14 Ideas For Your Next Girls' Night In

As much as we all love getting dolled up and heading out for a night on the town with our best girlfriends, everyone has nights where sweatpants, messy buns, and a girls’ night in sounds much more appealing. If you’re on the hunt for ideas for girl’s night in that are just as relaxing as they are fun, we have you covered. Below, we share 14 girls’ night in activities—from multi-masking with face masks to trying the latest nail art designs to upgrading your wardrobe—to help you enjoy your girls’ night to the fullest extent. And not only that, but they’ll also help you gear up for looking good at your next brunch or dinner. Read on for our best ideas for girls’ night in, and be sure to have tons of fun.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #1: TREAT YOUR SKIN TO A DOUBLE CLEANSE

During the busy work week grind, making time for twice-daily cleansing is a feat in and of itself—meaning the idea of a double cleanse might not even be on your radar. But on those nights when you and the girls stay in for a little low-key fun, you have the perfect opportunity to take part in this skin care activity.

If you don’t know what double cleansing is, we’re here to explain. Double cleansing involves first using a no-rinse cleansing option (such as towelettes or micellar water), then following up with a rinse-off cleanser. The first part of your cleansing routine will help remove dirt, makeup, and excess oils, and the second part of your cleansing routine will help remove any remaining impurities from the surface of your skin.

So, start off by using the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof - All Skin Types, which intensely purifies. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, oil, and makeup up and away from the skin, no rinsing required. All you have to do is saturate a cotton pad with the micellar water of your choice and wipe the pad across your face. Once you’re done with the first step in your double cleansing routine, reach for a rinse-off cleanser, like the L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean™ All Skin Types Foaming Gel Cleanser.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #2: WATCH A CHICK FLICK

Sometimes binging a few of your favorite chick flicks is just what you need. While we wouldn’t want to limit you to any specific genre, there’s just something about a girl power-packed chick flick that makes for the ultimate wind-down.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #3: DO YOUR NAILS

Chances are you don’t stop and take the time to expertly paint your nails with one of the latest nail trends often. When life gets hectic, our nails are often one of the first items on our beauty checklist to get put on the back burner. But when you have a night in with your girls, you can scope out the hottest looks and give each other a DIY mani.

Editor’s note: One nail look we’re absolutely loving is short neon nails. Here are 5 Ways to Rock Short Neon Nails.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #4: PAMPER YOUR SKIN WITH MULTI-MASKING

Multi-masking is another skin care trend that you might not have time for during the week, but—as you may have guessed—a relaxing night in provides the perfect opportunity to give it a shot. This trend involves applying different masks to different areas of your face at the same time in order to address a multitude of complexion concerns. Get creative with where you apply the following face masks.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refine Mask: Dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface of your skin day after day, leaving it feeling rough. This face mask, enhanced with red algae extract, is formulated to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Mask: Over time, harsh environmental factors like pollution and debris can damage skin, leaving your complexion looking dull. This face mask, enhanced with charcoal, is formulated to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution and reduce the look of dull skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Mask: Over time, harsh cleansing can be drying and sensitizing, leaving skin uncomfortable. As a result, skin needs cleansing that is effective yet gentle. This face mask, enhanced with seaweed, is formulated to help draw out buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution, reduce the look of imperfections, and gently cleanse stressed areas.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clarify & Smooth Face Mask: Daily wear and tear—makeup and improper care—can leave skin uneven with roughness and imperfections. Oftentimes, a facial cleanser isn’t enough to solve this problem. This face mask—which is formulated with yuzu lemon—helps to draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution, shed rough, dead skin cells, clarify tone, and improve skin texture. Immediately after use, skin is left with a clean glow.

Apply your mask(s) of choice to clean, dry skin, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #5: NOURISH YOUR STRANDS WITH A HAIR MASK

Let’s be real: We tend to put our hair through a lot, from putting it up in super tight updos to styling it with heat tools. So, the next time you decide to chill in your apartment with your favorite gal pals, show your strands some much-deserved love by using a hair mask. To give your tresses a treat, try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Repair and Protect Balm, which smooths and protects hair color while repairing visible damage from processing in one use. Leave it on for three to five minutes, then rinse.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #6: HOST A CLOSET SWAP

Raise your hand if you’re a shopaholic! While we love stocking our wardrobe with the latest trends, buying new pieces adds up quickly. Rather than buy something new, host a closet swap with your gal pals. While you may not be inclined to wear that blouse you’ve already posted a picture in on Instagram out again, your BFF might love to take it off your hands—in exchange for one of her own, of course. Swapping clothes you no longer need with your friends is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your wardrobe without spending a penny.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #7: HAVE A VIRTUAL TRY-ON HAUL

On the note of your wardrobe, you can totally use your girls’ night in as an excuse to host a virtual try-on haul with friends that are near and far. Pull together some inspo for the haul—whether you’re trying on outfits that are totally glam, seasonally-based, or new pieces that you need honest opinions on from your friends. Then, go one-by-one strutting your stuff in front of the camera.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #8: PLAY YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOARD GAMES

We’ll always be fans of a nostalgia-inducing activity. Bring out all the feels by playing some of your favorite childhood board games. Whether you end up determining who you’ll marry and how many kids you’ll have or buying some of the most popular properties across the states is your call.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #9: BRUSH UP ON YOUR BRAIDING SKILLS

If you’ve ever woken up late figuring you'll throw your hair into a quick, stylish braid—only to realize you don’t know how to do anything other than a simple three-strand one, we feel you. Nowadays, braids are everywhere we look—so it makes sense that you’d want to get in on the plaited trend. But certain braids do require quite a bit of skill to master. That being said, a girls’ night could be the perfect time to experiment with the season’s hottest braiding styles, so that the next time you wake up late, it will be no sweat off your back—or your style. To get you started, we’re sharing three of our favorite braids.

1. Try a Dutch braid. These inverted braids are actually a lot easier than they look. It won’t require a bunch of steps or intricate weaving. Whereas traditional three-strand French braids are created with an underhand braiding technique, to achieve this look, you’ll want to weave overhand, incorporating new sections of hair with every weave. It’s really that simple.

2. Try a skeleton braid. This braid is definitely trickier than your typical braid, but it’s totally doable. All you have to do is create a braid at the crown of your head by dividing a small section of hair in the middle of your head and weaving it all the way to the ends before securing it with a mini elastic. Once your braid is secured, fluff it up to give it a bit more volume. Next, starting at the front of your face, pull small sections of hair back and tuck them into each loosened loop of your braid. As you entwine these new sections of hair with your braid, make sure you pull them all the way through so that they become part of the other side of hair. When you reach the end of your braid, take out the clear elastic and weave that small section down toward the ends. Since you’re continually adding more hair into each stitch of your braid, it will get longer, so you’ll need to re-braid the ends to be able to incorporate the loose hair. Once you finish braiding, re-secure your braid with the clear elastic, and you’re done.

OK, so the skeleton braid may take some practice, but that’s what friends are for. And if you want to spend a little more time mastering this particular plait, you can also read our step-by-step tutorial, How to Create a Skeleton Braid.

3. Try a boho, layered braid. Get ready for some serious bohemian vibes, y’all. To get the look, grab a small section of hair on one side of your head, an inch or two down from your part. Twist this section of hair back toward the crown of your head and pin it in place on the opposite side of your head. Next, switch to the other side of your head and create an identical twist, only this time pinning on the side where your first twist was created. Repeat these back and forth twists two more times.

Once you’re finished twisting, split your remaining hair into two equal sections, a top and a bottom. Then, split the bottom section into two equal side-by-side sections so that you have three sections altogether. Split each bottom section into three strands and weave a traditional braid with each. Secure them each with a mini elastic before fluffing them up. Next, split the remaining top section into two sections to create a fishtail braid. Once you reach the ends of your fishtail braid, secure it with a clear elastic before gently tugging at each weave to create a more voluminous braid. Now that all of your braids are woven, it’s time to combine them into one gorgeous, boho look. All you have to do is pin the fishtail braid on top of the two traditional braids and secure them at the ends with a clear mini elastic.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #10: INDULGE IN SOME WINE

We can’t imagine a girls’ night in without a glass (or two) of our favorite wine. One of the best ways to kick back is to indulge in your favorite adult beverage while doing a coordinating face mask. Here are 4 Wine and Face Mask Pairings to Try on Your Next Night In.

If you’re not yet 21, consider making a few mocktails with your girls. Our fave is an alcohol-free pineapple mojito. Muddle mint leaves in a shaker, then add pineapple juice, club soda, and a squeeze of lime. Mix and strain into a fun glass and garnish with a little mint leaf. Experiment with a few different fruity flavors or garnishes for a fun GNI activity.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #11: ATTEND A VIRTUAL COMEDY SHOW

Another option for a virtual girls’ night is to gather the crew for a virtual comedy show. You’d be surprised how many of your favorite comedians are hopping online to give you all the laughs from the comfort of your own home. You can even video chat with your gal pals while watching so you can see each other’s reactions.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #12: GET A FAUX SUMMER GLOW

If you’ve always wanted to get the faux bronzed glow that your favorite celebs rock on the red carpet, there’s no better time to DIY it than on your girls’ night in. With a variety of different self-tanner formulas available, like the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse, L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Hydrating Self-Tanning Milk Medium, L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Self-Tanning Lotion, L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Self-Tanning Gelee, L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Towelettes For Body and the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ ProPerfect Salon Airbrushed Self-Tanning Mist, you can stock up to offer your GFs multiple options.

Before applying any of the above self-tanners, exfoliate your skin to help slough away any dead skin cell buildup on the skin's surface, as this can cause your color to go on patchy. Then, follow up with an oil-free moisturizer, and you’ll be good to go—or should we say glow? (Here’s How to Use Every Type of Self-Tanner.)

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #13: CHANGE UP YOUR HAIR COLOR

Rainbow hair colors are all the rage right now. If you think you might be interested, use your girls’ night in as an opportunity to test drive a hair color that might be slightly out of your comfort zone; that way, you can get all of your BFF’s opinions in real-time. Simply color your hair with whichever shade(s) of the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray or L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color suit your fancy, and you can wash out the unconventional color with your next shampoo.

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN IDEA #14: HAVE A PHOTOSHOOT

Your best friends are bound to take your best pictures—they know your ideal angles through and through. If you need a new Instagram selfie or simply want to show off your nail art or braided hairstyle, host a DIY photoshoot with your gal pals. There’s nothing better than capturing memories.

Next up: For more ideas for girls’ night in, Here's How to Turn Girls’ Night into a Self-Care Session.