Are you getting stressed thinking about the festive season? Have you got that ‘wow’ party outfit yet? Along with shopping for the perfect accessories, take some time to think about adapting your make up for the special nights out to turn heads for all the right reasons. With our makeup bag of tips and tricks we can give you the confidence to step away from the same old routine. Are you ready to look and feel fabulous?
If you only have 20 minutes in the ladies loos before you dash off for the work bash, organisation is key. Plan your look in advance and above all else, keep it simple. Unless you are an expert at applying false lashes and liquid liner, this is probably not the time to try it out. We have all been there (yes even me!) When you are in a rush and one line looks different to the other and the false lashes adhere perfectly to one eye but the other is just a mess. You end up flustered, frustrated and annoyed! NO, don’t do it to yourself. Avoid the complicated stuff and follow these simple rules to get fuss free application with maximum wow factor.
Firstly ensure your base is looking fresh. Your skin is probably looking a little tired from the working day. Start again. Grab a face wipe (not ideal but its quick and easy to throw into your bag) and clean the skin, apply moisturiser and lip balm and whilst that starts to sink in start on your eye makeup.
Christmas is the one time of year where a little bit of sparkle is almost compulsory. Apply an opulent gold eye shadow over the lid, a cream eye shadow would be perfect for this as it gives a lovely metallic finish. Add definition to the eye by blending a rich bronze or deep chocolate brown from the outer edge into the socket. Bring the gold to the inner corners of the eye for an ethereal finish.
If gold is not your style and you would like a more vibrant look, line your eyes with a kohl pencil in cobalt blue, emerald green or regal purple and if you are feeling daring go over the upper and lower outer 1/3rd of the eye with a glitter liner. Really fun, effective and very quick.
For a speedy smoky eye. Take a deep dark espresso brown eye shadow and deposit it close to the lash line blend and work the shadow upwards and outwards to create a cat eye shape. Brown is more forgiving than black, so it’s easier to blend when you are in a hurry. If you are a fan of pigments Barry M does some great bronze pigments flecked with gold. Pigments are best applied with a long handled sponge applicator (Muji does a great one), make sure that you don’t brush pigment on to the lid as it just makes a mess and ends up all over your face, press the shadow onto the lid and then blend gently. Use a black kohl pencil to line the waterline. Take the kohl to the upper waterline too this creates a more dramatic look (be cautious if you are a contact lens wearer).
Create dramatic lashes by curling your eyelashes and apply two coats of black mascara, invest in a product that is lengthening and thickening. Groom your brows if they are a little sparse, fill them in with feathery strokes (never use black) and brush into place. Use a highlighting product under the brow bone. Benefit’s High Beam is a classic that suits all skin tones.
Now apply your foundation and concealer, set your base with a translucent powder. Doing your base after eye makeup ensures a clean flawless finish.
Use a soft blush on the apples of your cheeks. Always helps if you smile whilst doing this! Highlight and contour under the cheekbones with a warm bronzer.
You can really have fun with the lips. The best thing to do when you are in a hurry is to go for a statement lip colour. Deep berry, ruby red, fuchsia. You can get some great lipsticks on the high street. My current favourite range is by Bourjois – Velvet liquid lipstick. I have 4 from the current collection. Use a matching lip liner if you like your lips to be defined. A good lip brush is vital to achieve the perfect pout, especially when using bright hues. Finish off with a lip gloss if preferred.
Music on, glass of bubbly in hand. This is when you can get the falsies, the assorted pallete of eye shadow and liners out. If you are stuck for inspiration, take a look at your favourite celebrity for ideas. Some other makeup suggestions are:
Smokey - Dark eyes and nude lips
Dramatic – Dark lips and gold eyes
Pretty– Fresh peach & iridescent silvers
Playful – Vibrant peacock colours
Carry a beautiful compact and lipstick to ensure you look picture perfect all night.
