Lisa Potter-Dixon’s Guide To Party-Season Make-Up
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Prep Your Skin Properly
“I don’t use primer that often because I find skin prep is more important for achieving a smooth, plumped base. Look out for hydrating formulas and wait until your skincare has absorbed fully before you start your make-up. If you want to use a primer to help your make-up last longer, there are a few I rate. Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip Primer locks everything in place, but it gives your skin a fresh, dewy quality. For mattifying and smoothing over any uneven texture, the Grown Alchemist Skin Defence Primer is so effective, and it’s full of skin-friendly ingredients.”
Boost Your Base
“If you’re after that lit-from-within glow, there are some amazing illuminating products that you can layer under your foundation. The Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and Vieve Skin Nova both add a hint of gold, and when you apply your base over the top, your skin looks healthy and radiant.”
Lean Into Glitter
“I’m into glitter all year round, but especially for the festive season. Pat McGrath’s glitters are elite – they create an almost dry gloss effect because the pigment is so pressed. The Mothership palettes are amazing; they contain lots of shades, but they’re well chosen and will last you a long time. An individual glitter pot is so handy – I love those by Victoria Beckham and Hourglass. You can wear it alone as a wash of shimmer or pat it into the centre of the lid over your existing make-up – such an easy way to amp up your eye.”
Define The Eyes
“For a foolproof smokey eye, go for an eyeshadow stick. Bobbi Brown, Vieve and Laura Mercier all do excellent ones. Scribble it over the lid and buff it out with a fluffy brush. If you’re wanting something more high octane, I love a NARS palette. The quality of the pigment means there’s no fall-out. Then you want to create some lift by curling your eyelashes – Shiseido’s is the best.”
Enhance Your Lashes
“For a defined flutter without having to apply any product, get a lash tint. Go to a professional, as it’s important to have it done by an expert as it’s so close to your eyes. I like a blue-black shade which comes out really glossy and deep. In terms of falsies, the Lashify ones are amazing. They require a bit of practice to apply as they sit beneath the lash line, but the brand has some great video tutorials to show you how. Individual lashes are generally easier to apply than a strip lash, and the ones by Sweed are fantastic. They’re ultra-fine, and actually come in a dark brown shade. For a more natural effect, position them on the outer corner to enhance the shape of your eye. If you naturally have really dark lashes, you’ll want to go for black, but this is a flattering alternative for something more understated.”
Create A Focal Point
“A red lip is deceptively difficult to get right. Start by exfoliating the lips with a scrub – you want the surface to be as smooth as possible. Wear a lip balm beforehand and then, when you’re about to apply your lipstick, wipe away the excess. Follow your lip line with a pencil in a similar shade to your natural lips to create the illusion of a fuller pout. Lisa Eldridge's ‘Velvet Ribbon’ is one of my all-time favourite red lipsticks and it has great staying power. Applying straight from the bullet is fine, but if you really want your lipstick to last, use a brush. Take your time to fill the entire lip with pigment. Apply one layer, blot gently with a tissue, followed by a second coat. Then, place tissue over your lips and dust a light layer of translucent powder over the top to set your lipstick in place.”
Add Luminosity
“Place highlighter in the areas where the light naturally hits the face – think tops of the cheekbones, the brow bone, corners of the eyes and the cupid’s bow. I prefer a cream formula because it tends to layer better over liquid foundation. Chanel Baume Essentiel is just sensational – the effect is stunning. Another of my favourites is Rare Beauty's Positive Light. The texture is so silky it’s almost creamy, although it’s actually a powder.”
Lock It All In Place
“To reduce shine and set your base, sweep the Fenty Invisimatte Powder over your skin. If you prefer a loose version, try Huda Beauty's Easy Bake. As a final touch, lock everything down with setting spray. Iconic London's Prep-Set-Glow gives skin a lovely radiance; otherwise those by Urban Decay and ONE/SIZE help your make-up last for hours.
Come Prepared
“If I’m heading out, I’ll always pack a few essentials into my bag so I can touch up my make-up over the course of the night. Translucent powder, lipstick and blush are my must-haves, but it’s also handy to have an eye pencil with you in case you need to refresh your waterlines.”
Finally, Know There Are No Rules
“My personal go-to Christmas make-up look is heaps of glitter – the more, the better! A smokey eye with a nude lip is a winning combination, but I also love a statement red lip with a dramatic lash. If you want to go bold on your eyes and lips, go for it. Christmas is all about celebrating and having fun, so it’s a great time to experiment and get creative.”
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