Choose Your Style: Holiday Parties

The winter holiday season is fast arriving, and with it, the usual assortment of holiday parties. It’s the time of year to let yourself relax with friends and family, enjoy lots of good food and maybe even try out a new beauty style. Makeup ruts happen, so take advantage of a special occasion and play around. While you’re getting ready for a night of celebration, change it up a little with one of these looks, or put together your own. It’s all about having fun!

Smoky lids are oh-so-fabulous for evening events, especially when everybody’s dressed up. A little black dress or sexy pair of heels just seems to beg for a dark, powdery liner. The look simply exudes confidence. Why stop there? Kick up the style quotient another notch by trading in the standard charcoal hues for rich jewel tones, like navy blue or deep emerald. You can even customize this by picking the color that best compliments your eyes.

The final result looks complicated, but the application doesn’t have to be. Dampen a cotton swab or eyeliner brush and swipe it over your chosen eyecolor. Then, thickly line both your upper and lower lash lines (you may have to repeat this once or twice to get the right intensity). With a large fluffy eye brush, blend the liner upwards into your crease. Finish off with multiple coats of black or dark brown mascara.

As for the rest of the face, keep it simple. Nude lips are a perennial partner of the smoky eye. You don’t have to avoid color completely, just pick a soft shade that won’t look overstated next to dramatic eyes. A touch of creamy cheek color ties the look together with a dewy flush. You’ll be perfectly polished and very chic.

Recommended:

Laura Mercier cake eyeliners in Bleu Marine and Emerald Green, $20, sephora.com

Revlon cream blush in Rosy Glow, $7, drugstores

Cover Girl Triple lipstick, $5, drugstores

Fancy makeup is fun, but there are times when less really is more. Laid-back get-togethers with friends and work events both require a considerably lighter hand when it comes to color. The key factor to remember is lighting. Bolder looks are perfect for nighttime, because the darker shades stand out against dimmer lighting. Be aware of which parties will feature full wattage and apply accordingly.

Pale, frosty eyeshadows are reminiscent of cooling outside temperatures and look great as an all-over color wash. Paired with thick black mascara, they create a charming balance of ice and heat that’s just right for any winter party. Match the sparkle on your eyes with a sheer blush or cheek highlighter in gold, pink or plum, and your skin will glow.

The best way to round out this look is to add in a little drama with a bolder lipcolor. If dark colors are scary, go bright instead. A pale or nude lip will look ashy, so pick out a melon or berry shade that compliment your face’s sparkle. For the adventurous, no color suits this look better than red.

Recommended:

Maybelline Dream Mousse eyeshadow in Vanilla Veil, $6, drugstores

Vincent Longo Lipstain lipstick SPF 15 in Cherry, $23, bathandbodyworks.com

Bourjois blush in 13 or 33, $13.50, sephora.com

Keeping with the same color family over the whole face doesn’t have to be boring. Spicy browns and tawnies are all around this time of year, indoors and out, from cider with cinnamon sticks to falling leaves. Bringing these shades together in your makeup will result in a style that’s right in step with the season.

A quick side note: this look works great in spring and summer, too! Pinks and peaches are good monochromatic color themes for warmer months.

Choose a rich brown to define the crease of your eyes, adding subtle depth. A thin chocolate brown liner will add definition if you want it but is by no means necessary. Lips don’t need to be dark. Layering any shade over a nude lipliner will give the color an added dimension while keeping it casual.

Cheek color is the trickiest part of this color scheme. For some, a light dusting of bronzer will be the needed finishing touch. Fair-skinned ladies, on the other hand, should keep looking. Simply using bronzer tends to give cool-toned skin a muddy look, which will only be amplified with this repeating pattern of browns. A blush tinged with rose or red is ideal.

Recommended:

Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine lipstick in DeLovely, $14, clinique.com

Ulta eyeshadow in Toast, $6.50, ulta.com

Bare Escentuals mineral blush in Fresh or Lovely, $18, sephora.com

Once a month, Makeup Junkie obsesses over the latest beauty trends and tips.   E-mail Break Room