If there’s one time of year to rock a red lip, it’s the holidays. Homes and businesses across the country are decorating their windows and rooms with lights, ornaments, and garland. Why shouldn’t our lips and eyes be matching in festivity? Seize on the seasonal bliss and offer your clients a festive holiday makeup look for their upcoming holiday parties.
Special event makeup is the backbone of a professional makeup artist’s repertoire. Every artist should have a great smokey eye, a classic bridal look, and a go-to holiday makeup routine in his or her back pocket. A classic red lip and a shimmery eye are the main focus of a holiday party look. Let’s break down the look further in detail!
EYES
Deciding to start with the eyes or base first is a personal preference. However, let’s make the case for starting with the eyes first. Not only will you be able to clean any glittery fallout without disturbing the layers of foundation and concealer, but you will also be getting the most time-consuming part of the makeup look out of the way first. Especially when it comes to holiday party makeup, a glittery smokey eye can be time-consuming. You’re working on a small area of the face for up to 20 minutes, including false lash application. Sometimes it’s best to get the eyes out of the way so you can move on to the base feeling relaxed and not under pressure for time.
Nothing screams “holiday party” like a glittery eye. Based on the client’s skin tone and chosen party outfit and occasion, choose between a cool-toned, icy silver eye, or a glowing golden eye. Both options are right on trend for a holiday party makeup look.
Begin by priming the eye from lash line to brow bone with an opaque concealer and translucent powder. Next, apply a medium tone shadow in the crease with a fluffy brush as your transition shade. For cool toned looks, choose a light grey or a smokey mauve. For golden looks, choose a warm-toned orangey brown or a neutral grey-brown. Make sure to blend well. The transition shade should have a seamless gradient up towards the brow bone. The client’s eye shape will dictate how high to bring the transition shadow.
Next, the fun part – glitter! Spray a dense shadow brush with your favorite setting spray for maximum shine. For that icy holiday angel vibe, choose bright silver. The grit of the glitter shadow is up to you! Experiment with different textures and undertones. Silver with holographic reflective particles is a great way to modernize a silver eye and steer clear of any 80’s references.
The options for gold glittery are endless. From bright yellow-gold to orangey red copper, choose a depth and texture that matches your client’s skin tone and party dress.
For more depth, apply a darker matte shadow in the outer corner of the eye, depending on your client’s desired amount of smokiness. Finish with winged gel liner and lashes for a classic twist.
BASE
Medium to full coverage with a natural matte finish is the way to go for holiday looks. A flawless base will complement the dramatic eye and ensure the eyeshadows don’t pull any unwanted redness from the skin.
Begin with a smoothing primer formulated to enhance the longevity of the makeup. Your client will be celebrating the season into the night, so you want the makeup to hold up! Apply the appropriate shade of foundation to the face and neck. Holiday parties are a great photo opp, so don’t leave your client with a foundation mask! You may also choose to apply a light layer of foundation to the chest, ears, and shoulders depending on the client’s outfit and foundation match. Blend seamlessly to ensure an invisible finish.
Next, apply a highlighting concealer under the eyes and down the center of the face. Set with a translucent powder. You may choose to set the entire face, depending on the client’s skin type and mattifying quality of the foundation.
With such a strong eye, balance is key when it comes to shading the face. Avoid a ghostly looking base by choosing a warming bronzer applied to the perimeter of the face. Choose a cooler-toned shade to lightly contour the hollow of the cheeks and sides of the nose for balance and structure.
Choose a blush shade according to the eye look. Pinky-mauves are a great match for silver eyes. Orange toned blushes are a youthful pop of color paired with a gold glittery eye.
To finish the skin, apply a bright highlight to the face. Depending on your client’s preference, feel free to have fun with the highlighter – it’s the season!
Spritz the skin with a makeup-locking setting spray for a bulletproof finish.
LIPS
The signature finish of any holiday makeup look is a red lip! Nothing says, “Kiss me under the mistletoe” like a juicy pout.
The classic pairing to glittery eyes is a matte red lipstick. However, don’t be afraid to play up the shimmery eyes and highlighted skin with a glossy red look. A juicy burgundy looks divine with a golden eye!
If choosing a matte lip, preparation is vital to ensuring the longevity of the color. The client’s lips should be exfoliated and hydrated prior to the makeup application. Tissue off any excess lip balm to avoid slippage. Next, line the client’s lip with a corresponding lip liner and feather the color onto the lips. You may even choose to fill the entire lip in with liner.
Next, apply a very thin layer of lipstick to the lips with a brush. Have the client blot to remove any excess color. Repeat this several times to build thin layers of lipstick and avoid excess color. This technique ensures maximum absorption and staying power while minimizing the possibility of bleeding or color transfer.
Finish by cleaning the lip line with a bit of concealer on a flat synthetic brush. Sharpness is essential to achieving a professional finish.
PARTY TIP
Holiday makeup parties are a great way to introduce new clients to your services while treating regular clients to a good time with friends! Consider offering a discount for each additional client. Include a complimentary champagne toast to kick off the evening!
