The ultimate quick-fix party season beauty guide

FESTIVE FLUSH

To banish a wintry grey face, look to finely milled warm and shimmering blush powders or, for extra glow, a cream texture works as a lightweight sheer complexion enhancer.

“I love that sheerness allows your true skin to show,” says celebrity make-up artist Gucci Westman, founder of Westman Atelier, whose Liquid Super Loaded Highlighter, €62, brightens skin in a swipe. “I choose my shade based on my mood and like to wear it alone to wake up the skin, under foundation as a nourishing prep or as a targeted highlight.”

JEWEL TONES

Jewel tone eyes for the holidays? Groundbreaking. But illuminating your eye in pure shimmer has stepped back in time this season – take your cues from Tom Ford’s British protégé Peter Hawkings, who debuted his vision as creative director for the brand next season with an ode to glamour that echoed the feline allure of the 1970s – inspired by the otherworldly beauty of supermodel and Warhol muse Donyale Luna – with a sumptuous, jewel-toned smoky eye serving as the magnificent centrepiece, created with Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Dark Opulence, €84, and seemingly bare skin.

GLITTER HAIR

“Embellished hair is a trend showing no sign of going anywhere soon,” says Neill Cooney, Best Bloody Brilliant Blow-dry winner at the IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards 2022. “We have seen every brand come out with heavily embellished hair accessories, from Gucci to Prada to Miu Miu. For a more subtle but equally dazzling result, try glitter hairspray; it can really take a look to the next level with very little effort or fuss. Either apply loose glitter to the hair and secure in place with gel or wax or try a glitter hairspray – spray it vertically up into your hair, as this will allow it to disperse more evenly throughout and not sit all in one spot. You can build up the amount you want in light coats – it never fails to turn heads.”

Instagram-worthy hair that looks like it’s filtered is another trend that can be created with an at-home gloss treatment. Try Kérastase Chroma Absolu Soin Acid Chroma Gloss, €49, and blow-dry with your sunnies on.

RED NOTICE

“Holiday is my favourite time of year for make-up,” says Dominic Skinner, MAC’s director of make-up artistry.“It’s an excuse to wear sparkle and glitz – and that intense lip colour you’ve been eyeing becomes your everyday essential.”

For a festive beauty quick fix and ultimate finishing touch, nothing beats red; amp it up with grown-up gloss from beauty power players, like Tom Ford’s lightweight and luscious Rose Lip Oil Tint, €58, or add frosting with Chanel’s high-shine Rouge Coco Gloss, €36. To keep it lasting all night, “never skip a lip liner,” says Aimee Connolly, founder of Sculpted by Aimee Connolly. “In fact, I suggest filling in the entire lip with the liner before applying the lipstick to increase staying power. It’s also an idea to clean up any edges with a cream concealer.”