Your party make-up regimen

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Your party make-up regimen

— by Angie

on November 20, 2009

There is so much going on in the world of make-up and it’s totally overwhelming. As soon as I walk into Sephora, I feel like walking straight back out again. Countless tubes of gloss, concealer, liner, bronzer, shadow, shimmery blush and other goo that‘s unfamiliar to my eye. I’m much more interested in skincare treatment than make-up, which is why I encourage a rigorous skincare routine, and an extremely natural makeup regime.

But helping clients with simple make-up solutions and suggestions is part of my job, so I’ve had to learn enough about the subject to keep clients looking adequately polished during the day. At this time of year, the subject of party make-up comes up and my suggestions are overly simple because I just don’t like the look of an overly made-up face. After all, you in your “almost natural” form is most stylish!

I usually suggest the following make-up tips for party occasions so that you look a little brighter at night than during the day:

Create an even skin tone with foundation or tinted moisturizer
Apply a darker shade of lipstick
Create a stronger brow line
Double up the layer of mascara
Add a little more blush

I also suggest a trip to the Mac make-up counter a few hours before an event if you’re after a smoky evening eye with eye shadow and liner. They do a great job and its virtually free. All you need to do is purchase one of their make-up items and you’re good to go. No need to fuss with make-up products on your own.

What’s your party make-up regimen and does it change from your daily make-up routine? How can I improve my party wear make-up tips? Are you enamored by the shimmery products that are available at make-up counters at this time of year, or do you find it overwhelming too?

Grooming

34 comments · Add a comment

Phoebe

I pretty much do as you suggest: put on a little more mascara, use a little more make-up than during the day and, as a little extra, i put on some creamy, shimmery eye make-up.
I don´t want to look completely different in the evening, I want people to recognize me, so I stick with a solution that is as natural as possible but still respectful to the event.

November 20, 2009 at 8:32 am

Christie

I suppose it’s not really fair to answer this question, since you have already greatly influenced my make-up routine. I’ve been sporting the “almost natural but with a great colored lipstick” look for a few years now. I do the same for dressing up, but I add a flaming-red lipstick. Sometimes, I’ll add a subtle eye liner as well, but since I have my lashes tinted, it’s not really necessary. I just have my lashes tinted again at the beginning of December!

Whenever I see looks in magazines or at shops, I just think it’s too much. I agree that subtle and natural-looking is much more beautiful.

November 20, 2009 at 8:33 am

Laura

I am completely with you on this one, Angie, having never had much of an interest in make-up at all. I do take care of my skin, and get by with the bare minimum in terms of make-up, and am relieved to move on with my day! Thank you for the hints to help me get through the holiday season …

November 20, 2009 at 8:37 am

fjt

To enhance my makeup for evening, I put brown eyeliner under my eye, put on more eyeshadow (I have a great shimmery gold), more blush, and go a bit darker on the lip. It’s fun to BUY new makeup in their pretty sets and cases, but I go through it so slowly, I just use what I already have!

November 20, 2009 at 8:42 am

Ele

(website)

Active Member

I have the same feelings about Sephora, but for me it’s not the products but the people! It’s always so crowded that I want to run far, far away. (I have to remind myself of that feeling whenever I start missing Sephora.) I like makeup and have always been pretty comfortable with it, but it’s not a huge interest of mine. My “evening” look is similar to my daytime one, but I’m more likely to make the effort to apply eyeliner. I like the gel ones from Bobbi Brown; they’re long-lasting and natural looking.

I’ve always wanted to try a retro red lip (and it’s so festive), but find choosing the right shade so confusing. Plus, I wonder if it looks strange to do that “bold lip” look when you wear specs?

November 20, 2009 at 8:46 am

Laura's mom

Your suggestions are stellar, Angie. Because I’m, well, older, I play up my eyes with three tonal eyeshadows. Cream, taupe and brown work well for me–and a llittle sparkle in the shadows for the holidays is a great touch!! Thanks for your ideas…

November 20, 2009 at 8:57 am

Lisette

(website)

Angie, I’ve worked for most of the major cosmetics companies and freelanced for photographers and brides and I STILL find Sephora overwhelming. Over the years I have decided that after knowing what all the chemicals in the makeup do (I was the counter wonk!), I prefer a more natural composition to my makeup. There are lots of natural based brands that get rid of the bad stuff and still give you plenty of color if that is what you are looking for. But yes, on a day to day basis, I have on lipstick -Maybe? When I sold cosmetics I found that Europeans bought skin care with the occasional color “treat” and that Americans bought color and the occasional skin care to correct a problem. Obviously, not everybody would split like that but it held pretty firm.

November 20, 2009 at 8:58 am

Meredith

For day, I wear foundation on just the brownish spots on my face (thank you hormones), and then I wear a mineral based powder all over. That way, some natural color comes through, and it doesn’t look like a mask.

I wear a bit of blush on my cheeks and eyes, and I wear a combo of clear mascara and lash tint on my lashes, and usually just chapstick.

For evening, I do the same thing, but I will wear a bit of eye shadow, and eyeliner on top of my lid, and my super duper lash venom mascara from Du Wop. I will also wear Lip venom and a lip gloss from Du Wop. I adore Du Wop products!!

Love,
m!

November 20, 2009 at 9:05 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I wear the same look for both daytime and evening. Tinted moisturiser + brown/black mascara + Revlon Red lips. The only difference is the time I take on application.

I really need a make up shake up and love all of your ideas.

When in a make up store I tend to be drawn to the same colours and I find the looks in magazines are totally OTT (green eye shadow and apricot lips anybody)

Thank you so much for your timely and informative post.

November 20, 2009 at 9:09 am

rute

Veteran

I love make-up, love entering on Sephora and trying out everything, I think I could spend hours there.

For day I wear a very natural make-up, foundation, coral blush, black mascara and clear lip gloss.
For night I add some cream and brown eye-shadow and a color lip gloss. I like to keep everythig natural.

November 20, 2009 at 9:14 am

marianna

Veteran

My “party” make-up routine is the same as my regular make-up routine, I just add a bit more of everything. A more dramatic eye, a bit more blush, and so on. Maybe a bit more shimmer, but nothing crazy. Glitter/lots of shimmer looks cheap in my opinion. I just make myself look a bit more dressed up while still looking natural.

The only thing I would add to your “tips” is smudge-proof eye make-up for parties/holiday events because heat and sweat can make makeup smear. Also, carry around powder to touch up your face in case you get shiny.

November 20, 2009 at 9:38 am

shiny

Veteran

I think for parties you can choose one feature you want to play up – whether it’s your eyes OR your lips – not both. I always prefer playing up my lips, because my eyes are small and sort of deep-set to begin with. Adding smoky eye shadow just seems to make them look even smaller. Also once I hit around mid-30s, something happened to the skin on my eyelids, and eye shadow just doesn’t sit right. It looks goofy!

So my party routine is just a tweak to my daily routine: my usual foundation and lightly applied mascara, plus more dramatic lipstick in a formulation that will stay on while sipping champagne

No blush because I think it looks goofy on me. And no brow powder because I also think that looks goofy on me for some reason.

With that said, I think if you are under 30, now is the time to indulge and have fun! Go for the smoky eyeshadows, the glitter, the fake eyelashes… I love how it looks on younger skin.

November 20, 2009 at 9:56 am

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I love makeup too rute

Day:
Sunscreen (moisturizing in winter, mattifying in summer), Exuviance Multi-function concealer, sometimes a light dusting of mineral powder style ‘foundation’. Light dusting of palest colours in Revlon’s “Coffee Bean” quad eyeshadow on lids, sometimes a sweep of blush (Lancome Cedar Rose), Neutrogena Weightless Volume mascara on eyelashes, Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with pomegranate oil on lips (great lip balm, and has a very faint rosy-red hue to it).

Evening:
Either Clarins Instant Smooth (my favourite!) or Smashbox primer on face. Apply concealer. Half a pump of the Makeup Forever HD foundation (excellent) on the back of my hand, dot over face and ‘stipple’ it in with a good foundation brush. Apply Urban Decay primer potion for eyes on eyelids. Sweep the two lightest/neutral shades from the Coffee Bean quad onto eyes, and the difference here is to swipe a Q-tip along one of the darker shades and lightly apply it into the crease of your eyelids. Apply either Lancome Artliner liquid liner in brown along top lash line, or a brown eyeliner pencil such as Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes (Sephora) or Prestige brown eyeliner pencil (inexpensive and available at Ulta). I’ll only line the top lash line. Next, curl eyelashes, and then apply Lancome’s Cils Booster mascara primer. Wait for that to ‘set’ a bit, apply a bit of the Cedar Rose blush and then apply something like Lancome’s “Hypnose” mascara in black on lashes. I don’t normally ever wear black mascara or eyeliner – but for evening, black masara is good

Apply a rosy-red lipstick – colour determined by what I’m wearing. Sometimes I’ll remember to ‘set’ the makeup with Makeup Forever High Definition MicroFinish Powder.

Not a fan of the sparkly stuff in the stores. I agree 100% with just upping the intensity a wee bit for evening, and going for a better foundation makeup. So there’s darker mascara, a bit of liner, and some colour on the lips. That’s all it takes for ‘evening’. Yes I know – I put a lot of steps in there for my evening makeup routine, but am happy with the result.

In the meantime, I’m currently on the lookout for a great (for evening) lipstick that lasts, but without being all dry and horrible. Any suggestions? I love some of the Lancome lipsticks, but the staying power isn’t there.

November 20, 2009 at 10:22 am

Tanya

Veteran

I love make-up and love playing with it, always have

For day I do just the typical neutral look that Angie described, and my lipstick is very natural too.

But for the evening I do like to do indulge in the whole thing. I am a big fan of the smokey eye look and will most often do that ( different intensities and colors depending on the occasion – it is much stronger for a club than it is for a friends house party) in conjunction with nude glossy lips. The second look I do, usually only if there is no eating involved, is a deep, creamy lipstick in a color like burgundy, liquid black eyeliner over nude slightly sparkly eye-shadow ( foundation, blush etc. are always there).

November 20, 2009 at 10:35 am

missjulied

For party makeup I use my usual routine, which is just foundation and mascara, but go a little heavier on foundation. Then I add some eyeliner to the top of my lids and some lip gloss.

The biggest thing I do is swap out my glasses for contact lenses.

November 20, 2009 at 10:38 am

Patience

I am completely with you on Sephora. In fact, I’ve decided never to go into that store unless I’m with someone who knows what they’re doing and enjoys it (like Ana and Sarah.)

I’m pretty natural day to day with a tinted moisturizer, occasionally sporting mascara. For evenings out I will do the blush, neutral eye shadow and colored lip gloss or lipstick and mascara but it’s all in pretty minimal amounts.

November 20, 2009 at 10:58 am

Kim from Nebraska

I hate makeup. I never wore very much (just mascara) but even stopped doing that about 10 years ago. I moved 3 years ago, and just threw the whole batch of it out. An amazing feeling to regain a drawer. Even a little bit of makeup makes my face feel slick and I think I look like a clown. I do wear chapstick, but clear. They put a Sephora in the Penney’s at our mall, and now you enter the store through it. It’s new, so it’s been a magnet for most people. I find it overwhelmingly bright white and glittery. My co-workers are all really in to the mineral makeups. Comments from others on those types of products?

November 20, 2009 at 11:06 am

Erin

(website)

I agree, during the day definitely keep it simple and fresh.
However, idiot proof party makeup? Pick a feature, any feature that you like (but just one!) and make it darker/colorful/glittery.
So if you have gorgeous lips, put on red lipstick
gorgeous eyes, line them up or play with a colorful shadow
killer cheek bones, dust a little gold shimmer on them and pick a pretty pink blush.

I didn’t think of the brows though, perhaps its because my natural brows are kind of nonexistant anyway so i don’t pay attention to them

November 20, 2009 at 11:51 am

shari

I love makeup. Good thing I had my go of it in the 80s.

I’m in my 40s, so less color is more. My formula is usually neutral eye, blush and bright lipstick. I have full lips and they are darkly pigmented against my otherwise fair skin, so that is my feature to play up. Fav lippies right now are MAC: Sophisto (best everyday l/s) MAC Most Popular, MAC Spice It Up, MAC Viva Glam i and VI. My knockout red is MAC Dubonnet. And I love me some red lipstick. All hail Gwen Stefani.

For eyeshadow I use mainly grays, cool taupes and some purples (more to the grayish side). I no longer use bright eyeshadow. And I do wear glasses. I have found as I age that eyeliner is the key thing to make my eyes look so much better. My favorie is Urban Decay Rockstar. Fav eyeshows: MAC: Blanc Type, Vex, French Grey, Stars and Diamonds, Shale. (Have almost two palettes full, though.

I don’t have great skin thanks to polycycstic ovarian syndrome. It took trying to have a baby to figure out how I could have such pale skin that was soo oily. I don’t break out as much as when I was younger, but every month at least one. And now I scar much worse. So I am self conscious and I feel I always need some sort of foundation. I would go without if I could.

November 20, 2009 at 12:39 pm

mamark

I recommend visiting the Trish McEvoy counter for makeup tips. They have really great ingredients and they always, always go for a subtle look. They’ll show you how to do it at home, too.

This time of year I’ll often have a handful of holiday cocktail parties to head to right after work. I have to get ready at my desk or in the ladies room so here’s what I do.

First, brush theeth! Then,

I wear pretty neutral eyeshadows during the day and they stay put, so for going out I just run a narrow brush loaded up with shimmery charcoal shadow over my upper eyeliner, which deepens and widens it. Then I run the now almost empty brush under my lower eyelashes for faint definition. I’ll sometimes apply another coat of mascara, right over the mascara I’ve worn all day. You can only do this with certain kinds of mascara, but since I use the tubey stuff, this works. (I use McEvoys’ here too.)

I would either add a darker lipstick or more blush, but probably not both. I might dab some transparent eye cream under my eyes right over my makeup to refresh that area. I find if I do this I don’t really need concealer.

November 20, 2009 at 1:02 pm

elemsea

My party make up is a lot like you suggest. The same, just a little more obvious. My basics always remain the same: tinted moisturizer, pressed powder, mascara. I spent a lot of years being intimidated by foundation, like I needed a class to learn to apply it correctly. When I finally tried tinted moisturizer, I was pretty sure it was the best invention ever! The combination of tinted moisturizer and pressed powder gives me a good, even colored base for day or night.

For evening looks, I usually switch out my dark brown eye shadow for a plum color and I add eyeliner, which I rarely wear in the day time. Lips are the wild card. During the day, I wear a tinted gloss. Depending on what I’m wearing for the party, I’ll wear an actual lipstick (for simple outfits) or a gloss (more flashy outfits).

I’ve always been pretty lazy about make up. Luckily, this party routine takes about the same amount of time as my regular routine, which is to say, about 5 minutes.

November 20, 2009 at 1:32 pm

san

I went into Sephora last week to look at perfumes. I found the people rude and the place too flashy and dirty feeling, so I said to myself, I’ll never go in a Sephora again!
I don’t like makeup at all and I would not wear it if I didn’t need the polish. In the late 60’s, early 70’s we threw out our make up and quit doing our hair where I lived. Since then it is very difficult for me to get used to the feel of makeup again. Needless to say, I go as light as I can. Sad to say, I don’t have any feature that I love enough to want to play up. However, now that I have nice glasses I truley do feel that they are like makeup and decorate my face. I’m going to invest in another pair soon so that I have a change sometimes.

November 20, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Diana

I love that you have a post about makeup! I’ve just started playing with makeup and am still trying to figure it out. I keep it pretty simple and usually just do a little eyeshadow, mascara and lip gloss (or occasionally lipstick when I’m feeling fancy). For evening/party though I like to go a little darker with my eyeshadow and definitely a second coat of mascara. I like that you suggest a darker shade of lipstick. I will try that and think it’s going to add to the evening festive feel. One of my stylish girlfriends keeps telling me that I need to add eyebrows to my regular routine because it “makes a huge difference” and now that you’ve mentioned it too, I might try it. I just don’t like looking like I have makeup on and am scared that this will change that. I guess I should at least give it a try before denouncing it… As always, thanks Angie for the inspiration!

November 20, 2009 at 2:03 pm

san

I forgot to say, I was at the dermatologist yesterday and I asked her if the $100 face creams are as good as the cheap ones. Her answer was, “No, they just smell good and come in a beautiful container”. Then she rattled off a number of creams that can be bought in the drugstore as good ones.

November 20, 2009 at 2:03 pm

cciele

I’m with the “feature one feature” gals for evening makeup. So I would do:
– Smokey eye, neutral lip, or
– Neutral eye, intense red lips

I like to play with textures in the evening, glossy vs matte vs shimmer (too old for glitter, but used to be into that!). One of my favorite eye looks is black eyeliner on the top lid only, followed by a thin line of shimmery metallic liner (like Stila Kajal liner). Simple, but really opens up the eye.

November 20, 2009 at 2:04 pm

Mojo Riley

Active Member

I like to keep it pretty simple for both day to day as well as for special occasions. Like Angie and some others, I am definitely more focused on a healthy, effective skincare regimen than I am on makeup. A perfect complexion would be my number one beauty-related wish! To that end, I use retin-a, a gentle cleanser,occasionally an AHA treatment, a great sunscreen, and since June, Obagi products.

I do see some eye makeup looks that I like, but I learned a long time ago that because I already have defined features, and a good amount of contrast in my coloring (dark brows and lashes, green eyes, olive skin), more than a touch of makeup starts to look VERY theatrical, very quickly. Not a look I’m going for- though back in the old days, when I really WAS an actress, it was a different story!

I have a friend I’ve known for many years, and she has always worn too much makeup. I can definitely understand the need for *some* makeup, as she is VERY fair, with extremely light (bleached) hair, and an almost complete absence of visible brows and lashes. I know that she is in danger of looking “beige” all over without the help of cosmetics, but she really takes it to another level, and has always looked very artificial and older than her years as a result of that heavy-handed approach. For a long time, she lined her lips outside her natural lip line, and wore so much mascara that it clumped up something awful. It’s made me very conscious of overdoing makeup.

On a daily basis I wear a foundation stipled on with a damp sponge, a touch of mascara (though I probably don’t really need it, I think it adds a little something), and a coral/red lipstick mixed with a lip balm to get a nice stain, and then of course a touch of powder. For an evening out (not that there are many of those lately), I might add a touch of neutral blush (Nars “Zen” is fantastic) and a little brown or grey liquid liner on the outer third of my upper lash line, swooped up a little bit past the eye, and if I’m feeling really wild (lol!) maybe a champagne shadow just on the lid. When my skin is not peeling from the Obagi products, I use a little self-tanner mixed with lotion to get a little glow.

November 20, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Maya

Veteran

I get the same way about Sephora, and I actually do usually end up walking out emptyhanded within 10 minutes.

I have been told I should sit down with one of their makeup artists and have them give me some guidance, but are they going to do it on my budget and within all my restrictions? That is my hesitation. I am ridiculously low maintenance and can’t stand makeup that looks or “feels” like makeup. I have very uneven skin and huge pores, so I really should wear SOMETHING just to even things out, but everything I have tried just slides off my extremely oily face and I haven’t found any suggestions that work.

Anyway, I still don’t wear anything more than gloss on the holidays, so I guess I don’t change my routine I know I should be more dramatic but I just feel uncomfortable with dramatic makeup.

November 20, 2009 at 11:15 pm

Mellllls

Make-up both day and night mystifies me. My make-up routine is the same day and night except I’m more likely to wear eye shadow at night and skip it during the day.

November 21, 2009 at 9:12 am

malcontent

I tend to feel that some faces look better “made up” than others. Some women look uncomfortable or odd with dramatic makeup, and, in those cases, it’s probably best to do a very subtle application. However, I do like to play with makeup and I feel that a more dramatic evening application suits my look, coloring, and facial structure. I still keep my colors sheer, because I have fair skin, but the evenings, I will add extra touches like a very fine shimmer powder to highlight the cheekbones, heavier or darker eyeliner, more mascara, etc.

Generally, I will wash my face and soothe my skin with some rosewater. The next step is moisturizer and then a light, sheer foundation. I add concealer with a brush as needed and then lightly powder my face with a large brush. I use a nude pencil to line my lips, and then add a sheer lipstick or highly pigmented gloss. I never use matte lipstick because the look is too heavy. After lips, I apply a warm blush with a large brush and blend with my powder brush. For eyes, I will choose a highlight color close to white for my browbone and inner eye and a sheer light to midtone for my lids. A medium toned color is dark enough to shadow the crease. Everything gets blended well and then I line my upper lid in a dark color. I use a liner brush and wet mineral makeup to create the eyeliner. I curl my lashes and add two thin coats of black mascara. Finally, I reevalute and add highlights as needed, to my cheekbones, my lower lip, etc. I don’t create a strong brow because my brows are already dark and well-shaped, though naturally thin, and I feel any brow makeup would look artificial on me.

It sounds like a lot of makeup but I keep it sheer and blended. Evening events are often dimly lit and I want my makeup to be strong enough to keep my features from getting washed out, but not heavy looking. Still, how much makeup to wear is dependent on one’s coloring, facial structure, and other factors. I have very dark hair combined with light eyes and skin, so makeup keeps me from looking peaked and ghosty. As well, my features are on the delicate side and can use definition. And I like to play up my best features, such as my full lips. So, yeah, I won’t be skimping on makeup anytime soon.

November 21, 2009 at 10:19 am

Tres

My answer to evening makeup is either more eyeliner or red lipstick.
Usually I either wear no makeupl, or wear a basic kind of makeup with focus on the eyes (mineral face powder, bit of highlighter on cheekbones, golden sand colored eyeshadow, subtle black or plum eyeliner, black mascara). I’m a fan of golden-peach-bronze-rose-antique colored eyeshadows, and everything else stays pretty much the same. I use lilac or plum eyeshadow, too, or dark pink lips, etc, but those are whims.

For the evening, I either make my eyeliner heavier, Angelina Jolie style, or wear red lips. Not at the same time it’s strictly either-or. I’m dark-haired, relatively pale skinned and have a bit of Asian blood, so dark eyeliner is a must for any made-up look. Without eyeliner, my makeup always looks ‘underdone’.

November 21, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Joy

Veteran

Angie, your party makeup suggestions are pretty much what I do except for only a little mascara, if any, because I usually don’t wear it. I tend to take the time to use a concealer under tinted moisturizer for dark circles and spots. I stay away from color eye products and usually don’t wear eye shadow. My eyelid area is too small and narrow for much more than eyeliner. I don’t wear sparkle or glittery anything.

November 21, 2009 at 9:17 pm

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