Follow seven simple rules this Christmas to look and feel sensational: you’ll be party-ready, 24-7!
- Masques are massive
There is no chance of the beauty masque waning in popularity this year – and what better way to keep your skin party perfect? Try Dermalogica’s Age Smart Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque a powerful masque of concentrated antioxidant vitamins to help skin recover from damage while enhancing barrier properties and promoting healthy tissue regeneration.
- A bold lip is the best accessory
Darker lipsticks are soooo nineties – and make a brilliant beauty statement. Dark browns and purples work particularly well at Christmas, and look for a matte shade for added sex appeal. With dark red shades, avoid anything too orange or blue in tone – and just add a little black dress. To really pop the look, use a lip treatment to keep your pout perfect. We love Elemis’s Lip Revive, a petroleum-free lip balm formulated to nourish, repair and protect lips, keeping them soft and in perfect condition, and Dermalogica Age Smart Multivitamin Power Firm, a powerful, firming complex of skin-rebuilding antioxidant vitamins, protective silicones and red seaweed extract.
- Keep count – of individual lashes
If you struggle with eyelash strips, individual lashes may be easier to apply – and there’s less to worry about if you lose one or two during the evening! Try using four or five lashes from the middle to the end of the lash line, dropping them gently into place using tweezers. Keep count of how many you use on each lid to make sure the final look is even.
- Contrast your lids and tips
Do you love a smoldering eye? Then contrast the dramatic peepers with a nude nail, or crisp off-white nail polish. Just like the rule about “legs or cleavage” you can work this either way: if you love rocking wild and wonderful nail art, keep your eyes subtle with natural colours and blending techniques.
- Treat tired hair to a pre-party remedy
If you’re a party animal, you could be heading towards Christmas with hair that’s been subjected to physical and chemical aggressions such as repeated blow drying, straightening and colouring processing. If this has left your hair fragile, weak and dull, a special remedy is required. Shu Uemura’s Ultimate Remedy Masque reassembles and restores ultra-damaged hair from within, providing intense nourishment. Your hair will regain protection and resistance, feeling solid and deeply repaired with a soft, flexible touch – ready to party again!
- Glitter is good – in small amounts
Wearing something sparkly just has to be done at Christmas, but it’s worth trying to avoid a glitter explosion across your face and forehead; glitter on your upper lip isn’t a good look, either (a fixing spray can help to keep the glitz in place once you’ve finished your make-up). If you’re using glitter sprinkles, use them sparingly to create an effect – in the corner of your eye, for example, or on your brow bone. You could even experiment with a dusting of glitter over your regular kohl. However you wear your glitter, stick to one accent effect: wearing a glittery gloss and a glittery eyeshadow could push you over the top – and glittery eyes with a sparkly dress could be overkill. You don’t want to end up looking like a Christmas tree.
- Cat eyes still rule
A liquid cat eye effect is still top of the make-up tricks. You can wear it without any other makeup, or go full Hollywood glamour with bright lipstick and highlighted cheekbones. If you struggle with a liquid pen or pencil liner, try an angled brush and cream liner for extra control. As it’s party season, you could get creative with colours, too: navy or brown creates an elegant effect, or get really festive by sweeping on a flick of beautiful bronze or glittering gold.
