Party perfection

Your guide to the perfect party look

Want to look your best at the Christmas party this year? Read on for our expert tips and advice on natural make-up, hair inspiration and how to choose natural products.

Festive highlights

"An easy way to get a festive look is to add highlights and a pop of colour to your make-up," says Simone Otis, head artist for 19/99 beauty (1999beauty.com) a cruelty-free, vegan beauty brand. "Use a creamy highlighter to add glimmer to the high points of your face – the cheekbones, brow bones, centre of the eyelids and the Cupid's bow. Contour and highlight products are a great choice to try experimenting with. I find the easiest textures to work with are creamy products that can be sheer or can be layered to get depth where needed."

Simone suggests using "graphic colour" either on the eyes or lips with a more subtle colour on your other facial features. She adds: "For example, a bold, orangey-red lip paired with very subtly defined eyes and a hint of colour on the cheeks, or a more vivid cheek colour while softly defining the eyes and lips with neutral shades." Simone also recommends looking for multi-purpose products such as a lip product that doubles as a cheek colour, or a creamy, rosy brown that works well on the eyes, lips and cheeks.

Top texture

"I'm a huge fan of embracing natural hair texture as it means you're not fighting or damaging the hair," says Gina Conway, owner of the Gina Conway Salon & Spa in Wimbledon (@gina_conway_aveda).

"A lot of us have a bit of natural movement in our hair so by gently encouraging that we can create a relaxed, elegant style without overusing heat." When you're styling your hair for the Christmas party, Gina recommends using an organic leave-in conditioner to give a light glaze, before adding in some gel for structure. She says: "If your hair is quite dry, don't feel you have to shampoo it every time. It's fine to damp hair down to restyle or just use conditioner. When the hair is wet, comb through a curl cream with a wide tooth comb and then gently squeeze out the excess moisture with a towel. Dry on a gentle heat using a diffuser and then pop in some waves to add some more refined style. You can leave it loose or use this as a base to pin pieces up away from the face."

Go natural

"If you're looking to invest in some new beauty products for your upcoming Christmas parties, you should consider using natural and organic products," says Quelia Doyle, a hair stylist, make-up artist and founder of My Beauty Squad (www.mybeautysquad.com). "These offer several advantages. For instance, many are free from harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and artificial preservatives, reducing the risk of skin irritation, allergies, or long-term health concerns.

Also, organic and natural products are often eco-friendly, produced using sustainable practices and cruelty-free methods. They can also be gentler on the environment, as their production tends to involve fewer pollutants, causing less harm to ecosystems.

Not only that, but natural and organic ingredients can be more nourishing for your skin and hair, as they often contain vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils that promote overall health and vitality. If you choose such products this year, you can contribute to a more sustainable approach to personal care."

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