Party make-up

It’s party season! And we couldn’t be more excited. It’s time to get out our glittery glad rags, dust off our dancing shoes, and be a little extra with our make-up looks.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for a simple make-up look but we also love trying new things, and Christmas is the perfect time to do so. Here are some of our top tips if you’re wanting to push the boat out, as well as our top make-up essentials for the winter party season.

How to get the most out of your party make-up

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Prep your skin

Make sure your make-up lasts as long as you do on the dancefloor by prepping it like a boss. Throughout the day your skin collects dirt and grime, which can act as a barrier between your skin and make-up. Make sure your skin is free from dead skin cells and any impurities by following these three steps – they’ll help your make-up go on easier, look smoother and sit tight for longer.

Here's how

  1. Cleanse

Give your skin a good cleanse in order to remove any excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells that may have built up throughout the day. Have you tried our Vitamin E Cream Cleanser? It’s suitable for all skin types and leaves the skin feeling soft and clean.

  1. Tone

If you’re a skincare pro, you’ll know to always follow up cleansing with a toner. We say, choose a gentle, exfoliating toner that’ll help pick up any last traces of grime. With toners for every skin type – from oily to dry – and for every need, you’ll find the one for you here.

  1. Moisturise

And last, but by no means least, finish your skin prep with a moisturiser. This will help make your skin soft and smooth – a perfect canvas for applying make-up. Not sure which moisturiser is best for you? Check out our guide to finding the best moisturiser for your skin type.

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Perfect your base

Now your skin is prepped and ready to go, it’s time to have some fun. Perfecting your base means smoothening out any unevenness, balancing your colour and setting your base. Our four tips below are a fool-proof way to making sure your make-up lasts all night long.

Here's how

Use a primer

A primer is a great way to help your make-up last longer as it helps your foundation settle and stay put for longer. Our Instablur™ Primer is lightweight and helps to smoothen and mattify your complexion. It also helps to blur any imperfections, creating an even base ready for your foundation. Get ready for less shinier skin and longer lasting make-up.

Choose the right foundation

Finding the right foundation is key for helping your make-up last. If you have oily skin, you’ll want to try a matte foundation, like our Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation, to help prevent it sliding off throughout the day. Drier skin types need a hydrating foundation, like our Fresh Nude Foundation, which moisturises for up to 24hrs for a lasting, fresh-faced finish.

Set your base

Lock it all in place with a powder or setting spray. Not only do they keep your base in place but they also help minimise oil and shine. We have a variety of powders for all skin types.

Use the right tools

Application is key to a long-lasting look. When applying foundation, you want to achieve an all-over even finish. Our Foundation Brush is ideal thanks to its tightly packed bristles and flat edge which make distributing and blending foundation a doddle. And don’t forget to blend it all into your neck using your brush for a natural looking colour.

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Add colour and glow

Bronzers, highlighters and blushers are a great way to sculpt your face, add some colour and round off your complexion. Whether you’re a slave to the highlighter, love the goldenness of a bronzer or simply prefer a soft blush, they each have their benefits and can really help radiate your complexion.

Here's how

Bronzer

A bronzer is perfect for creating a sun-kissed radiance. It’s also great for when you want to contour your face. Apply bronzer to your cheekbones, browbone, jawline and any other contours of your face or where your skin naturally catches light.

Highlighter

Add a luminous quality to your skin with highlighter. Dust along areas such as your cheekbones, browbone, the bridge of your nose and your cupid’s bow, to help define your features.

Blusher

Blushers are excellent for giving your cheeks that rosy flush. By adding a little bit of blusher to your cheeks, you can easily achieve a vibrant, fresh-faced finish.

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Shimmer

Shimmer Waves can be used in a number of ways to achieve all of the above. In three different shades – Bronze, Blush and Coral – they help illuminate your face.

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Party eye make-up

If you’re wanting to get creative, your eyes are the perfect place to do so. But before you start, it’s good to consider your skin tone when picking out colours, and your eye shape when thinking about styles. Everyone’s different so what may work for your bestie, mightn’t work for you. Ready to experiment? Pick up our Eyeshadow Palette and explore its gorgeous shades.

Here's how

Find the right brushes

For application, a short-haired brush is best for picking up maximum product. With dense bristles, the fluffy end of our Duo Eyeshadow Brush is great for distributing your shadows. For blending, try our Down to Earth Multi-Tasker Eyeshadow Brush – its looser bristles help achieve that soft finish. And when it comes to precision applications, like darker eyeshadows along the lash line, try the opposite end of our Down to Earth Multi-Tasker Eyeshadow Brush.

Find your shape

To create shape and definition, always follow the actual shape of your eye. A perfect place to start is the crease of your eye, which is the natural fold in your lid where your eyelid meets your brow bone. Look straight in the mirror and, with your eyes open, apply your chosen shade with a brush just over your eyelid. This way, you’ll always have definition and shadow that can be seen when your eyes are open. When it comes to applying liner, always follow the natural curve of your lash lines.

Practice blending

Eye make-up can be a bit tricky but, as the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. Our tips? When picking your shades, opt for a mix of light and dark colours – always bearing your skin tone in mind. Start with the lighter shades first and apply all over your lid using the fluffy, short-haired brush. Then, apply a small amount of your darker shades to the outer area of your eyelid. Use a fluffy domed brush to blend together. Keep applying and blending your shadows for a more vibrant eye.

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Statement lips

Lipstick is the one thing that can really bring a look together – whether you’re wearing a full face or not. If you’ve held back on your eyes, it’s definitely safe to go bold with your lips. A simple splash of colour can instantly get you party ready. We’re sure you have your favourite, pout perfecting colours but what about finishes? Let us help.

Here's how

Sheer

A sheer finish is a classic. It can look just as effortless as it does glamorous. A sheer lipstick typically has the colour payoff of a normal lipstick but the sheen of a gloss.

Satin

Love the richness of a satin finish? Us too. Satin lipsticks are usually soft, creamy and full of moisture. And if that’s what you’re looking for, then try our Colour Crush™ Lipsticks. They come in 20 shades, deliver a pop of high dose colour and are enriched with marula oil to help keep your lips hydrated.

Matte

Bold and daring, the Matte lipstick is for those who really want to make a statement. With bold colour payoff and a no shine finish, a matte lippy is certainly a look. Try it yourself with our Matte Lip Liquid. It goes on like a gloss but sets like a matte. It’s super lightweight on the lips and has a soft, velvety finish.

And once the party's over...

All good things must come to an end… but, before we leave you, here’s a friendly reminder to take your make-up off before bed. Our Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter is a bestseller for good reason. It helps melt away your make-up in no time and is great for sensitive skin types. Prefer an oil or cleanser? Check out our range and find the best for you.

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