Perfect that dramatic look for festive season make-up

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 10:14

FLICK through any fashion or lifestyle title and you will be confronted with a plethora of beauties. Look a little closer and their hair and make-up is, well, faultless. Airbrushing and hours spent with a make-up artistry team aside, their looks just aren't achievable. Especially when you have a full-time job, kids, a home to run, budgets to manage and precious family time to enjoy.

With the festive season just around the corner, never have we wanted picture perfect party looks more.

But, rest-assured, it can be done – and in around 15 minutes.

BASE BASICS

Invest in a foundation primer under your normal foundation to ensure it stays on all night, without drying or clogging in pores. Try Laura Mercier's Hydrating primer (26.43, Harvey Nichols) which keeps skin looking radiant as well as grabbing hold of the foundation for longer.

DRAMATIC EYES

Sweep a wash of colour over the lid to the brow bone and intensify the colour towards the lashes. Using a darker shade, continue to intensify and blend, with focus on the lower lid. To add definition, line eyes with a liquid liner and finish with lashings of black mascara. Inject extra drama with a pair of false eyelashes from Shu Uemura (from 12, Harvey Nichols) and the Edinburgh make-up team will put them on you for free. And make sure brows are sculpted.

Smokey festive colours don't come better than MAC Neru, Greensmoke or Smoke and Diamonds, 11, Estee Lauder Silky Eyeshadow Duo (20, Jenners) in Black Moon or Cappuccino, or By Terry Silky Eye Shadow 2G in Bronze Tamise (21.53, SpaceNK). Also try Bourjois, Revlon and Benefit.

The rest of the face should be kept understated.

Think peachy sculpted cheeks, subtly contoured features courtesy of a shimmering bronzer and nude pouts.

BOLD DARING LIPS

Bold lips dictate understated eyes, so stick to a nude colour on the eyes followed by black liner and lashings of mascara. Cheeks are similarly demure and subtly sculpted.

Application of your chosen lip colour is key. Use a square-headed lip brush and, after applying one layer, take a tissue, separate the plys and apply one thin ply to the lips to blot the colour. Dust loose powder over the tissue, remove from the lips and re-apply. Do this three times for long-lasting lip colour. Finally, use a lip liner to stop the colour from bleeding.

Try Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay in Place Stay Pink or Stay Coral (16, Jenners) which give a smooth and creamy colour that lasts all evening – even with lots of drinking. Rimmel, Clinique and Revlon do similar versions. Or opt for high shine with their new Pure Color Gloss Stick in Pomegranate Kiss (16, Jenners), or Clinique's High Impact lip colour (14, Jenners) in Cider Berry or Sassy Spice.

METALLICS

Nothing says Christmas glamour like eyes dressed up in metallics. And, some of the top beauty brands have just launched their limited edition metallic collections.

Try Bobbi Brown's versatile pewter cream colour (14, Jenners) which works well on all skin tones, and later with a kohl liner for definition followed by black mascara or false lashes.

Or go for an eye shadow with a subtle metallic shimmer. Gold eye shadows work with warmer tones, while silver eye shadows enhance cooler ones. Keep it subtle with a sheen that catches the light, or go bold with a block of colour. Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Stila and Estee Lauder have some of the best metallic shades around.

And on the lips, keep it simple with some clear gloss or opt for drama with a subtle shimmer metallic lip stick from Bobbi Brown.