With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, party season has arrived! And it’s time to power up your makeup game with our tried and tested tips and tricks – from subdued to super-sexy, get ready to dazzle!
Shimmer & shine
Adding some subtle shimmer will truly make you shine, keeping your look natural and highlighting your own beauty. Adding a little shimmer always adds a quick hint of glam when you need it. Try a subtle shimmer stick onto cheekbones as a highlight. The right highlighter will create a gorgeous pearlescent glow and flawlessly reflect light from all the right places on your face. Dusting a shimmer powder on your décolletage is also a surefire way to get the party started.
Be a highlight
One of the best tips to go from average to amazing is the strategic use of a highlighter. Dab small amounts on top of your cheekbone – from the apple of the cheek and up through to the hairline. This adds light, looks fresh, makes skin look hydrated and decreases the look of fine lines. You can even use small amounts on the inner corner of the eye to add freshness and under the brow bone to “lift” the eye.
Softly highlighted cheeks are always a winning look. Dust on a powder bronzer with a fan brush first, then go over it with either a shimmery cream blush or another powder blush in a bright shade. It’s fine to mix textures – creams can work in tandem with powders if the application is light.
Dab a bit of shimmer on the top of your cheeks to instantly brighten and illuminate your face. Be sure to choose just one feature to accentuate so your highlighting stays subtle.
Fine & defined
Use brow powder or pencil to define strong eyebrows and to frame the eye. Use your blush to identify the apples of the cheeks, and then accentuate your cheekbones by applying a bronzer under them, to create a more sculpted look.
QUICK TIP: Dab a band of highlighter under the eyes – starting from the mid face and taking it up towards the temples. The lighter colour will help lift the eyes and make your face pop.
Prime time
Perfect party makeup application requires a smooth canvas. Airbrush fine lines and pores with a quality primer. It leaves skin with a soft, velvety finish, allowing foundation to glide across the skin for an even, radiant finish. In addition to instantly smoothing fine lines, pores and wrinkles, it also increases the longevity of your foundation. Speaking of foundation, opt for long-lasting dewy finishes for a glowing look and ultimate staying power.
Eyes on the prize
An easy way to glam up a bare eye is to intensify your look with eyeliner. If a smouldering look is what you’re after, use an eyeliner pencil around the entire eye and on the inner rim. For a quick smokey look, smudge it off using a crease/smudge brush. For more of a clean, strong line, create a winged liner using a gel or liquid eyeliner. This, combined with generous lashings of mascara, will instantly glam up your look and get you party ready!
QUICK TIP: A really great makeup trick is to use eyeliner to fill in the tiny spaces between upper eyelashes. This helps eyes look fuller and more alive and lends an amazing frame to the eyes.
Colouring in
One of the easiest ways to rock your party look is to add a punch of colour. Instead of heavy eyeshadows, try adding a vibrant lip shade – gloss or matte – for an injection of POP! Pump your cheek colour up using a brighter shade and you’re good to go!
Our fave colours this season are beachy and bold – think fushias and corals.
Fake it with flair
Since Coco Chanel set a new style for looking wealthy and relaxed in the 1920s, the desire for beautifully bronzed skin was born. But these days, we all know too much about sun damage so faking it is the only way to go. There’s nothing wrong with a little cheating so if you’re going to fake it, fake it with flair.
Sunless tanning products are more popular than ever. In fact, around the globe, it’s been said that a bottle of St Tropez fake tan sells every 10 seconds!
Lash out
Party up with fake lashes. They’re flirty and playful and no amount of mascara can create the same drama. Trust us, if you don’t have an occasion to wear them, make one!
Nail it
Complete your party-ready look with a slick of colour on your nails. From classic red to festive glittery glosses, it’s an easy way to jazz up any outfit or look.
