Achieving a perfect festive season face can be simplified by following key makeup formulas, according to assistant editor (beauty) Rosie Green. These techniques, often employed by A-list makeup artists, focus on anti-aging strategies and common pitfalls to sidestep for a polished look.
Classic Red Lip with Pared-Back Accents
For a modern take on the classic red lip, the key is to keep the rest of the makeup minimal. Avoid a smoky eye; subtle mascara is sufficient. Global Pro Makeup Artist at Charlotte Tilbury, Ed Mellor, advises prepping lips with balm for 20 minutes and blotting before application. Concealing any redness around the mouth can also enhance the look. A hydrating satin or matte lipstick texture is most flattering.
Mellor suggests using concealer around the lips with a fine brush for a subtle contour. A creamy lip liner, such as Max Factor Lip Shader Twist-Up Lip Liner, can be applied before a light layer of lipstick. Blotting and reapplying the lipstick helps to build color. He emphasizes avoiding a sharp lip line, recommending a blurred effect created by softening the edges with fingers for a more flattering and contemporary finish on mature lips.
Smoky Eye with a Nude Lip and Satin Skin
This popular look, favored by celebrities like Brigitte Bardot, Kate Moss, and Jennifer Lopez, requires a natural-looking nude lip and a luminous complexion. Mellor suggests using eyeshadow sticks for an easy way to achieve shimmer on the lids. He recommends creating a V-shape from the outer corner of the eye with a matte color, then blending a shimmering, tonal stick onto the lid and along the lower lash line for definition.
For smoky eyes, opting for chocolate brown or minky grey shades is considered more flattering than harsh black, with black reserved for defining the lash line. Mellor cautions against pairing a smoky eye with a bright lipstick, as it can appear overpowering.
Golden Glow with a Pretty Flush and Bronzed Lids
A radiant, glowing complexion is ideal for the party season. Mellor suggests prepping the skin with a gradual tanning product for warmth and using a lighter-toned bronzer than typically used in summer. For mature skin, gel and cream bronzers with a sheen, rather than sparkle, are recommended to avoid highlighting lines.
Bronzer can also be used as eyeshadow, blended across the lids for an all-over glow. A nude or neutral blush, applied from the top of the cheekbones across the bridge of the nose, complements this look. Mellor advises against applying bronzer in the hollows of the cheeks, suggesting placement higher on the face, in line with the top of the ear.