Help clients put their best face forward for winter holiday parties.

Whether it’s the glittering disco ball at a New Years’ Eve party, mistletoe awaiting the love-struck or an annual get-together to ward off the cold, the holidays are prime occasions for glamour. Three makeup artists share their top holiday trends and also talk about the direction of brows and lashes—arguably the most basic but shape-changing of facial features.

1. Truly Vampy

Perhaps because of all the TV shows and movies, like True Blood, Twilight and Vampire Diaries, one of the hottest holiday looks is inspired by the dark and beautiful. “It’s not quite goth,” says Toronto makeup artist and educator Cheryl Gushue. “You’re seeing the matte lip that’s been happening for a few seasons, but this time it’s coming in plum and berry tones. With that dark lip, I’d keep the focus on the lips with generous contours and go light on the blush.” Gushue warns that this look isn’t for everybody, but it’s got big impact for the girl with the personality. To complement this lip, Jasmine Dashtizad, Mirabella national trainer and celebrity makeup artist, suggests a bronzer for skin in order to off-set any pastiness with a fine highlighting glow. “This makes the saturated vampy lip a bit more wearable.”

2. Jewel-toned Smoky Eyes

If glimmer is your client’s favourite, try this season’s multi-dimensional and multi-coloured palette. “It’s dramatic, with deep amethyst and emerald green, which create a vibrant eye without having to wear a lot of makeup everywhere else,” says Dashtizad. “You can use a gold and green on the lid and purple underneath, almost like a liner. That’s what will give you a coloured smoky eye.” For clients wearing this eye, keep the rest of the features softer and nude so that the total look is balanced.

3. Metallic and Textured

Winter textures like velvet are a great complement to shades with sheen. “Try using a metallic pencil over the lid as a base and put a darker shadow on top of that to make the eye more concentrated, like matte metallic. Alternatively, this can also be blended using a coloured pencil with black on top, which looks cool like velvet,” suggests Gushue. Metallics can also be very versatile as an accent. “Add a gold tone to the eyes. Not the whole eye dipped in gold, but mix it into the inside of the eye to add brightness to a smoky eye. Smoky eyes can be done in any colour; it’s just the technique that makes them different,” says Gushue.

4. Big Wings

It’s not only Brit girls Adele and Amy Winehouse who can make jet-black wings look amazing. Old-school glamour and vintage beauty is coming back in a big way for the holidays, according to Kelsey Yule, education director from Pure Professional. “We’re looking forward to the big, heavy wings created with eye liner. Makeup artists can try

the couture double-wing with either heavy or finely defined gel liner, which gives a richer and more refined look than liquid liner. The top lid would be a traditional cat eye, and there’s the option to do anther line through the bottom lash, which is much more fashion-forward and edgy.”

5. Scarlet Classic

If there’s one thing that Marilyn Monroe and Gwen Stefani have in common, it’s being consistent with classic beauty. Expect clients to come wanting the classic red-lipped pout, and if they feel uneasy about pulling it off, Dashtizad offers tips on finding the right tone. “It’s really about finding the undertones of the red lipstick that works with the skin. If you have fair skin, I’d recommend a more blue-based red, like Mirabella’s Moi, as opposed to an earth-toned red for darker skin, like Ruthless.”

Makeup & Hair: Cheryl Gushue, Photo: Magdalena M.

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