subject: Easy Party Makeup [print this page] For many, the last few months of the year are the time to cover up and prepare for the cooler weather. For others, it's a time to celebrate the colors of fall and the elegant scenes of winter. But for most of us, it's also the season for parties: Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. And that meansat least for womentaking out the fancy clothes and makeup. But the latter can be tricky, especially if you're more into easy makeup fashion styles. How can you glam up for a party without losing your unique character?
Well, the good news is that it's not that hard. Sometimes, all you have to do is step up your current look and give it a new twist. Even a small change can make all the difference between everyday office makeup and an eye-catching look that's perfect for any party. And with the range of products available today, it's impossible not to find something that fits, no matter what your budget or personal style is. To help you get started, here are some simple party makeup ideas.
Create a good base
Every makeup style starts with a good base. Most women would immediately reach for foundation, but that's no longer your only option. For parties, you want something light and comfortable, but still able to do its job of evening out your skin tone. You can take your cue from casual makeupa light, easy-to-apply foundation that matches your skin and goes with all your other makeup colors. Tinted moisturizers also work quite well.
There are times, however, when it makes more sense to use a heavier foundation. Evening parties, for example, are usually held indoors where the lighting is harsher. This can highlight flaws that a light moisturizer can't always cover up. If you're going to an evening event, use a more opaque foundation and make sure to try it out under similar lighting. Also, don't forget to apply it to your neck and shoulders as wellotherwise, there'll be an unsightly seam where the foundation ends.
Focus on your eyes
Eye contact is important at parties, and an attractive pair lets you make the best impressions. Generally, the kind and amount of eye makeup you need depends on the theme of the party. You wouldn't go for dark, smoky eye makeup for a daytime event, but it might be suitable for a soiree or Halloween party. Choose a style and color scheme that suits the occasion, and make sure it goes well (but not necessarily matches) with what you'll be wearing.
Define your lips
The general rule for makeup fashion is that only the eyes or the lips should dominate. So if you're going for the heavy colors mentioned above, your lip makeup should be toned downyou can stick to pale hues that match your natural lip color or just go for a clear or tinted gloss. But if you're keeping your eyes natural, you'll need to define your lips more. Use makeup pencils to outline the shape of your lips, then fill it in with some color.
For full-colored lips, it's usually better to use a lip brush than apply it directly from the tube. This helps prevent blotting and allows you to follow your lips' natural contours. Remember to use long-lasting or waterproof lipsticksince there's always food and drink at parties, you'll be using your lips quite a lot. Apply some translucent powder or a clear gloss over it to help it stay in place.
Remove your makeup after
You may find it a bit obvious, but many women actually make the mistake of going to bed after a party with their makeup still on. This is one of the worst things you can do for your skinit clogs your pores overnight and causes all sorts of blemishes (pimples, blackheads and whiteheads). Most makeup fashion products now come in waterproof form, so regular soap and water usually won't do. Invest in a good makeup remover and a separate lip makeup remover to make sure you get it all off.
Most makeup removers come in a liquid or gel form, which you just dab over your makeup and then wash off. You may need several swipes to get all the makeup, so just keep dabbing until you're not getting any more color. Alternatively, you can get pre-applied makeup remover, which comes in ready-to-use cloths.
Dressing for Parties
As holiday season rolls in, parties and gatherings start filling up our schedules. Sunday brunches, family dinners, company eventsthere's a lot going on around this time of the year. And for most women, that means making a few key wardrobe decisions. It's important to look good at parties, but it's just as important to look comfortable. How do you blend the two without sacrificing one or the other? It's actually pretty easylike fashion in general, all it really takes is some creative flair.
Start by deciding on your personal style. Are you into poised, elegant outfits, or are you more of a casual person? Base your decision on what you're most comfortable in, then work in some ways to make it look good on you. Most women need a few key pieces: a dress that fits you just right, a top and jeans that go with everything, and some all-around jewelry. Once you have the essentials, it's all a matter of jazzing it up to suit the occasion.
Next, find a simple, no-frills makeup style that goes with your outfit. Your makeup should be light and comfortable; otherwise, it'll feel too heavy and distract you from the event. Also, take note of what time of day the party will be heldyou may need a casual look for daytime events and a deeper, more sophisticated color palette for evenings. And don't forget to clean it off afterwardsa lot of people go straight to sleep without removing their makeup, and that's what causes most skin blemishes.
Finally, make sure to match your look to the occasion. It may seem obvious, but many women actually have trouble with it. You certainly wouldn't dress the same way for an Easter brunch as you would for a Christmas company party. Plan your outfit at least a few days in advance, so you have time to make last-minute adjustments. Find out what you can about the eventhow long it will be, whether or not there's a dress code, which guests will be invited. These can give you some clues as to what's appropriate and how you can stand out.
