Festive Makeup Masterclass

As the invites for Christmas drinks parties start flocking in, the question on most of our minds is “what do I wear!?”. Just as important as the outfit itself is the makeup to accompany it; a woman’s ultimate accessory is lipstick in my opinion.

So, in a tinsel-flecked tizz as to what to do for your makeup? Look no further, as I bring to you my ultimate guide to face party season!

Red Lips: You can’t talk about festive makeup and exclude red lips. It’s like not having crackers at the Christmas lunch table. Sexy, bold and ever so Christmassy, this is the simplest and safest way to festivify your face. My personal favourite is a matte red lip; it lasts longer and isn’t too fussy, however the other extreme is also very sexy. An über glossy pout oozes glamour, so plaster some red gloss over the top. My pickings are Dior’s Diorific lipstick in Marilyn; a velvet finish classic red, NARS matte lip pencil in Cruella (it seems everyone is falling for this recently!) or MAC’s Ruby Woo; their cult matte red that makes your teeth look whiter! For gloss, Charlotte Tilbury’s lacquer offering is top of my Christmas pops in the vinyl red shade.

 

Gold eyes: The red lip goes hand in hand with a metallic eye. If you’re fair skinned, I recommend gold, if you’re more olive toned or have a year round tan, then I suggest silver. Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre in Vision is the most glamorous I’ve come across, and the formula is able to last a long night of laughing and drinking- ideal! It’s a creamy powder finish and has just the right dose of sparkle; just what the doctor ordered! Fantasme is their silver/white equivalent, and its equally gorgeous for those of you able to pull off a very cool-toned metallic shade. If full on gold or silver isn’t your cup of eggnog, then something more subtle like Laura Mercier’s Caviar Eyeshadow sticks will do the trick; shimmery but not explicitly glittery, they blend like a dream and come in an array of metallic hues that aren’t too garish; Grey pearl is a muted taupe-silver which I adore, or Sandlglow is a smokier gold/brown hue ideal for those who feel more at home with brown-tinged shades.

Glowing Skin: I’m not talking lighthouse bright, but luminous skin gives the face a nice glow when everything else is rather dull. A good base and highlighter are the keys to this look, and whilst it may seem strange to pair luminous skin with equally shiny eyes, it does work if done properly. My favourite non-matte base is YSL Teint Touche Eclat; it gives the perfect slightly luminous finish without being too lightweight; its medium coverage finish is perfect for hiding flaws without looking overdone. Highlighter-wise Charlotte Tilbury’s Bar of gold is perfect; gold, sheen-y and not over the top, all whilst coming in the most adorable packaging. For a cool-toned highlighter, Benefit’s High Beam will forever be my favourite.

Lashings of Lashes: With a metallic eye, it is important to make sure your lashes are defined and clearly visible, so I like to help mine along with some individual lash inserts. More subtle than falsies, they allow you to customise how much you enhance your lashes. I tend to place a few on the outer corners of my eyes for that feline flutter. I love MAC’s ones, but Ardell and Eyelure offer brilliantly valued alternatives. Mascara wise I’ve been loving Bobbi Brown’s Everything mascara for definition and separation, as when putting in individual lashes, it is important your natural ones aren’t too “overdone”. If you’re a false lash noob, or you don’t have the time to be fiddling with tweezers and glue, then Maybelline The Falsies Feather Look has been my recent favourite- someone asked me if I was wearing lash inserts when wearing it!

Nails: If you haven’t (yet) got your mitts on Dior’s festive Manucure Duo (mentioned here), then the obvious alternative is a deep red to match your painted pout. OPI’s The Blues For Red is the perfect deep blue red, which I am guilty of having worn about 3 nail paints in a row. For something less classic and more edgy, Chanel’s Taboo is a perfect metallic purple hue for those seeking a glamorous slightly gothic look.

 

Et voilà! My top tips for being the belle of the ball, Christmas style!