'Tis the Season for Beauty

If you want your skin to glow and sparkle at the Xmas or New Year's do, then skin prep is key. Primer is an essential base to help hide pores, firm skin and to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Apply using upward circular motions to lift and firm the skin. My go to primer that’s suitable for all skin types and ages has got to be IT Cosmetics Your Skin but Better Oil-Free Primer (Available at Boots).

My next step for party ready makeup is foundation. Now, it's super important that you choose the right base for the season's festivities. The best way to choose foundation is to identify your skin type and tone. Oily skins should stick with long wear oil-free matte cream to powder finishes, combination skins with an oily t-zone should choose a water based oil-free liquid or cream base and dry skins should go for more hydrating liquid serum type foundations or skin tint especially if you prefer a lighter, fresher coverage. For a flawless finish apply foundation with the more modern foundation brush tool called a 'kabuki brush'. The bristles help to evenly distribute the right amount of foundation onto the skin and gives a retouched polished finish, while cutting down time for the application process!

Want to know a quick way of finding out what your skin's undertone is? Well, if silver jewellery suits you best then you're probably a cool undertone, if gold looks good on you then you’re more than likely a warm undertone. If both gold and silver jewellery suit you then you have a neutral undertone.  Check out Bobbi Brown who have an array of foundation finishes and shades that suit all skin types and tones. (Available at John Lewis & Partners)

No party season makeup would be complete without a little or a lot of metallic shimmer and glitter! The trend of the season - matching your lipstick colour to your eyeshadow colour for a more 'uniformed' pro makeup artist look. Sparkle up those eyelids and lips by using a subtle wash of shimmer on both, and my top tip is to use your fingertips to apply instead of a brush. Fingertips help to warm up and hold glitter shadow and it also helps to give it staying power. If you’re brave you could also go all out with large chunky glitter to give you that extra wow factor.

Red lipstick is a must-have for the festive season, and this colour can be worn by all, not just for the bold. The key here is to pick the right shade of red for your skin tone. Paler skins suit raspberry tones (blue-based or pink-based reds), mid skin tones suit fire engine reds (orange, gold or peachy undertones) and darker skins suit plum or currant tones (blue-based and deep reds). Before creating a red lip look, always line lips first with a lip pencil and then fill in with your choice of lipstick. To stop your lipstick from bleeding or smudging first apply a little translucent powder to the outer corners and cupid bow and then line your lips and fill in with the lipstick.