Behnaz Sanjana’s guide to looking festively fabulous for the endless partying that awaits.
The masters of makeup and all things beauty have unleashed the glitter with great gusto this holiday season. If you’re not aiming for the ‘shiny disco ball’ look, choose one feature to sparkle-up – eyes, lips or cheekbones. Or, break all the rules and switch on full gleam. It’s the end of the year; anything goes! Either way, you’ll be dazzling on the dancefloor.
STARRY EYES
If your regular eyeshadow palette has a couple of iridescents that you have ignored through the year, now’s the time to give them your full attention. Using a good glitter primer is non-negotiable for all-night staying power, and do complete the drama with a set of false eyelashes and winged liner.
Layer your eyeshadow shades as usual, and then use a small, flat brush to pack on the shine all over the mobile area of the lid.
Because ‘tis the season, mature eyes can pull off a little shine without worrying about exaggerating fine lines. Play with a subtle sheen only on the centre of the lid and the inner corners of the eyes as the last step of your eyeshadow application. L’oreal’s La Petite Mini Eyeshadow Palette does a fair job for a steal, or go all out with Huda Beauty’s Obsessions Precious Stones Eyeshadow Palette.
HIGHLIGHT YOUR BEST FEATURES
Depending on the tone of your outfit and the rest of your face, a warm gold or silver frost highlighter can add that oomph appeal to your overall look. You don’t even need to sit through a gazillion tutorials to master the art of highlighting with tact.
Highlighter lets the high points of the face – cheekbones, temples, cupid’s bow (just above and below the lips) and bridge of the nose – catch and reflect the light, catapulting you to glam goddess status. It also serves to better define your bronzer and contour, if you have wandered into that realm of skill. A cream highlighter like Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is sure to grab attention.
PIXIE DUST LIPS
Nothing screams ‘Christmas’ like a bold, red lip. This eternally sophisticated colour transforms easily from office to social gatherings quite effortlessly. And with faithful pigments like Givenchy’s Rouge Graine 37, from the beauty maison’s newest Le Rouge Deep Velvet line, you’ll be the diva at any do.
If you’re more glitter glitz than a red-lip gal, thank NARS for the new Disco Dust lipsticks that the brand unveiled in the run up to the holidays. One swipe of any of the metallic, high-pigment shades, and you’re the life of the party.
GO TO (TINSEL) TOWN
To rank really high on the sparkle score, body glitter is the way to go. Fenty Beauty has a wide range of body luminisers and shimmer powders for you to warm up the shoulders and the décolletage when you’re in your strapless number. NYX Face and Body Glitter does a good job getting the party started too.
