Winged liner? Check! Red Lip? Check! Sparkles? Check!
Lining up the troops for a holiday party is the easy part, it’s executing a magical look that elevates your everyday face that can be a struggle. You can have all the tools, but what are the rules? According to two of the biggest names in makeup, there simply are no rules—it’s more like steps. Here, celebrity makeup artists Lottie and Daniel Martin walk us through the basic steps for putting our prettiest party faces on.
Step 1: Keep It Simple
The pros say you really can’t make a holiday party look “mistake,” but there is a balance you want to aim for. “I think it’s subjective of course,” say Lottie. “There aren’t any rules per se, but I think some people may tend to go overboard and that can work against the overall look you’re trying to achieve.”
“The only mistake you can really make is by doing too much,” adds Martin. “Too much eye makeup, bright cheeks and a bold lip can be too much of everything! To amp up your makeup for a holiday occasion, it’s best to choose a feature you love and accentuate it. Think of it as a bold accessory and build the rest of your makeup around it.”
Step 2: Pick One and Start There
As far as features go, both Lottie and Martin say it usually comes down to playing up one of the top two people notice first. “I like to play up one thing, like a glittery eye or an intense lip,” says Lottie.
Martin advises starting where you want the most impact and then working around it. “If you want a dramatic smokey eye, start with your eyes and add your cheek color and lip choice to finish. This enables you to see how far you want to push your look without looking too harsh,” he explains. “The same goes with a red lip. Apply your lip first—make sure you’ve applied your base beforehand—and add to your eyes until you see what you’re comfortable wearing without it competing with the lipstick.”
Step 3: Glitter is Always Good
Get a shimmery, glam look without committing to a full glitter look: “Metallic or glittery eyeshadow gives great dimension to the eye and looks beautiful on any skin tone,” says Martin. “The Dior 5 Couleurs Happy 2020 holiday palette is bold and festive for the occasion.”
For those waiting for this holiday moment to shine bright, Lottie says this reflective paste is the easiest to work with and has a maximum payoff: “I love the Lemonhead.LA Spacepaste magical glitter concentrates because there’s no glitter mess. They stay all day and are super easy to wash off.”
Step 4: Be Bold
If sparkles aren’t your thing, Lottie says you can still elevate your look by trying something new: “If you’re not into glitter, try a colored liner or sparkly lip gloss!”
If a bold lip is your standout feature, Martin says remember to find one that keeps you at the party, not away from it. “A bold lip looks great, but look for a long-lasting finish so you don’t have to worry about running back and forth to the mirror for touch ups throughout the night.”
