How to apply perfect makeup for a holiday party

Nov 01, 2012 1:11 AM by Elizabeth Mitchell

Posted in How-To / Beauty & Style How-tos

"Forget the cliche, red glossy lips of the years past, and those dark smoky eyes that will most likely make you look like a fallen rock star by the end of the night anyway," says Sebastien Tardif, celebrity makeup artist and CEO of Veil Cosmetics. Instead, get the party started off right. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go bright and matte

Nothing brings out glamour and uplifts your whole look like a shocking pink, a flashy tangerine or a vivacious coral matte lip color. Not to mention, it won’t leave that telltale stain around the rim of your champagne glass that you’ll surely be sipping from all night, notes Tardif. Let’s keep it classy, ladies!

Step 2: Highlight your face

"Why not embody the fresh, crisp air that reminds us all so much of a magical December snowfall," says Tardif. To do so, try a soft, pink-based face highlighter that is about one to two shades lighter than your actual skin tone (this will enliven all the high points of your complexion). Tardif also recommends using a weightless, liquid illuminator applied with a small, flat, rounded-tipped brush high atop the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, mid-forehead and chin. "This way, you’ll never look powdery or ashy — you’ll just glow like a model!"

Step 3: Buy some falsies

Fly through the night like an exotic bird by simply adding a fab pair of false eyelashes to your look. Start by curling your real eyelashes first, advises Tardif. Then make sure to use dark adhesive, and apply the falsies to the outer part of your eyes, working your way inward, so that they end up resting right against your own lash line (white glue never really dries so transparently after all, he notes). "Lastly, go minimal with the rest of your makeup to ensure an ultra-fresh appearance, and of course, to save more time dancing the night away with all your friends and family!" Tardif says.