Pack only the essentials if you’re planning to head out light. If you can’t make up your mind what to carry along, perhaps this check-list would help.
1. Scented hand cream
Leave a nice scent on his hand even after the date is over so he will remember how soft your hand felt. On a more practical note, other than hydrating your hands, a hand cream is also great in helping you tame any flyaway hairs, and cleaning off smudged makeup.
Try: Rose & Co Sweet As Cherry Pie hand cream (SGD8). Containing shea butter to keep your hands moisturised, this hand cream also has a sweet cherry pie scent that will definitely set the romantic mood. The same collection also consists of other scents that you may like, including: Strawberry Cupcake, Cranberries & Cream, Sugared Violet, and Lemon Bon-Bon. Check them out here.
2. Facial mist
If you find your facial mist too large to be carried around, here’s a hack: transfer some of your favourite toner or rose water into a small spray bottle – and you’ll have yourself a portable bottle of mist! Having a facial mist with you at all times help you to set your makeup and keep your skin looking hydrated and fresh.
Try: Grown Alchemist Balancing Toner (USD28, ~ SGD39.70). It refreshes skin instantly, and makes pores look more refined, thanks to olive and chamomile extracts in the formula. The toner is also able to soothe skin with ginseng and aloe vera, and combat free radical damage with vitamin C. This is available on Net-A-Porter.
3. Lip brightener
You start off the date with a bright coloured lipstick, but it’s bound to wear off after dinner or a smooch. Instead of reapplying the bright red shade that you started the day with, consider freshening the look with a lip brightener instead.
Try: Color Me Happy Lip Brightener (SGD20). In two natural-looking shades, this makes your lips look more radiant without the feeling of “heavy makeup”. With an oil-based formula, it also nourishes your lips to keep them from feeling dry and flakey. Both shades go well on top of any lip colour, and give a slight shimmer to make your lips look more kissable – it’s definitely more natural that way! It is available on the Color Me Happy website.
4. Cream blush
As your makeup wear off towards the end of a date, a blush can make a difference in helping you look more radiant. We recommend bringing along a cream blush because it can double up as a lip colour. Depending on the eye makeup you’re wearing, it may even be used to touch up smudged eye makeup because of its creamy texture.
Try: Make Up For Ever HD Cream Blush (SGD52). In five flattering shades, this blush blends easily into skin to give a natural-looking radiance. Its creamy texture also makes it easy to pick up with your finger and dab over makeup to touch up. Check out this product here.
5. Dry shampoo
If you still have space in your bag, consider bringing along a dry shampoo. It’s great for freshening up your hair if you’re going for any outdoors activities, otherwise you can use it for adding volume to your tresses that usually look flat and lifeless in the middle of the date.
Try: Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (SGD14.60). Made from botanical ingredients, this product is an international bestseller of the brand and is well-loved by everyday women and celebrities. Simply shake it, then spray evenly to hair, leave it on for two minutes, and brush through your hair to remove the powder, and you’ll find your hair look fresher and more voluminous. It is available at major drugstores (Guardian, Watsons, Unity), and department stores (John Little, Robinsons, OG).
