With Christmas and New Year’s around the corner, you’ll notice your inbox filling up with more and more invites. Besides the usual Christmas drinks and New Year’s festivities, the time is ripe for weddings, casual cocktails, BBQs and even those ‘Hey It’s Summer, Let’s Have Fun’ parties. This usually means you’ll be spending a solid amount of time getting ready and perfecting your flawless festive beauty look.
So we’re here to take some of the guesswork out of it for you by sharing our tips on how to create a gorgeous party season look – fresh from top to toe!
BEGIN WITH A GOOD BASE
As it gets warmer, chances are you’re likely to sweat a little more. Avoid the dreaded shiny face by starting your make-up look with a mattifying primer, and finishing off with a light dusting of translucent powder
When it comes to foundation, make sure you use one that suits your skin type (eg. a really nourishing one if your skin is dry, and a mattifying formula for oily skin). Ideally your base should withstand a few hours of wear without needing a touch up.
A good base doesn’t only mean your face – sometimes our bodies could do with some coverage to help hide and minimise imperfections like veins, bruises, freckles or even scars.
Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs may look like any other lotion, but the product goes a step further and acts like make-up for your body, with different shades to suit different skin tones. You can use it to help cover imperfections anywhere – whether it’s a bruise on your arm or a birthmark on your leg. Much like applying foundation to your entire face, the lotion can be applied to the entire area to achieve flawless coverage. So in other words, if you’re applying it to hide imperfections on one leg, make sure to apply it to the other – the same goes for your arms. But hey, why not reap the benefits of the added hint of colour and apply all over for an even sunkissed glow?
The brilliant thing about the lotion is that the easy-to-apply formula dries quickly to leave an even, streak-free finish on your legs. It’s also water and transfer-resistant, so it will only come off when washed with a combination of soap and water – making it the perfect commitment-free body coverage for that one-off event.
Plus, the convenient compact bottle fits easily inside your handbag for application on the go (you never know when they’ll be a last minute party in summer) and there’s also a 22.2mL travel size version, so you can literally take it with you anywhere!
ADD SOME SPARKLE
The party season is all about having some fun and embracing the frivolity that comes with summer.
There are a few ways you can add some sparkle to your make-up look to finish with a little more festivity:
Eyes
You can either use a sparkling eyeshadow all over your lids, or use your shadow to line your eyes if you prefer something more subtle. If you really want a flawless sparkling eye look, use eyeshadow guards to catch any fall out and concealer to clean up your edges.
Cheeks
Opt for a bronzer, blush or powder with illuminating particles to give your skin a subtle sparkle that will leave you glowing. A bronzer will make you look a little more like you’ve spent the day on the beach, while a blush will add a more natural flushed finish. And as for an illuminating powder? Apply on its own or combine with a blush or bronzer to give your skin some added radiance on the high points of your face – your forehead, cheekbones, and the bridge of your nose.
Lips
Keep your eye makeup neutral and let a shimmering or glittery lip be the focus of your party look.
The important thing is to remember to balance your make-up look depending on where you focus your sparkle. So if you’re all about your eyes, keep your lips neutral, and if your lips are the star of your look, opt for low-key eyes.
WORK THAT UP ‘DO
As much as we all love glossy curls or textured waves for an event, the sticky reality is that having your hair out in summer is HOT. Your neck gets sweaty, then you end up playing with your hair too much, and by the end of the night your untamed tresses look a little disheveled.
The solution? A dressed up up-‘do that looks great and won’t leave you feeling hot and bothered.
For longer hair, a ponytail is a great option, and you can always dress it up with a metallic band wrapped around the pony or by adding volume at the base.
If you have a bob or a lob and find it hard to get all your hair up, clipping the front bits back will get it off your face. Alternatively you can try a simple bun either at the nape of your neck or just a bit higher –simple, you can’t go wrong!
PERFECT YOUR DIGITS
We all know that a chipped manicure is a no-no, but bare nails don’t exactly scream summer festiveness, now do they? Whether you realise it or not, a freshly painted and eye-catching manicure is the perfect way to finish off your summer party look, so make sure to leave enough time for nail painting before an event.
An always-safe summer option is white (we like Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Get Mod), as it will go with absolutely everything and stand out against bronzed skin, but if you’re looking for something a bit more colourful, try a bright coral or pink (like Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Kook-A- Mango or Aflorable).
And of course, don’t forget your toes to complete your flawless party look!
Do you have a go-to look for the party season? What’s your favourite way to play around with hair or make-up pre-party?
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