Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am in full-on holiday mode. The streets are filled with twinkle-lights, homes smell like cinnamon, and everything seems to be covered in a fine layer of glitter.
This is my favorite time of year for a lot of reasons, but one of them is definitely the makeup. As the weather cools and everyone gets a little bit more festive, I find that you can get away with much bolder looks in everyday life. While you can never go wrong with classic looks, I want to give you a few tips on how to spice up your holiday makeup and bring it into the 21st century.
1. The classic red lip
You can never go wrong with a red lip, but the plain satin finish of lots of lipsticks has bored me as of late. These days, I am loving both ends of the spectrum: either mega-matte or mega-glossy and nothing in between.
I love this liquid lipstick from The Balm because it goes on smoothly and once you let it dry, it will be on ALL DAY. Not to mention it is super matte without looking chalky.
Wet-look lipstick is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is beyond shiny, it catches the light, and it is, admittedly, a little sticky. Maybe not the best choice for a windy day with your hair down, but layer it overtop a red lip liner with a fierce up-do and you are sure to turn heads.
2. A little bit of shimmer
I will take any excuse to add a little sparkle to my makeup routine, especially when I’m in the holiday spirit. This year, though, it is less about the sparkle and more about the shimmer. The Kardashians introduced us to “strobing” and I am loving all of the products on the market at the moment that help you achieve that glowing-from-within look.
This highlighter from L’Oreal has been all over social media since its release, and it is easy to see why—it is creamy, easy to blend, and comes in three shades to accommodate every skin tone (you want to find one close to your skin color to avoid looking like a disco ball). Mix a bit of this in with your foundation to give a subtle all-over-glow or blend it onto your skin wherever the light naturally hits.
The Balm has flown under the radar for the last few years, but this highlighter has definitely garnered some attention from beauty gurus. This is a very buildable product—put a little bit on your cheekbones for a subtle glow, or layer it up for a hard-core highlight—and looks fantastic on any skin tone. Combine it with a little contour or wear it on its own, either way this looks fantastic!
3. Dramatic lashes
In years past, you would rarely find me in a red lip without a classic cat eye—something about the dramatic eye look with the dramatic lip just makes sense to me. While it’s still a great option, I’m way more interested lately in huge, fluttery lashes rather than eyeliner. You can strike just the right balance when you pair a gorgeous red lip with mondo-lashes—plus it’s all of the drama of the cat flick without the nightmare that is liquid liner!
http://www.sephora.com/better-than-sex-mascara-P381000?skuId=1533439
This mascara is definitely Holy Grail status in my book! One coat is perfect for everyday wear, but once you start building it up you can get some serious drama. Lengthening, volumizing, and never clumpy—this is kind of the perfect mascara.
http://www.feelunique.com/p/Tanya-Burr-Bambi-Eye-False-Eyelashes
If you have ever seen Tanya Burr’s YouTube videos, you know that she is an expert at makeup, so it only made sense for her to come out with her own makeup range. These lashes are super long and full but still light and airy. The band is super thin and flexible, making for a comfortable wear all night long. Apply these with the lash glue that’s included, curl with your natural lashes and apply a coat of mascara and enjoy all-day lashes!
4. Colorful eye makeup
The holiday classic is generally a red lip and a shimmery, neutral eye. This year, however, I’m asking why lips get all the fun! Add a bit of color to your eye look this holiday season for a daring look without being too over-the-top.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rimmel-London-Exaggerate-Eye-Liner-Emerald-250/11979315
Putting a bit of green eyeliner on your bottom waterline is a simple way to add some interest to your eye look. This emerald color from Rimmel is simply lovely and glides on easily. Use the sponge-tip smudging end to smoke out the liner and make the look a little more dramatic.
http://www.sephora.com/artist-shadow-P387670?skuId=1623941
For a look that really pops, add a bit of red to a smoky eye. Combining a bright ruby with black, grey, silver, or brown adds lots of visual interest without being too in-your-face. Makeup Forever’s Artist Shadows are all super pigmented and longwearing, and this red one is no exception—throw on an eye primer beforehand to make sure that your bold look stays on all day!