1. Prep your skin
The first step to creating the perfect holiday makeup look is starting with a flawless, budge-proof base. To do this, start with moisturizing. No matter your skin type ,the one product I have found to be a true miracle is the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum. Apply it before going to bed and let it do its magic while you're sleeping.
Next, apply a fondation of your choice and finish off with Catrice One Drop Coverage Weightless Concealer. As a cult favorite, it is hard to fathom this concealer is just a few bucks. It immediately disguises any dark circles or discolorations I am experiencing and does an excellent job brightening my face.
2. Go for soft sultry eyes
Although I love a good smokey eye, it’s often unrealistic to achieve in a short amount of time. I find that it’s usually best to stick to two colors at most – an all over lid color and then one for adding depth into the crease. Bourjois Paris Rue Du Café Chocolat Nude Edition Palette is excellent for creating this kind of look. I love how it includes a combo of matte, satin, and metallic colors that can be mixed for a soft or bold smokey effect. To achieve this look, I used the Crème and Cannelle shades all over my lid, then I applied the bronze shimmery color called Highlighter/ Illuminateur in the inner corners of my eyes. To smoke it out, I mixed Viennois and Bistrot shades with a bit of black and blended it onto the outer corners of my eyes. I finished it off with a bold black eyeliner and a couple of layers of my favourite mascara - Better Than Sex by Too Faced.
3. Mix different finishes for a dimensional effect
To bring more depth and dimension back into my complexion, I apply bronzer along the contours of my face focusing on my cheeks. It creates a sunkissed glow that looks so natural but radiant. Sadly, the bronzer I used for this look is no longer available, but any good baked bronzer would do the trick. Once my face is complete, it is time to put the highlighter into action - the finishing touch to every makeup look! It just adds that last little pop that gives your face a healthy glow. There are tons of highlighters out there though, but they certainly are not all created equal. Some have large pieces of glitter in them while some are too chalky. The goal is always to glow, not look like a glittery art project gone wrong. For the last couple of months my personal choice is Essence BRONZED this way! Baked Bronzy Blush - 01 Giraffe Me Crazy! The shade is perfect for all skin tones. The formula of this product melts into your skin to give you a beautiful finish.
4. Finish with a nude lip color
While you can rock a bold lip for a holiday look, I most times stick to nudes because it’s more forgiving. To go with my soft, smokey theme I decided to wear 183 Days by Trend it Up Royal Darling Lipgloss in neutral colour. It’s a true nude color that doesn’t lean brown nor pink. The slim packaging is great for taking everywhere with you too in case you need to re-apply it!
What holiday makeup ideas do you have in mind at the moment?