing a few make-up tips for a first date. ❤ (As always, these thoughts are my own and are only suggestions. Please feel free to do whatever you like or whatever you feel suits you best. :) )

When I think first date make-up, I think easy, pretty, but still natural-looking. Of course, you want to look pretty, but still natural and like yourself. I'm not a fan of super heavy make-up on a first date because: a.) it will look like you "tried too hard," and b.) your date might not remember you after your first date! (Kidding, but you get me.)

Here are my tips:
1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
The key to nice-looking make-up is well-moisturized skin. Well-moisturized skin not only makes a good canvas for make-up to sit on, but good skin always looks glowy, dewy, and well.. just better. So make sure to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, not just in time for Valentine's, but all the time, really.

2. Use a mineral foundation
I love mineral make-up because it's good for your skin, controls oil well, and gives great coverage while still looking really natural. When done right, you can't even really tell that you have it on. It does take some getting used to though! So practice, practice, practice, if you can a few days before! :)

I love using my V&M Naturals mineral foundation in Hazelnut Latte. The container is teeny tiny, but you really only need a small amount to buff onto your skin to get good coverage. As you know, I have very acne-prone, combination-oily skin, and this stuff keeps my face matte all day and doesn't break me out! Double thumbs up for being a local product, yay! :) Got mine from Andi of PeaceLoveAndOrganics on Instagram. :)

This mineral foundation is so finely milled, it feels like it just melts into your skin! :)

3. Conceal sparingly
Concealers with a light formula, but still brightening are my best bet for this. My picks are the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles and the Rimmel Wake Me Up. Just put a few dots on your undereye area to brighten them up a bit, and spot conceal on other  areas which may be red or if you have any blemishes. You definitely don't want to be caking it on, though. So, use sparingly! If you have certain blemishes which still kind of peek through even after concealing, personally, I say, just let it be if you can. You'll look waaaay more natural (and low maintenance) this way!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

4. Fill in your brows
No matter what look you're going for, I always recommend filling in your brows. Filled-in brows frame your face and make you look so much more polished. Makes a world of a difference! Any neutral-toned, matte brown eyeshadow works well as a brow powder. Just fill them in and comb through them with a spoolie brush. Brow powder is definitely the way to go for natural-looking brows!

5. Use a lip & cheek stain
Easy, quick, and doesn't really look like you have anything on - it just looks like you're naturally blushing! Also, since it's a stain, it doesn't really add on another layer on top of your mineral foundation like a powder or cream blush would! Less layers = less possibility of cakey make-up. On your lips, this will last waaay longer than a regular lipstick or gloss would, so you can be eating, drinking, and laughing all night without worrying about retouching your lip color. :)

6. Curl your lashes and apply mascara
Doe-eyed look? Check! Just give your lashes a few quick squeezes and put on some mascara. It's a small step that makes a huge difference. Your eyes look instantly brighter and wider. There's just something about long, fluttery lashes which is so pretty and girly! ❤ The mascara that I recommend all the time to anyone and everyone is Maybelline The Falsies. It separates, defines, and thickens your lashes and holds a curl really well!

7. Set your make-up with a finishing spray
This is optional. If your skin is dry to normal, you can totes skip this step, but if you're somewhere from combination oily to oily, definitely set your make-up with some sort of finishing spray. It takes care of any powdery-ness and helps your make-up to last longer, so you don't have to worry about blotting your face or retouching throughout the night. The Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray is tried and tested for me!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

This is not necessarily just for a date, you can use these tips anytime, really. I use these a lot, even when I'm just hanging out with family or friends, if I want to look very casual, natural, but still polished. Good luck! ❤

P.S. I'm trying to think of more Valentine's-related topics to blog about in the coming days. If you have any ideas, please do leave it in a comment down below! :)