How To Do Easy Christmas Party Make Up

Make Up artist Charlie Duffy has kindly agreed to share her top tips for creating easy to do Christmas party make up. Over to you Charlie!

Image Pinterest

Having the perfect 'canvas' to work on is key to creating flawless make up. So the night before the big party prep and prime with Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (a Sunshine & Stripes favourite too!) which is very gentle but effective and will allow any moisturisers to do their job properly. Afterwards prep the skin with Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate which is fab for adding radiance to the skin and plumping it while you sleep. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant £41.30 BUY HERE

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate £36 BUY HERE

Don't forget your body either; I recommend using Bliss' Blood Orange and White Pepper Sugar Scrub paying particular attention to elbows, knees and decollete. Then the night before slather whatever skin will be on show in your new party frock with Nuxe Multi Use Dry Body Oil in Golden. It's a wonderful product that has a delicious smell that highlights the skin and won't come off on your clothes.

Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Sugar Scrub £30 BUY HERE

Nuxe Multi-Use Dry Body Oil £28 BUY HERE

I know many people will be going straight from the office to their Christmas party so here are my quick top tips to create the perfect party make up. 

To add a glowing highlight to skin my favourite product has to be Becca Skin Perfector in Moonstone. It suits most complexions and adds the most amazing highlight. Add over your usual foundation to the cheekbones, under the brow bone and the top of the cupids bow on the lips to make them look fuller. I use this product on my A-list clients and they all love the effect it creates.

Becca Skin Perfector In Moonstone £33 BUY HERE

Christmas is the one time we can have more fun with our make up and in my opinion glitter is the way to go! Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Liner or Stila's Magnificent Metals Eyeshadow both have foolproof formulations. Urban Decay's is suspended in a gel so it won't end up half way down your face after too much dancing and Stila's has a little primer you mix with the shadow then apply with the finger tips, so again you won't have any glitter mishaps! Both are great if you are in a hurry as they have the most intense effect.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Metal Liner £14 BUY HERE

Stila Magnificent Metals Eyeshadow £33.50 BUY HERE

I like a classic red lip for Christmas party make up, but to make it more festive put Sisley's Phyto Lip Star in White Diamond on top to add a 3D glittery effect to lips. Perfect for shenanigans under the mistletoe!

Sisley Phyto Lip Star £32.30 BUY HERE

And finally a very quick and easy way to make your nail polish more Christmassy is to paint a coat of OPI's Gold Shatter over the top. Instant party ready nails!

OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer £11.50 BUY HERE

Thank you Charlie! Happy Christmas partying everyone!

Images: Dermalogica, Pinterest, Kiehl's, Bliss, Nuxe, Urban Decay, Stila, Sisley, OPI

Tips From The Pros

Through my job I get to work with some amazing hair and make up artists. I find it mesmerising watching them at work and am always interested in the products in their kit. As such I thought it only fair to share the insider knowledge with my lovely readers. So here goes...

The wonderfully talented Andriani Vasiliou studied Fine Art at esteemed university Central Saint Martins before embarking on a career in make up and honing her skills at Glauca Rossi School of Make Up. Andriani has worked with clients including Australian Vogue, Tatler, Elle UK and celebrities such as Tom Daley and Sheridan Smith. Here she gives us an insight into the Top 10 beauty products she couldn't do her job without.

When it comes to foundation it has to be Vitalumiere by Chanel. This applies easily, looks flawless and Chanel has the best colour range for every skin tone.

I usually hate face powder but Secret Brightening Power by Laura Mercier doesn't sit on the skin instead it brightens rather than dulls the face.

Le Blush Creme by Chanel is genius, I've never seen a blusher like it! It goes on like a cream (blend on with your finger), sets and stays put.  The formulation means you can layer it on and build it up depending on the look you're going for. 

Matt Bronzer by Lancome isn't too orange and doesn't look false. It's great for olive skin, I even use it on myself. Also there's no shimmer in the powder making it perfect for contouring.

Rejuvacoat by Duri is a nail treatment polish you apply every day for 7 days to get rid of splits and cracking. I'm always recommending it to models because it really works.

Thickening Dry Spun Finish by Bumble & Bumble creates the same effect as a dry shampoo, adding texture and volume, but without the powdery feel. It's perfect for creating the Kate Moss party hair look, just tip your head upside down, spray on and work in with your fingers.

Le Rouge Lipstick by Givenchy creates velvety, matt lips without drying them out. The packaging is also exquisite.

I'm not loyal to mascara at all, but if I had to choose a favourite, at the moment it would be Smokey Eye Mascara by Bobbi Brown. It gives the lashes volume without any clumps. The wand is small making it great for lower lashes and getting to the roots.

When it comes to concealing it has to be Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent. There have been so many imitators but nothing comes close! 

The one product I couldn't live without would have to be Illuminator by Nars. I use it after moisturiser but before I apply foundation on practically every job. It dries to a matt finish but gives a fantastic glow to the skin making it look brighter and more dewy. And dewy skin is my signature look!

Thanks Andriani, more things to add to my beauty bag now!

Andriani's portfolio can be viewed here.

Images: Chanel, Bloomingdales, Lancome, Amazon, Bumble & Bumble, BeautyBay, House of Fraser, Bobbi Brown, ElenasFinds, Stella Creative Artists