Ahh, holiday parties: The two words that can turn anyone into a ball of nerves. It’s no secret that when it comes to holiday parties, you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But one thing everyone can agree on is the fact that holiday parties present a fun opportunity to play up your makeup!
But how do you know what kind of look to wear to different parties? Should you tone down your makeup when you’re with the family and spice it up for a night out with the girls? What about a romantic night out with the honey in your life?
To help you solve these makeup dilemmas, I consulted makeup artist Lauren Napier. Napier has worked with Nicki Hilton, Vanity Fair, HBO and many other high profile clients. As an exclusive for Her Campus beauties, Napier has created three beautiful makeup looks to help you cover three possible holiday party scenarios. With her tips, you’ll be looking age and function-appropriate Go on, ladies, get beautiful!
Scenario 1: A holiday party with the family
When you’re fêting with the family, aim for a festive, yet subdued look. Napier has the perfect look to help keep the attention on your face, and not whether you’ve been naughty or nice this past year. Here’s what she suggests!
“It’s been a whole year since your family’s last holiday party. You’re not looking forward to the awkward conversations with your aunt and uncle about your boyfriend or sporting last year’s ‘Secret Santa’ snowman sweater that grandma knitted. Close the conversation gap,” Napier says.“Make last year’s knitted nightmare the last thing that your family notices. Let your pretty face do the talking!”
Face: Use Beauty Blender Sponge to apply Three Custom Color Specialist’s two in one Crème Concealer/Foundation. Set your foundation with an oversized powder puff and loose powder.
Apply CoverGirl’sQueen Collection Natural Hue Bronzer with a fluffy powder brush along the hairline, temples, chin and cheeks. To brighten your complexion, applyBobbi Brown’s Rouge Pot in Blushed Rose onto the apples of your cheeks.
Eyes: Lightly define your eyes with Three Custom Color’s longwearing, Opaline Crème Eye Definer in Jupiter. Apply M.A.C.?s Teddy eyelinerto the top lid and inside of the waterline. Boost lashes with 4 coats of Giorgio Armai’s Eyes To Kill Mascara in Brown Copper.
**Napier’s tip:Layering your mascara brings focus to your eye without using color.
Lips: Perfect your pout with the same Bobbi Brown Rouge Pot in Blushed Rose.
**Napier’s tip:Blushed Rose is a subtle pop of color that doesn’t clash with holiday reds and can be blended with pearl toned glosses to create the perfect nude lip!
Scenario 2: A holiday night out with the girls
When you’re celebrating the holidays with the girls, feel free to get a little wild and have a bit more fun with your makeup! Now is the time to take some risks, ladies, and Napier has the perfect fun, glamorous look to make you stand out in a crowd.
“It?s ladies night! This season’s party trend is fun, flirty, futuristic,” Napier says.“Metallic shadows are all the rage and go great with that studded clutch that you’re rocking tonight!”
Face: Begin with your foundation; it should be light and airy, not competing with your statement eye makeup. Use a NARS Sheer Glow liquid foundation with a moistened sponge to create an even skin tone. With a concealer brush add a creamed concealer in a shade lighter than your foundation to accentuate your cheekbones and highlight below your eye area.
Using a fluffy face powder brush apply a translucent powder throughout your face to set your foundation.
Eyes: With a small eye shadow brush, apply Stila’s Smudgepot in Kitten to the base of your eyelid. Try a detailed eye shadow Brush to pack Laura Mercier’s flashy Foiled eye color in V.I.P. Silver or V.I.P. Gold. Pack this flashy metallic shadow onto your eyelid to give your eyes a hint of sparkle!
**Napier’s tip: Applying the eye shadow in a packing motion will reduce excess eye shadow from falling below the eyelids.
Adesign’s All Over Eye Shadow Brushis the perfect applicator to use when applying a matte eye shadow along your crease. Lightly apply Three Custom Color’s Champagne Eye Shadow onto your highlight blend down into your crease color to create a seamless color transition. Softly line your upper lash line with M.A.C Cosmetic’s Eye Kohl in Tarnish. Sweep a heavy coat of black mascara onto lashes to punch up your metallic eye.
A soft color combo on the lip and cheek compliments this lustrous, metallic eye. UseThree Custom Color’s Watercolor in Pink Hyacinth to create a sheer dewy cheek. The Watercolor can double as a moisturizing lip tint and is perfect for all skin tones.
Scenario 3: A romantic holiday dinner with your man
There’s just something so romantic about the holidays. The lights, the snow, the warm fireplace. If you’re heading out for a romantic holiday dinner with your honey, aim for sweet yet sexy makeup. Napier has the perfect look that’ll have your guy’s eyes on you all night.
“The smokey eye is my top pick for date night! Gazing into smoldering eyes over candlelight will keep that special guy’s attention focused on more than just dinner,” Napier says.
Eyes: To achieve this look, begin with foundation. Apply a Crème Concealer/Foundation with a Concealer brush as an eye shadow base.
**Napier’s tip: This step will aid the eye shadow’s wear ability.
This modern Smokey Eye features glimmering, golden, brown hues to create a sultry eye. Try an all over eye shadow brush to apply a combination of Three Custom Color’s Warm Brown Sugar and Copper shadow along the upper lash line. Use the same all over eye shadow brush to blend the shade upward towards the brow bone. Use Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Brick in Beachbelow the brow to create a luminous highlight below your brow.
Softly blend the shadows upwards from dark to light to achieve this smokey eye. Create depth by applying a last all night liquid eyeliner from M.A.C Cosmetics Liquidlast Liner in Point Black or Cocoa Bar.
**Napier’s tip:For a more daring look try using a black eyeliner pencil in Black Eye to line the inner rims of your eyes, drawing more intensity and focus to your dramatic eyes.
Mascara and brows will complete this look. Double up on your mascara application to create statement lashes. Apply Anastasia’s Clear Brow Gel to brows to shift unruly brows into a smooth direction.
Face: When donning a smokey eye, keep foundation and blush to a minimum.
Lips: To create a soft kissable lip apply Dolce and Gabbana’s lip pencil in Nude. Apply Kevyn Aucoin’s Classic Lip Gloss in Tenda.