As women, we wear a variety of hats and work in a variety of professions. Whether you’re working all day, running a business from home, or your home’s CEO and local car-sharing coordinator, you likely have events that you need to attend that require evening makeup. If you have enough money in the bank to hire a professional makeup artist to apply it, you’re in luck because it can be a daunting and complicated task. If you’re like most of us, they’ll let you do it alone.

So how do you handle the darker, more dramatic hues that bring your features to life at night? Before you get too nervous, relax. Fortunately, the most flattering evening makeup also happens to be the easiest to put on. Try just one of these simple makeup tips to make yourself look relaxed and pretty for those party shots.

For your eyes, try a jewel shade or just line your lids. Eye color is always refreshing, regardless of the time of year. Try rich shades of emerald green, purple, and sapphire blue. These are both flattering and eye-catching; As a bonus, they complement all eye colors. To create a more smoky look, skip the shadow and simply outline your lids with a charcoal pencil, black kohl, or deep plum. Follow up any of these with a few coats of volumizing mascara and your perfect party eyes can be done in 5 minutes.

Moving on to your lips, apply a layer of gloss or choose a deeper lip shade; it really depends on you. Either option is quick and easy. Gloss does double duty not only by dressing your lips, but also by making them appear fuller. It only takes a little bit to get the effect. Sleek and sexy when applied correctly, a deep lip shade takes a little longer to perfect, but it can be achieved. However, before choosing a shade, you may want to consult a makeup artist at your local cosmetic counter; that way you know you have the right tone the first time.

The rosy cheeks make you look happy and really brighten your face. With a simple brush or two, you can wake up your skin and look flushed and exhilarated with minimal effort. To highlight your cheekbones, stick with softer tones and rub a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks; You can enhance the look by dusting your face with a transparent powder appropriate for your skin tone. If you’d rather do without the highlighter look, just tap the cream blush on your cheeks and head out the door.

Lastly, remember these quick tips to make sure you keep looking great all night long; simple and easy, anyone can use them. Makeup artists have long been designing retractable lip brushes. For a quick touch-up during your night out, without having to carry both the tube and the brush, slide the shrink tube over the tube before you leave the house and then put it in your bag; without ruffling without problems. Use a matte lipstick or a long-lasting formula if you want to avoid touch-up altogether.

Self-tanner used to be orange and fake-looking, but not anymore. With sun damage concern on everyone’s mind, the self tanner has come a long way. Wear it all year long for color in all seasons; Even if your makeup wears off in the middle of the night, you won’t be pale. Lastly, stock your makeup bag with blotting papers to keep shine off as the evening progresses.