Break-ups: who’d have them? There is categorically nothing more inconvenient than losing your best friend and your sex life in one fell swoop. Until you get to the point where you have to have that meeting – the first one since that horrendous shouting/crying match where you thought you were saying goodbye and good riddance forever.
It might be a coffee to discuss who hurt whom most; or you might be about to have that hideous awkward moment at a mutual friend’s party. Either way, you know you shouldn’t care what you look like – but you do. And even if you are heartbroken and hysterical inside looking good will help you walk in with confidence, say what you have to say and walk out again pronto.
So here are some break-up make-up tips – that, if we’re honest, would also work for any other scenario where you want to hide the fact you’ve been stressed-out, crying, eating shit, etc from a boy or your boss.
Hide The Stress
Swollen, spotty, rashy skin? We’ve all been there. But that doesn’t mean going overboard on the base. Apply Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £29.00, for a pepped-up glow before adding sheer layers of L’Oreal Paris Anti-Redness CC Cream, £9.99. And instead of piling on foundation, use a concealer like Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, £6.49 to hide anything like tired eyes.
Stick To What You Know Best
It’s not the time to whip out your red lippie or try a new trend – natural is the name of the game. Stick to the makeup that you know makes you feel great, but make it even better. Avoid sparkly eyeshadow (it emphasises swelling) - universally flattering MAC Eyeshadow in Copperplate, £12.50, will give you a great, natural looking smokey eye instead. To make tired eyes look brighter, try applying beige eyeliner like Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner in Nude, £5.50, too. Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara, £16.50 curls and lengthens lashes wonderfully and won’t budge if you sneak a tear.
Fake The Fact You’re Sleeping Like A Baby
Patting Benefit High Beam, £19.50, onto cheekbones or using Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer, £15.50, under the eyes and on the bridge of your nose gives the impression that you are happy, healthy and sleeping like a baby. Even if you’re up watching movies like this on Netflix.
Ditto A Faux Glow
You know that happy, breezy look you get when you’ve been away on holiday? Well subtle peachy blusher Stila Convertible Colour in Gerbera, £16, applied sparingly to the apples of your cheeks will give you just that.
Make Him Suffer With Scent
Smell is very powerful and intimate thing and meeting your ex is not the time to try a new one. Instead go for a subtle application of the scent he loved most. Spay it into the air and walk into the mist just before you leave. Because the bastard deserves to have his heartstrings tugged, too.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.