Here’s What My Full Beat Using the Lancôme x Mert & Marcus After Dark Makeup Collection Looked Like

I will admit that at first glance, the dark, smoky and bold hues in this makeup collection seemed a little intimidating as I’m someone who loves a more natural beat, but I was excited to experiment with something different, so I decided to create a full-face look using some of the most eye-catching products from the collab. Ahead, read on for my thoughts.

After applying my regular base makeup, I opened the eyeshadow palette and was immediately in awe of the beautiful shades with matte and shimmer finishes. I gravitated toward the gorgeous gold glitter that was so pigmented that one swipe on the back of my hand was enough to make me fall in love. I applied this color all over my eyelids and was seriously impressed with its easy-to-blend formula. I also loved that there was little-to-no fallout. I finished my eyes by creating a wing using the shade Dawn, which is a cool-toned chocolate brown with subtle shimmers. This eyeshadow is a creamier formula than the glitter and has incredible staying power. 

Once my eyes were finished, I moved onto the lips. The collection comes with a Flaming Lips Kit that contains a high-shine lip gloss and a vibrant dual-toned lipstick in either red or violet. I opted to go with one of the three L'Absolu Rouge Lipsticks, instead. I went with the shade Rouge Flamboyant, which is a bright, orange-red that is *completely* out of my comfort zone. But something about the vivid color was so captivating to me that it made me want to venture outside of my nude lipstick bubble — and I'm so happy I did because I loved it. It’s a matte lipstick that is very comfortable and hydrating, thanks to its formula that’s infused with moisturizing vitamin E and antioxidants. I found that the soft and moisturizing formula offered a buildable coverage, which I appreciated because it helped me to ease my way into such a bright hue. 

Finally, I finished things off by adding a touch of highlight to the high points of my cheekbones with the Teint Idole Ultra Blur and Highlight Duo Stick, which comes in a light pink and shimmery beige. It’s a dual-ended stick that minimizes the appearances of pores and gives you glowing skin. Its creamy, lightweight formula was super easy to apply and blend, and it added a subtle, sheen to my complexion. It’s definitely a softer highlight that gives you more of a lit-from-within glow as opposed to a beaming strobe, but I thought it was really pretty. 

In the end, I was super happy with the look I created. Despite the dark hues that may not seem for the faint of heart, I think everyone should try this collection. I was able to stay within my realm of comfort with the pretty golden eyeshadow, while the bold lipstick allowed me to try something new. I think it’s a super versatile range that everyone can enjoy.