Features

The Christmas Party Bag

18 December 2012

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The festive season is probably the only time you can do something a little bit bolder with your make-up at both parties and at the office. With this in mind, we've run down our favourite picks for your make-up bag this Christmas and NYE, to see in the party season with style - and lots of sparkle!

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Face
There's no denying that in order to pull off the perfect party look, your base needs to be picture-perfect and utterly flawless.
❄CELEBRITY PARTY BEAUTY❄
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Face
For liquid foundations, look no further than our picks: Chanel's Perfection Lumiere with SPF 10 and a longwear formula, this gem should take you with ease from the boardroom to bar without needing to top up. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum is another favourite offering great coverage, whilst smelling divine. For oilier complexions liquid foundations have always been best avoided, until now: Enter Givenchy Eclat Matissme Fluid Foundation a formula that offers lightweight coverage whilst ensuring skin stays matte and flawless all night long.
❄HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOGRAPHS❄
Face
If you're more of a powder girl though, why not go for bareMinerals Original SPF15 Foundation, £24 (from www.bareminerals.co.uk) original mineral powder – offering full and lasting coverage, this stuff is so good for your skin, they say you could actually sleep in it. Can't say fairer than that!
❄LEIGHTON MEESTER ON NATURAL BEAUTY❄
© CHANEL 2012/Vincent Lappartient
Face
However, if you're not looking for such full coverage, why not plump for Origins VitaZing for a warm winter glow or Liz Earle Colour's much lauded Sheer Skin Tint SPF 15 – a tinted moisturiser, that evens out the skintone whilst still letting your natural complexion shine through.
❄CHANEL'S PASTEL BOBS❄

Face
And for handbag top-ups throughout the evening, the newly-reformulated Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation (£31 from Harvey Nichols) – with a mirror and applicator – glides smoothly over skin when top-ups are needed, keeping your make-up in place and face shine-free all evening.
❄LOW-MAINTENANCE CELEBS❄
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Cheeks
After a few mulled wines, creating a festive glow on the cheeks isn't always required, but it's good to create one on your terms nonetheless!
❄TREND: RED ALERT!❄
Cheeks
If you’re looking for a creamy sheer tint, look no further than the delectable Mr. Tom Ford; the new Lip and Cheek Stain in Tainted Love (£36, for stockists call 0870 034 2566) is a fail-safe for all skin types and can be used on cheeks and lips – whilst also being a rather perfect gift, too. Use the pad of your index finger to apply just over the apples of the cheeks for a warming glow.
[b]❄BEAUTY NEWS: TOM FORD LIP COLOUR IN TRUE CORAL❄
Cheeks
Cream blushes rarely work well with powders though, tending to gather as you blend. So if your base is powder, go for something like MAC Sheertone Blush in Pinch O' Peach (£17.40 from maccosmetics.co.uk) or Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher in suit-all Rose de Jaspe (available nationwide). We’re also big fans of Benefit’s warm Sugarbomb face powder (£23.50 from benefitcosmetics.co.uk) but if you are feeling particularly bold, why not try NARS Blush in Exhibit A (£21 from narscosmetics.co.uk), a hot raspberry hue that’s bound to turn heads.
[b]❄RETRO BEAUTIES: GET THE LOOK❄

Cheeks
If blush feels like a little too much, bareMinerals READY Luminizer (£26 from bareminerals.co.uk) is a new favourite, offering a warm sheen, we love it swept across the brow bone too.
[b]❄NIKKI REED'S BEAUTY SECRETS❄
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Eyes
Christmas is the time to go a bit mad on eye make-up. So go big, go bold and go bright with these must-haves.
[b]❄TREND: THE BIG SMOKE❄
Eyes
NARS has got the festive favourites nailed; its matte eyeshadow monos in hot blue Outremer and popping purple Daphne (both £17 from narscosmetics.co.uk) are a fun way to bring out green and brown eyes. Laura Mercier's turquoise baked eye colour in Lagoon (£18.50 available nationwide) is another instant party pick-me-up, whether applied wet with a liner brush or dry as a powder all over the lid, this really packs a punch come party time.
[b]❄GET THE LOOK: OFFICE PARTY BEAUTY❄
Eyes
If brights are a little too bold for you though, go for metallics which are just that much more wearable. Our pick of the precious metals bunch is the Lancôme Ombre Hypnôse Mono in Fil d’Argent (£18 from lancome.co.uk) and pretty much every colour in Urban Decay's NAKED palette (£36 from beautybay.com) – the iridescent black hue (Creep) is an easy way to update a smoky eye for party season.
[b]❄LIKE METALLIC SHADOWS? TRY METALLIC NAILS...❄

ESTEE Makeup by Tom Pecheux as courtesy of Estee Lauder
Eyes
Long, luscious lashes are a sure-fire way of achieving the perfect party peepers and a good base goes a long way, so try Lancome's Cils Booster XL. On the mascara front: for length look out for Estee Lauder's Sumptuous Two Tone Eye Opening Mascara, whilst if you're going for volume, volume and more volume, Rimmel's Scandal'Eyes is still one of the best on the market – we love the deep black colour it creates.
[b]❄LAURA MERCIER: PERFECT RED LIPS❄
Eyes
False lashes are changing the way we do our beauty regime – from false strip lashes to lash extensions, there's something for everyone and every budget. Our favourite falsies for party season have to be Eylure Double Lash 205 (£7.10 available nationwide), so thick and fluffy you might find it difficult to think you're not Elizabeth Taylor. Another favourite are the strip lashes from Millie Mackintosh for Nouveau Lashes (£8.99 from nouveaubeautygroup.com) but if you're in the market for something a little more unusual though, check out the Paperself for Bourjois lashes (£10.99 available nationwide).
[b]❄MILLIE MACKINTOSH'S BEAUTY RULES❄
Eyes
Why not go the whole hog and make your beauty routine a complete doddle this December by investing in some lash extensions. The JINNYlash Ultimate TLC eyelash treatment (£110) gives your peepers a complete overhaul, as they curl and tint your natural lashes before adding on the extensions. Designed to last up to four weeks, there really isn't an easier way to stay party ready.
To make an appointment call: 020 7495 8385
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Eyes
Whether you fall into the pencil, liquid or gel camps, a slick of colour is sometimes all that's needed to take your look from daytime to evening glamour puss.
[b]❄STOP WINTER SCENTED CANDLES❄

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Eyes
For easy-use liquid liners go for one of the many colours in the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner range (we are big fans of the Navy Blue to bring out brown eyes) or splash out on the Dolce & Gabbana Glam Liner in the fabulously-festive purple Dahlia. If you're feeling particularly in the mood though, go all-out with a gilt eye, courtesy of a slick of Lush's Eyeliner in Fantasy or Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick in dreamy Turquoise.
[b]❄SHOW-STOPPING MAKE-UP LOOKS❄
Eyes
If you're looking for a high-quality, long-lasting gel liner though, the search begins and ends with the original: Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (£17 from bobbibrown.co.uk). Despite the stellar collection of wearable shades, our favourite at this time of year is always the verdant Forest Shimmer Ink.
[b]❄PARTY SEASON PERFUMES❄
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Lips
A vivid lip is often all it takes to transform your make-up look and your outfit. We've rounded up our favourites for the season here.
[b]❄TREND: RED LIPS❄
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Lips
The Reds
Red lipstick is a fail-safe so make sure you don't leave the house without one of these: Since Kate Moss' Lasting Finish lipstick collection for Rimmel came into being, we've been huge fans but that first edition red in 01 is still the one we go back to.
Another first was YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains that give such a high-shine (with the perfect fade, so this one can be worn at dinner) you'll feel like you've just stepped out of a fashion shoot. Another tack might be to unleash your inner cabaret star with Benefit's Flirt Alert lipstick – a hot orange-based red that's also the official lippy of sauce-pot dance troupe Forever Crazy London.
[b]❄LAURA MERCIER: PERFECT RED LIPS❄

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Lips
The Pinks
Be it hot magenta or delicate rose, a good pink never goes out of style. Our party picks are the Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Disco – a gloss so irresistible, this one is sure to be a hit under the mistletoe – Clinique's Chubby Stick - a handbag staple that keep lips well-hydrated and soft - and Illamasqua's popping pink in Eurydice.
[b]❄CELEBS DO BRIGHT LIPS❄
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Lips
The Corals
Corals are a year-round favourite that look great on the beach as well as at New Year's Eve. Transformative and completely gorgeous, these bold pops of colour are a good way of brightening up dark winter palettes. Favourites? NARS Lipstick in Heatwave and ck one Pure Colour Lipstick in Little Liar. To sum them up: party perfection.
[b]❄RAINBOW HAIR❄
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Lips
The Dark Side
Vampy dark hues on the lip are fearless and bang on-trend this winter. There's no half-measures with this look so be bold and choose one of these fab numbers to make that daring addition to your make-up bag.
[b]❄LADY IS A VAMP❄
Lips
Topshop Lipstick in Wicked (£9 from topshop.com) is one of our favourite berry shades of the season. Dark, daring and very wearable, the blue tones make sure teeth look pearly-white, while the creamy formula means lips stay hydrated so the colour stays firm. Or dare you go even a shade darker than this? Barry M’s Lip Paint in forest green looks effortlessly glam with thick lashes and dewy skin.
[b]❄TREND: BERRY BEAUTY❄

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Nails
We could wax lyrical about polishes, lacquers and nail art all day long. There's no quicker – or easier – way to nod to the festive season.
[b]❄PARTY NAIL IDEAS❄
Nails
butter LONDON's extensive range of polishes that cover old classics to fab newbies have quickly become a staple in our make-up bag and none more so at Christmas than this bad boy – Wallis. A tarnished, metallic olive gold nail lacquer that changes under different lights, this goes with practically any outfit, too.
[b]❄TO WIN BUTTER LONDON GOODIES, CLICK HERE!❄
Nails
We're a sucker for all things sparkly this season, so get in on the act with these glittery offerings. Clockwise from bottom left: ck one long wear + shine nail colors from the Dark Matter collection (£9 from debenhams.com), M&S Limited Collection Polish in Ruby (£3.50 from marksandspencer.com), Estee Lauder Pure Colour Nail Lacquer In Viper (£14.50 available nationwide), Topshop Nails in Stardust (£6.50 from topshop.com), Rimmel Precious Stone High Coverage Glitter Nail Polish in Diamond Dust (£3.99 available nationwide) and Lancôme Vernis in Love in Ginger Swing (£12 from lancome.co.uk).
[b]❄TO WIN BUTTER LONDON GOODIES, CLICK HERE!❄
Nails
2012 was undoubtedly the year of nail art. From wraps to quirky designs on the catwalk, nail art has never been more inventive or accessible – even the Olympians got in on the act at London 2012.
[b]❄OLYMPIC NAIL ART❄

Nails
Or why not turn nail technician yourself and try your hand at a few nail doodles with Models Own Nail Art Pens (£6 from Boots). Available in a range of different colours, our favourites for this time of year are the gold and silver ones, natch.
[b]❄OLYMPIC NAIL ART❄
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Brows
After spending years in the beauty wilderness, bold brows are back. Face-framing and feature-highlighting, a strong pair of above-eye circumflexes are the new beauty must-have. Take some inspiration from these celebrities for your look...
[b]❄CELEBRITY BROWS❄
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Hair
Party hair often needs a quick fix. As much as we'd love to spend hours teasing our tresses into ornate up-do's there's never enough time – try as we might – so that's why you need to call on a few trusted fail-safes to be there when you need 'em.
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Hair
An old favourite is Label M's Resurrection Style Dust to get a bit of grit into the roots and really shake up the volume. And lest we forget the most trusted one of all – Batiste’s Dry Shampoo.

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Hair
Root lift, bouncy curls and mirror shine are the perfect party hair holy grail. To keep your locks in ship-shape, invest in some fail-safe tools. You’ll need a good brush to create lots of volume – we like the Head Jog Brush – or for artful beach waves look no further than the Toni & Guy Hourglass Wand. If smooth and sleek is more your style, make sure you're never too far from a pair of ghd’s classic stylers or channel your inner Hollywood glamazon with the Babyliss Pro 20 Piece Roller Set.
Hair
If you're looking for a quick and easy style for party season, why not try one of Percy and Reed's hot party styles.
The Modern Victory Roll
The Modern Pleat
The Textured Back Bun
The Fishtail