A festive look for Christmas…
This year, my festive look isn’t too over the top, but, of course – it wouldn’t be a festive look without lots of glitter on the lid now, would it?! I’ve settled for a more muted red lip this year as I find them more comfortable and easier to wear, especially with all of the eating I’ll be doing. (ya feel me?) I’ve also opted for a new glitter, one that I’ve been desperate to have in my collection for a while, so it was inevitable that it would be part of my next glitzy look. Anyway, without further ado, these are the products I’ve picked out for this years festive look!
The Base…
For primer, I usually have a matte one in my T-Zone area as that’s where I get super oily – but lately I’ve been applying a bit of the Origins Matte Moisture Perfector which does just as good of a job. This moisturiser is insane if you have oily skin, it literally keeps your skin super hydrated but once it’s dried down it’s completely matte, so it’s perfect for applying all over my face or just in my T-Zone when the rest of my skin needs a bit of extra hydration. I applied a bit of this on my forehead, around my nose and on my chin, and then opted for Charlotte Tilbury’s Wonderglow on the rest of my face. Most of you will already know that wonderglow is one of my all time favourite primers, because it leaves my skin looking so smooth and blurs imperfections, meaning that my makeup applies like a dream on top of it. Love love! For foundation, the one I’m using religiously at the moment is the YSL All Hours Foundation, it’s full coverage, mattifying and supposedly lasts up to 24 hours so what more could you want in a base? I haven’t tested it for the full 24 hour period (I would never wear makeup for that long, let’s be real) but it does last so well for the 8 hours that I usually wear my makeup for. It doesn’t cling to any of my dry areas at all but it also doesn’t accentuate my oiliness in the T-Zone area either so it’s definitely become one of my everyday go-to foundations.
My two favourite concealers to use are firstly, the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Chantilly for under my eyes, it’s extremely creamy like it says in the name and a little bit goes such a long way. It’s super brightening and covers up my dark circles like a dream. Secondly, I always use the NARS Soft Matte Concealer for adding extra coverage under my eyes if I’ve had a few late nights recently and I’m a bit worn down, as well as to cover up any redness around my nose, chin and any blemishes. I lusted after this concealer for so long and I’m glad I finally picked it up because it’s got the most amazing coverage and it’s so incredibly creamy that it blends in like a dream. I think it’s safe to say that NARS are by far the best brand for concealer.
I go in lightly with some powder to set this all in place afterwards, of course. I’ve been using the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder as I’ve had quite a few breakouts lately and this is the best powder for keeping all of my concealer firmly in place.
Adding Some Colour…
I think a deeper contour is in order when I’m making a bit more of an effort with my makeup like for a festive look, so I’ve used the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder which is one of my all time faves. I have the shade medium and it’s the perfect blend of warm and cool to create super natural looking shadows on the cheekbones. For bronzer I’m using the Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit which I’ve been using for a good couple of months now. I have it in the shade light and the bronzing powder in it is just my favourite, it’s so warm toned and leaves my skin looking lovely and sun-kissed.
For blush, it was a hard choice, but I’ve opted for a peachy coral as I think this shade compliments my yellow undertones perfectly. I’ve used the Too Faced Love Flush Blush in the shade I will always love you. Finally, for highlight, it was inevitable that it was going to be my favourite highlighter of all time – the NARS Man Ray Overexposed which unfortunately was limited edition but it’s such a beauty! A similar dupe is the Jouer Highlight in Topaz.
The Brows…
On my brows I’ve used my hero brow product, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz – I just love how natural but defined this makes my brows look. You can go in with light strokes that mimic brow hairs or go in a bit heavier to give them more shape like I do. I always use this on special occasions as it never lets me down, although I think I need a warmer shade as it’s a bit too cool toned since I last got my hair done!
Adding The Glitter…
Now on to the best part… the eyes! I always prime my lids as they get super oily, and my holy grail eyeshadow primer at the moment is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I only use a tiny spec of this and it covers both lids and keeps my eyeshadow in place and crease free alllll day. For this look, I went in with a favourite palette of mine, the Dolce Vita Quad from Charlotte Tilbury. The warm rosy browns in it are perfect for this time of year. I used the darker cooler toned brown in my crease and under my lower lash line, with a tiny bit of the warmer red toned brown in my outer V. I added in a soft matte brown from another palette in the crease too, as you’re quite limited when it comes to a quad with only four shades to use. You could use anything for these, even your bronzer would work! I then added a bit of the bronze sparkle in the centre of my lids, and the champagne shimmer in my inner corners. To really make my eyes pop, I knew I wanted a liquid glitter on top and I went in with the newest eyeshadow to my collection – the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter in Bronzed Bell. I’ve had my eye on this little gem for a while and with a Cult Beauty voucher to spend, it was finally time to add it to my makeup stash. Liquid glitters are so vibrant and a perfect way to enhance any eye look, this is my first Stila one and it’s a beaut – the Pixi ones are lush too.
To finish off my eyes, I curled my lashes and used the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. This was a little travel size I received for my stocking fillers gift guide and my first time trying out this mascara. I absolutely love it! It gives my lashes so much volume, what a little babe.
The Lips…
It wouldn’t be a festive look without a pop of red would it? Like I said at the start of the post, I’ve opted for a more muted red this year as I find them much more wearable throughout the winter and this one is my new fave. It’s the Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in the shade Ruby. What I love about it, is that it’s so buildable, you can quickly swipe it across the lips for a wash of colour or you can apply a few layers for a more vibrant red. It’s so creamy and applies like a little dream too, so it’s not one of those matte, drying lipsticks, making it perfect for eating Christmas dinner with as you can easily reapply without even using a mirror. I can highly recommend this little number, I already want more shades!
So that’s my festive look rounded up, it’s a very wearable look in my opinion without being crazy out there. Not that there’s anything wrong with going all out, I just personally want something I feel more festive than usual in, but still quite relaxed for a chilled day with my baba. I’d happily wear this one throughout the whole of December to be honest!
Have you decided what makeup you’re going for this Christmas?
