The festive season (or silly season as some of us like to call it!) is here! And with it comes a whirlwind of events, so nailing your makeup look (especially if you’re time poor like me) really is paramount! But how do you get that flawless, party-ready look that is simple to do and lasts all night? Well we’ve got you covered! Whether you are off to your work christmas party or have an upcoming gathering with friends, we have the perfect makeup look for you! Keep reading for our step-by-step guide, expert tips and product recommendations to make sure you’re party ready this festive season!
How to get a “soft glam” makeup look
There’s definitely a time and place for a smouldering smokey eye, sharp contouring, or a striking red lip, but this silly season we are focusing on a more understated “soft glam” look. This style keeps the essence of glam while dialing it down for a look that’s lighter, softer, and effortlessly polished and it’s easy for everyone to achieve!
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Skin prep (for perfection!)
Before you start any makeup application your skin needs to be properly prepped. It’s the secret to flawless makeup I’m telling you! You know the drill, make sure you cleanse your face to remove any impurities, before applying a hydrating serum and moisturiser to create a smooth, plumped canvas. Using a primer can be game changing too as it will help makeup last all day as well as blur any imperfections!
Pro Tip: For even better results make sure you exfoliate a day before your big event to remove dead skin cells for a smoother application and follow with a hydrating sheet mask to plump and hydrate!
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Ace your base!
A long-lasting foundation is key for party makeup. Choose one with a luminous finish for a radiant glow or a matte formula for a more polished look. For our soft glam party ready look we used the NEW ELES Mineral Veil Cream to Powder Foundation. Impeccably crafted to transform you skin into a flawless canvas, this innovative formula rich in antioxidants and firming and soothing ingredients, is your secret weapon against imperfections. Its luxurious creamy texture glides on effortlessly, camouflaging blemishes, evening out skin tone and masking minor flaws with precision. Packed with a powerhouse of pigments, it creates a second skin effect without the weight, offering air-like coverage that lasts! To apply use a damp beauty blender sponge to blend it seamlessly into your skin. Next you’ll want to conceal dark circles and blemishes with a creamy concealer like ELES Dual Action Concealer.
Pro Tip: Set your foundation with a translucent powder for an all-night flawless finish.
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Skin perfection
Now you’ve aced your base, you’ll want to perfect your skin with a dusting of ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light. This amazing multi-tasker combines coverage, bronze and highlight and leaves skin looking perfectly airbrushed – no joke!
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Elevate Your Eyes
The eyes are the focal point of any festive makeup look but for this look we want to keep them soft and subtle although it does include perfecting a winged eyeliner! Do not fear though, while nailing the winged liner might well appear a little tricky at first, with a little patience and practice, you’ll master this iconic look in no time!
At BC we love a good, winged eyeliner look, (I personally do it every single day) It not only elongates your eyes but makes them appear more lifted too! Plus it suits any eye colour and can be as subtle or as stand out as you want it to be.
But before applying our eyeliner, we want to focus on our eyeshadow first. This party ready soft glam look involves neutral shades with very soft shimmer. We have used the ELES Earthly Glow Palette.
The palette includes 3 neutral shades, although for this particular look we have used just two. Take the lightest shimmer shade and apply a wash over your entire eyelid and inner corner of your eyes to brighten. Next apply the middle neutral shade to the outer corner and crease for depth. Blend seamlessly for a radiant eye-catching finish!
Now its time for the winged liner! For beginners, a felt-tip liquid eyeliner or gel eyeliner with an angled brush is easier to control. We highly recommend using the ELES Felt Tip Liner, it draws a high-pigment, flawless line and features a super-fine felt tip for precise application.
Now to start look straight into a mirror and decide the angle of your wing. Use your lower lash line as a guide, extending the line upward toward the tail of your eyebrow. Draw a small line outward to create the wing’s base. Then, connect the tip of the wing back to your lash line, forming a triangle. You now need to line your last line! Start from the inner corner of your eye and draw a thin line along your lash line, connecting it to the wing. Keep the line thinner toward the inner corner and thicker as it moves outward. Now you need to fill in the triangle you’ve created for the wing and any gaps along the lash line.
If you’ve made any mistakes do not fear, simply use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover or concealer with a brush to sharpen the edges or fix any mistakes.
Pro Tip: if you have a bit of an unsteady hand you can always use tape or a card to help create the perfect wing. Simply place it at the angle you want your wing to help create a sharp line.
You can also practice with a pencil eyeliner first by tracing the shape lightly before going in with your liquid or gel liner.
Next using a pencil liner (we’ve used ELES Superwear Gel Liner) you’ll want to line the lower last line and complete your eyes with Lush mascara for a wide-eyed effect.
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Perfect your brows
Well-defined brows frame your face and elevate your makeup so you’ll want to fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil or powder. We love ELES Precision Brow Pencil. It enables controlled brow filling and lining to quickly and effortlessly create fuller, natural looking brows that will last the distance! Go for a natural look by following your brow’s natural shape.
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Keep lips neutral and glossy
Choose a lipstick that complements your look but remember a nude lip pairs beautifully with dramatic eyes. Firstly use a lip liner to define your lips and prevent feathering. We love the ELES Lipliner in Naked. Follow with a gloss for lips that stand out from the crowd. We love the ELES Pucker up Lipgloss in Lingering its natural but adds depth to lips with a subtle hint of colour, plus this lipgloss not only looks super glassy and glossy, it conditions your lips and doesn’t feel sticky!
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Seal the deal
Set your makeup with a setting spray to ensure it stays put through dancing, toasts, and holiday feasts. Not only does it lock in your look, but it also adds a natural finish to your makeup.
Voila! You look is complete, it’s time to shine!
