Everyday makeup is so … every day.
For this season of celebration, we went looking for a little extra “oomph” to put the festive in our festivities.
Here, two local beauty pros offer their tips on adding shimmer and shine to our Yuletide looks. From the tips of our lashes to the tips of our nails, this could be our merriest, prettiest holiday yet!
The Eyes Have It
‘Tis the season to go bold, says makeup artist (and master cut and color specialist) Kristi Ellis of Vanity Salon & Color Bar.
“Go for it! Jump out of the box,” she said. “Holiday parties are the time to stand out, to make a statement.”
Bring out your eyes with a smoky look, Ellis says, and for most impact, use colors that complement your eye color; for example, plum shades bring out green eyes. Ellis demonstrates the look on her salon colleague Alyssa Hatcher.
“And girly girls love to amp up their lashes!” Ellis added.
Left: Bring out your eyes with a smoky look, using graduated depths of color in three shadow shades.
Right: Lucky Alyssa — these are her natural eyelashes and brows!
Bottom Left: It’s OK to apply mascara to the tops of lashes instead of bottoms.
Bottom Right: Blush accents cheekbones; while bronzer contains shimmer and adds a warm tone to skin.
How to: Apply primer to keep eye shadow from creasing. Graduate depths of color as you move upward and inward on the eyelid, with lightest shade just under brow. For extra drama, smudge a bit of your medium shade under bottom lashes on outer third of eye.
If using shimmer, apply in a very thin line on outer part of lid only.
Apply eyeliner similarly, from light to bold as you move outward. Black is the classic color, but brown and navy work too. An angled eyeliner brush lets you create a bolder line by simply turning the brush. A triangular brush is great for super-thin lines.
No liner? Substitute shadow, applied with a wet shadow brush.
Use plumping lash conditioner at night, or under mascara.
Apply a thin coat of mascara to uncurled lashes; heat the pad of the curler with a blow dryer for 5 seconds, then curl lashes for 10 seconds. Add 1-2 more coats of mascara for volume, allowing each coat to dry. It’s OK to apply mascara to the tops of lashes instead of bottoms. Brush out clumps with an eyelash comb.
To boost lashes, try “permanent” extensions, which Ellis says last up to four weeks but are somewhat costly. Other options are single-use eyelash strips, or single-use “individual” lashes (generally a group of 3).
Use light, short strokes of brow pencil to fill in thin spots on brows.
What you need:
• Primer
• 3 shades of eye shadow
• Shimmer shade, optional
• Eyeliner in liquid, pencil or crayon
• Plumping lash conditioner
• Mascara
• Eyelash curler
• Brow pencil that matches brow color
Mistletoe Kisses
“Anybody can wear bold red lips, but you need the personality to stand behind them and feel confident,” Ellis said. “Ask for suggestions at the makeup counter, and find a red you’re comfortable in. Invest in a good lipstick — try out matte and shiny versions, to see what you like best.”
Gloss is boss, adding shine to lip color and helping it last.
Kristi’s Tips:
3 work-to-party must-haves:
Eyeliner, mascara & foundation
Bold eyes AND lips?
Depends on the head-to-toe look. In most cases, choose one or the other to avoid overdoing it.
Blush vs. bronzer: Blush accents cheekbones. Bronzer contains shimmer and adds a warm tone to skin.
Sit while making up you’ll be more careful, and patient.
Apply blush to apples of cheeks; make a “fish face” to find them.
Complexions change in winter; use a different foundation than you do in summer, but still with SPF. Apply it with a flathead brush, using a circular motion, for a more even look.
No-no: Carry foundation color to the neck and décolleté to avoid the dreaded “line.”
What you need:
• Primer
• Lip liner
• A quality lipstick
• Lip gloss
How to: Apply primer, if desired. To make lip color last, line then shade over lips with a lip liner in a color that complements your lipstick.
Apply lipstick, then gloss for shine. Carry lipstick and gloss with you for reapplication as needed.
Nail It
While a single color works for everyday nails, holiday parties are the time to bring on the glitz, says nail technician (and esthetician) Margaret White of Alossi Renewal Spa.
A clear base coats helps polish adhere.
Parties call for festive nails! Dot clear coat on the tip of one nail at a time, then sprinkle with a dusting of glitter. A clear top coat protects the look.
“Holiday nails have more shimmer and glitz, more color,” she said. “Some people even choose a different color for each nail. It’s part of your personality — it’s all in how you feel. And no matter what your age, you can still have the glitz factor. There’s never too much glitter!”
What you need:
• Base coat
• Polish
• Glitter
• Top coat
How to: File nails to round edges. Apply a clear base coat to help polish adhere to nails.
Choose your polish: White recommends gel, which cures under UV light, for its durability; a gel manicure lasts through daily chores for about three weeks, she says, while a non-gel finish lasts about one week.
Dot clear coat on the tip of one nail at a time, then sprinkle with a dusting of glitter. Follow with clear top coat to protect the look.
Allow nails to dry fully.
Margaret’s Tips:
Match your nail color to your jewelry, with silver or gold accents.
Trends:
Black and gold, metallics, glitters, neons — and red, always
Try a pattern on the ring finger, or stick-on accents
Vanity Salon & Color Bar
1401 Aversboro Road, Suite 105 Garner
(919) 779-5544
vanitysalongarner.com
Alossi Renewal Spa
245 New Fidelity Court
Garner
(919) 662-5090
alossispa.com
