Get the Christmas glow

Expert tips and tricks for festive party beauty

Looking great at the Christmas party doesn’t mean that you have to use chemically laden beauty products. Here are our expert tips for festive party beauty the natural way.

Face facts

“Start with cleansing and moisturising your face and then apply a primer as this will help to keep your make-up in place throughout the night,” says Ingrid Jamieson, marketing manager with Pravera Ltd (www.pravera.co.uk). “There are many primers on the market; however, I would choose a natural, organic and vegan one if possible as they refrain from using harsh chemicals which can irritate the skin. Next is perfecting your base, using a foundation or BB cream. Add some definition to your evening make-up look by contouring your cheekbones and jawline. It is important to blend the contour well so that your make-up doesn’t look too muddy. Adding a blush to your cheekbones will add a pop of colour to your complexion. Turn the glam up a notch by using a highlighter. Begin by applying it on your cheekbones in an upward motion and then apply it to the bridge and tip of your nose, not forgetting your Cupid’s bow. This will add a dazzling shine and glow to your skin.

Define your brows by brushing them out and filling them in. Adding some sparkle to your eyes is a must at the Christmas party so look for a glittery eye-shadow. Finish with a slick of mascara and if you want to add extra definition add eyeliner to the waterline and/or the upper eyelid line. The final step is to add colour to your lips. If your lipstick always feathers or bleeds outside your natural lip line, try adding a lip liner. Complete your look with a bold lip colour.”

Top tresses

Natural waves with plenty of volume is a great look for the Christmas party and isn’t too difficult to achieve. Start off by washing your hair using a natural shampoo that’s free from chemicals such as parabens, silicones and sulphates. Leave your hair to dry naturally, then divide into sections and curl using large rollers. Leave to set for as long as possible, before removing, brushing out and backcombing a little for some extra lift. Another simple way to achieve natural waves is to wash your hair, plait it and leave to dry for as long as possible – ideally overnight. Then, undo the plaits, brush and style it as normal, being sure to use natural and organic styling products.

Nailed it!

Perfectly manicured nails look fabulous at any party and add the ideal finishing touch. But you don’t have to have an expensive manicure at a salon. You can easily achieve the same effect at home – and without the use of chemicals. Start off by trimming your nails and then shaping them using an emery board. Then, soak your fingers in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to soften the cuticles. Dry your hands and push back your cuticles to create a neat base. Follow this by applying a few drops of cuticle oil. You can make your own by combining jojoba oil with vitamin E oil in a 4:1 ratio and adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Finish off with a couple of coats of a natural nail polish that is free from chemicals such as dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and camphor. Bold orange-red shades are a big trend for 2022. Try not to use too much polish and aim to cover the nail in three strokes.

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