In my eyes, even as I grow to become a bit of a scrooge - Christmas isn't over until it transcends into New Year. The tree and the trimmings aren't taken down until you've ended the festive celebrations with that final piece of sparkle and glam, and once the clock strikes midnight it's a chance to show off the potential of your passed year as a whole. Whether you're out partying, with the company of prized friends, following on with family bonding, embracing the fireworks, or you're sat at home in your pyjamas with zero plans telling yourself you'll start your diet in January (like me most years), the option is still open for you to make the most of the last day of the year. If your decision is to go wild, or enjoy it from your home comforts, you can still use the 31st as an excuse to make yourself look and feel amazing to ensure you go out with a bang!
Dressing up in my gladrags is an orthodox situation for me. I'm very rarely dressed down, even if I'm only heading out to the supermarket, I'll put on a full face of makeup and my best gear. That's just me, I like to make an effort, I like to feel confident and appear well formed even if I'm feeling rubbish on the inside. But when it comes to New Year's Eve, I prefer to go that extra mile. Up the glitter, up the heel size, and up the enhancement of the makeup selection. The more out there and the more risque, the better. So, to reflect that, I created a heavy appearance that showcases party season with the help of some of my favourite products I've discovered and been drawn to throughout the year. If you want a go to look that is a level up from simple but still manageable on one of the busiest nights of the year then stay with me...
To start, on top of my NYX Angel Veil primer that keeps my oily skin at bay and my Chanel Base Lumiere (to subtly smooth out and illuminate my face so there's more of a glow in this crisp, cold weather), I used a base that has fast become my trusty one and only. I'm up and down with finding a foundation suitable for my skin but the Too Faced Born This Way in the shade nude is the perfect match to my skin tone which is also buildable for a durable coverage that is going to last all night long. After my face was fully covered and applied with a beauty blender, I went in with my NYX colour correcting palette to work on my visible dark circles, any blemishes - combining all six shades to both conceal any flaws and accentuate my features. On top of that, I also used my holy grail Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in my ordinary shade True Ivory and a lighter shade to highlight my bone structure ready to contour once I completed my eyes and brows.
Eyeshadow application on a statement, glitzy design is the longest part of the process. It's the section I start to get precise, paying closer attention to the finer detail but an extra five minutes or so is worth it for the final result. For this entire look I worked with the Sleek All Night Long Palette which holds a variety of wearable nudes, metallics, golds and shimmery browns to take you from dusk till dawn. I was aiming for the trademark smokey eye, which is always my preferred look as it's so current yet so versatile. I began by applying a sample of the Urban Decay Primer Potion (I definitely need to purchase the full tube as I adore the sealed effect and pale under layer it gives) and proceeded with a mix up of the palette. The first, and darkest shade I used was Negroni to cover my entire lid right up to the socket. It emerges messy at first but when blended outwards and the harsh lines are fused with a fluffy brush right into the crease it begins to execute neatly. I then moved in with a copper glitter in the shade Manhattan into a small segment of the inner corner and formed the two colours to highlight the eyelid. I then followed with the main lustre shade, Prosecco, to dust the outer corner right into the centre. This was the core, then enhanced with an NYX Glitter Pot in a vibrant gold pigment which I slightly dampened first to make it more tacky. I applied this to the entire middle of my eye and set with the original brush used to pat the colour into place and make it pop.
For this specific look, I like to experiment with my eyeliner, framing a winged edge but going in thicker. I used the Maybelline Gel Liner and a pencil liner brush to intensify the black hue to my desire. Typically, I'd stick to just my loyal Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara and my natural curled lashes but with an all glam look I think false lashes add to the effect and radiate a certain strike as they merge together. I was kindly sent the *Ardell Double Lashes from a site made to please those lash lovers - https://falseeyelashes.co.uk/ - for me to trial and I have to say, for an amateur, they're some of the easiest I've used. Not fiddly and straight on there; beautifully bold, amplifying the drama but keeping that natural state. I then propelled to the lower lash line where I took a dust of each colour and a pencil brush to apply the combination and focused on the centre and the corner with the gold glitter. Once the eyes were done I filled in my brows with my current favourite Illamasqua Brow Gel in Awe and a winged liner brush that does the job efficiently and creates defined brows even with my sparse hairs. Afterwards, I set everything with my Miracle Matte Powder before the final step.
Contouring and highlighting was next on the agenda and along with the liquid based concealer I used for the initial part, I polished off a chiselled look with my brand new Too Faced Cocoa Contour Highlighting Kit. Too Faced is slowly but surely becoming a well loved brand for me, the quality is amazing, long lasting and really compliments the face and this is no different (especially to disguise the double chin formed over Christmas). I used a flat brush and an angled brush to sweep the darkest sculpting shade and blend in all the pinpointed areas; beneath the cheekbone up into an L shape, round under my jawline and chin, on top of the forehead and on the forefront of my nose and then followed on with the lighter cocoa. I then fan brushed my actual cheekbones with the Illamasqua Beyond Powder highlight in OMG which is an absolutely beautiful, delicate shimmer and once again lead the way with the curving of my line structure and topped up with a small amount of the Topshop Glow where the outer corner of my eye and my heightened cheek meet and along the brow bone to make it shine. Last but not least on the contouring, I coated my nose with the LA Girl Concealer in Bronze and the highlighter within the Sleek Solstice (my ultimate palette) and blended with both my finger and a sponge.
Eyeshadow application on a statement, glitzy design is the longest part of the process. It's the section I start to get precise, paying closer attention to the finer detail but an extra five minutes or so is worth it for the final result. For this entire look I worked with the Sleek All Night Long Palette which holds a variety of wearable nudes, metallics, golds and shimmery browns to take you from dusk till dawn. I was aiming for the trademark smokey eye, which is always my preferred look as it's so current yet so versatile. I began by applying a sample of the Urban Decay Primer Potion (I definitely need to purchase the full tube as I adore the sealed effect and pale under layer it gives) and proceeded with a mix up of the palette. The first, and darkest shade I used was Negroni to cover my entire lid right up to the socket. It emerges messy at first but when blended outwards and the harsh lines are fused with a fluffy brush right into the crease it begins to execute neatly. I then moved in with a copper glitter in the shade Manhattan into a small segment of the inner corner and formed the two colours to highlight the eyelid. I then followed with the main lustre shade, Prosecco, to dust the outer corner right into the centre. This was the core, then enhanced with an NYX Glitter Pot in a vibrant gold pigment which I slightly dampened first to make it more tacky. I applied this to the entire middle of my eye and set with the original brush used to pat the colour into place and make it pop.
For this specific look, I like to experiment with my eyeliner, framing a winged edge but going in thicker. I used the Maybelline Gel Liner and a pencil liner brush to intensify the black hue to my desire. Typically, I'd stick to just my loyal Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara and my natural curled lashes but with an all glam look I think false lashes add to the effect and radiate a certain strike as they merge together. I was kindly sent the *Ardell Double Lashes from a site made to please those lash lovers - https://falseeyelashes.co.uk/ - for me to trial and I have to say, for an amateur, they're some of the easiest I've used. Not fiddly and straight on there; beautifully bold, amplifying the drama but keeping that natural state. I then propelled to the lower lash line where I took a dust of each colour and a pencil brush to apply the combination and focused on the centre and the corner with the gold glitter. Once the eyes were done I filled in my brows with my current favourite Illamasqua Brow Gel in Awe and a winged liner brush that does the job efficiently and creates defined brows even with my sparse hairs. Afterwards, I set everything with my Miracle Matte Powder before the final step.
Contouring and highlighting was next on the agenda and along with the liquid based concealer I used for the initial part, I polished off a chiselled look with my brand new Too Faced Cocoa Contour Highlighting Kit. Too Faced is slowly but surely becoming a well loved brand for me, the quality is amazing, long lasting and really compliments the face and this is no different (especially to disguise the double chin formed over Christmas). I used a flat brush and an angled brush to sweep the darkest sculpting shade and blend in all the pinpointed areas; beneath the cheekbone up into an L shape, round under my jawline and chin, on top of the forehead and on the forefront of my nose and then followed on with the lighter cocoa. I then fan brushed my actual cheekbones with the Illamasqua Beyond Powder highlight in OMG which is an absolutely beautiful, delicate shimmer and once again lead the way with the curving of my line structure and topped up with a small amount of the Topshop Glow where the outer corner of my eye and my heightened cheek meet and along the brow bone to make it shine. Last but not least on the contouring, I coated my nose with the LA Girl Concealer in Bronze and the highlighter within the Sleek Solstice (my ultimate palette) and blended with both my finger and a sponge.
Then finally, my cheeks were coated in the New CID Cosmetics i-glow Compact Shimmer Powder which acts as a powerful bronzer and secured with the Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Powder to emphasise that fresh, healthy glow. My lips were then traced with the NYX Slide On Lip Pencil in Nude Suede Shoes and filled with Rimmel Only 1 Matte lipstick in High Flyer which is a gorgeous brown nude with a slight tint of red.
Aaaand there you have it, glammed up and ready to go. You'll find during the duration of this, having falling glitter amongst your makeup can't always be helped but it becomes acceptable because your face can twinkle as it catches those disco lights!
What's your ideal party look? How will you be seeing 2017 in?
Bridie x
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