Georgia Day’s Ultimate Party Make-Up Picks
A Perfect Base
When it comes to party makeup, I want a base that has staying power but doesn’t look cakey, heavy, or too flat. With that in mind I have an important PSA to make… I think I may have found the best foundation I have ever tried. Genuinely, hand on heart, Dior’s new Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation is take-your-breath-away good. Why? First up, forget everything you think you know about stick foundations. Unlike traditional formulas, this one is creamy, super blendable, and glides onto skin like an absolute dream. Although it goes on like a velvety balm and melts in like one, it actually turns into more of a powdery finish, albeit one that’s featherlight and definitely not flat. I can’t think of an occasion where it wouldn’t be a fantastic option, but party season is where it will really come into its own. It covers everything beautifully (including my impossible-to-disguise hyperpigmentation patch) and it really lasts, all while creating a more uniform skin tone and texture. Buy it now but use it forever. This foundation is for life, not just for Christmas.
A Festive Eyeshadow
I’ve talked before of my love for red eyeshadow – it’s versatile and surprisingly flattering – but if you’ve yet to try it, then let me convince you that Christmas is the perfect time to give it a go. If you want to slowly segue your way into red, the Kosas Soulgaze Intensifying Gel Eyeliner in Bewitch is great way to do it. It’s more on the purple side of red (think of a rich garnet hue) but has just enough oomph to make a statement. If, like me, you’re happy to go full-throttle and slick an opaque shade over your lids, Violette_Fr’s Matte Liquid Eyeshadow + Liner in Paris La Nuit is as good as it gets. Metallic verging on molten (a must for party season in my book) it’s the most stunning blend of pearlised red, pink and gold pigments I have seen.
If you prefer to play down your eyes, then you can’t go wrong with a great set of neutrals. I recently discovered Westman Atelier’s Eye Pods and have been raving about them ever since. Not only are the tiny pots perfect for popping in even the smallest of party bags, but the silky cream-powder formulas mean you can sweep over eyelids and create a polished, put-together look with ease. I love the warm biscuity tones of the Toujours trio. Of course, you could go one better and choose a palette that has a bit of everything. Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Beautyverse Love Palette is a mix of neutrals, reds and deep browns.
1.Toujours Eye Pods, £80 | Westman Atelier
2.Pillow Talk Beautyverse Love Palette, £58 | Charlotte Tilbury
3.Yeux Paint, £33 | Violette_FR
4.Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner, £20 | Kosas
A Warming Blusher
Although a smattering of bronzer is a given no matter the season, blusher is my favourite way to warm up wintry skin and add dimension to my face. When it comes to formulas, Rhode’s Pocket Blush is my number one. I like Freckle, a brown-based peach, because it creates the perfect winter bloom – the kind that mimics the natural flush you get from a blowy walk along a cold beach. I also love the balmy texture, which diffuses beautifully into skin whether applied with a brush or fingers. For parties, I’ll be wearing it high up on my cheekbones for a sculpted, snatched effect. To add a little festive glitz, I’ll be diving into the Jones Road Cheek Palette in Golden Bronze. The burnished shades are easy to wear and even easier to use. I like them patted over cheeks and brow bones to bring skin to life, but you could equally swipe across lids and even lips. Although I’m not usually one for a full-on frosting, there’s something so pretty about the antique gold shade of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Seeker Highlighter in Enchanted. I’ll be dusting it over my blush and pressing into my Cupid’s bow for a little light-reflecting luminosity.
1.Glow Seeker Highlighter, £39 | Anastasia Beverly Hills
2.Lip & Cheek Palette, £25.20 (was £28) | Jones Road
3.Pocket Blush, £24 | Rhode
A Red Lip
A great red lipstick is a party-season staple, and this year I’m excited to up my game with a clutch of new goodies. First up, there’s the Trait d’Hermès Lip Pencil in 54 Rubis. When I tell you this pencil glides along the lip line like a buttery dream, I’m not exaggerating. I’m not only obsessed with the waxy formula but with the blue-based shade of red too, which I think is so flattering on everyone. Although that’s a whole lip look in itself, I love adding extra intensity with a good lipstick. My weapon of choice for mistletoe kisses is Vieve’s excellent Satin Slip Lipstick in Hickie. It’s balmy but saturated in pigment, so is a great option if you’re going to be ploughing your way through canapés as well as kisses. For those evenings when I’m feeling a little extra, I’ll be adding a glossy topcoat courtesy of Gisou’s Lip Oil in Cherry on the Cake. If neutrals are your thing, you can’t go far wrong with the Victoria Beckham Lip Definer in No.2 and a glazed coat of Hourglass’s excellent Phantom Glossy Balm Duo.
1.Trait D'Hermès Lip Pencil, £43 | Hermès
2.Lip Definer, £26 | Victoria Beckham Beauty
3.Volumizing Glossy Balm Duo, £57 | Hourglass
4.Satin Slip Lipstick, £23 | VIEVE
5.Cherry On The Cake Lip Oil, £24 | Gisou
An Emergency Pouch
Good party make-up comes down to prep. The last thing you want to be doing is fretting that your lipstick is coming off on your cocktails. With that in mind, I’ll be packing a mini kit of on-the-go essentials that includes the Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Mini to remove unwanted shine and the Navy Professionals Cuticle Balm to ensure my festive nails are looking their best. And to keep everything neat (and impossibly chic) I’ll be stashing said kit in the new Chanel snowflake pouch, which comes as part of its Beauty Gift Set. Inside, you’ll find a mini La Crème Main and a Rouge Coco Baume in Dreamy White, which keeps lips hydrated and supple when worn on its own or under lipstick.
1.Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting & Finishing Powder, £28 | Givenchy
2.Cuticle Balm, £18.99 | Navy Professional
3.The Hydration Duo, £94 | Chanel
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