7 beauty hacks for party perfection
With Christmas fast approaching, and all the celebrations that go with it, November is a great time to start practising your glammest looks.
Master these beauty-routine tricks and you’ll have party-perfect skin, hair and make-up with minimum effort and maximum va-va-voom.
1. Do the drop-a-decade hair mask
“My secret to glossy, glamorous hair is all in the prep,” says Annabel Jones, Editor of Beauty Recommended. We love Pantene Pro-V Expert Collection Age Defy Conditioner and Masque RRP £3.49. “It leaves locks with a satin sheen before you’ve even touched the styling products.”
2. Give your hair oomph
There is nothing like a classic curl to add glamour to winter nights. For curls that have body and volume rather than unruly frizz, grab yourself one of the latest spray gels.
“Apply Pantene Pro-V's new Fine Hair Lightweight Instant Nourishing Spray RRP £3.48 to damp hair to really bring curls to life,” recommends Pantene Global Ambassador and catwalk hair stylist Sam McKnight.
For more tips on adding some oomph to your party hair, see our article Turn up the volume: 8 steps for party-perfect hair.
3. The up-do that stays put
Does your up-do come undone before the night’s up? Sam McKnight has a backstage trick: “In order for hairpins to stay in place, you must first push the pin into the hair and then turn it back on itself – and then push it all the way in.”
Finish by spritzing the pin with hairpspray to fix it in place. We recommend Pantene Pro-V Strong Hold Hairspray RRP £3.69 for extra strength.
4. Get silky smooth legs
Get LBD-ready legs in just three easy steps: firstly, shave your legs using a gentle razor, like Gillette Venus ProSkin Sensitive Razor RRP £5.25, giving you a perfectly moisturised finish, free of those annoying little bumps.
Moisturise straight after your shower and then add a touch of highlighter to your shins to elongate the look of your legs and add a glam shimmer. For a budget option, try coconut oil or cocoa butter.
5. Focus on your best bit
Choose your most alluring feature and add dramatic definition – it’s the best way to get noticed.
For example, enhance the shape of your eyes by extending them outwards with eyeliner flicks and mascara on the edge lashes only.
If it’s your lips that you want to focus on, make them appear fuller by rounding the top lip over the cupids bow.
6. Matte doesn’t mean flat
Reverse the usual way of applying foundation and highlighter to achieve a velvety matte finish with a three dimensional effect. So put the highlights on first, then apply foundation, and set it with powder bronzer full of warmth and a subtle shimmer.
7. Love your luscious lashes
If you want to frame your eyes without looking too dramatic, try using black mascara on the top lashes and brown mascara on the lower lashes. This also minimises the risk of panda eyes later in the night.
What are your party-prep tips? Let us know in the comments section below.