As per a friends request, here is my tutorial on holiday makeup! Two things I was asked to include were sparkles and a bold lip, so that is what we will be focusing on today.

Here’s what you need:

(clockwise from top left)

1. A lipgloss, lip pencil or lipstick (or all three) of your choice. Above is a Stila lip glaze holiday pack I couldn’t resist buying (I love gift packs!). I chose ‘black cherry’ to put over top of a NARS velvet matte lip pencil in ‘damned’ (the same tone). Always have lip balm handy, especially at this time of year. Above is C.O. Bigelow’s ‘my favorite lip balm’.

2. Eyeshadow. Clockwise from top left I used Mac eye shadow: ‘dazzlelight’ , ‘carbon’ , ‘expensive pink’ and ‘crystal avalanche’.

3. Sparkles and shimmer! Above is Lit Sparkles in ‘california soul’ and Make Up For Ever star powder #90942. If you don’t want full sparkles you could just use a loose powder shadow. The star powder provides a lovely iridescent shimmer on its own.

4. A black eyeliner and mascara. I used mac powerpoint eyeliner in ‘engraved’, and voluminous mascara in black.

5. Brushes. (left -right) A fluffy angle brush for applying the loose powder shadow and sparkles, a rounded dome brush for highlighting, a rounded fluff brush your light colour, another rounded fluff brush for applying your pink shadow and a small detail brush for blending out your black eye shadow.

STEP ONE

Apply lip balm so that by the time you are ready to put on your lipstick it will be all soaked all in. If you apply lip balm right before lipstick it will have a greater chance of running (past your lip) and the colour will be less intense.

STEP TWO

Apply an even layer of light eyeshadow from your lash line up to your eyebrow with your rounded fluff brush for light shadows.

I always start with an eyeshadow primer before I begin my eye makeup. Apply the primer to the same area you apply your light shadow, afterwards apply a thin layer of pressed powder to set it. This will prevent your shadow from creasing.

STEP THREE

With your other rounded fluff brush, apply an even layer of pink eyeshadow from your lash line up to the crease of your eye, following the natural curve of your crease. Tap off extra shadow before applying, it is always easier to add more than take away.

STEP FOUR
With your rounded fluff brush for light shadows, apply an light even layer of white eyeshadow from your lash line up to your eyebrow. This goes over everything you have applied so far in order to lighten and blend it all together seamlessly.

STEP FIVEWith your fluffy angle brush, take some loose powder shadow, being sure to tap off excess shadow before you apply it. Start at the inner corner of your eye and sweep it up to the brow bone, then blend it out lightly onto to your lid all the way to the lash line.

STEP SIXWith your rounded dome brush, emphasize the inner corner of your eye and just below your brow bone with the white eyeshadow by applying it lightly to both of these areas. This will add definition, and make the eye pop.

STEP SEVEN If you want to add sparkles, now is the time! Brush off the extra loose powder shadow from the fluffy angle brush. Pick up a small amount of sparkles, tapping the excess sparkle onto a kleenex. This is very important as less is definitely more when it comes to sparkles. They also tend to fall easily; this step will help prevent them from landing all over your face.

Lightly apply the sparkle to the same area you just applied the white shadow. You can add some on your lid if you like as well.

STEP EIGHT

Line the top and bottom of your lid with black eyeliner. Start from the outside and work your way in, tapering it off as you reach the inner eye. You want your liner to be thicker on the outer corner, and to grow thinner towards the inner corner. If you prefer to, you can line the top lid only.

STEP NINE

With your detail brush, take the black shadow and apply it over top of the liner on the lower lid only. Start at the outer edge of your eye and work your way to the inner eye. This will give a softer look to the makeup.

STEP TENWith the lip pencil, start by lining the lip and then fill it in. I don’t recommend drawing over the lip line. It is easy to go too far. After this, apply the gloss over top if you like.

Now you’re all set for all of your holiday parties!

Once again, If you have any questions or would like me to post a how-to on another topic, send me an email below!

with love, sarah