For your hair
Try: Easy updos
Want to get add a little glamour for that holiday party without having to mess with bobby pins all night? You’re not alone. Nothing says casual elegance like an undone updo. Try taking the fuss out of your updo by leaving it a little messy. Let your hair air-dry for a little texture and make a low ponytail, leaving out a few pieces around your neck and face. Loosely wrap the ponytail into a bun and secure with bobby pins.
Try: Adding accessories
Nothing completes a good ˜do like a hair accessory. Hairbands, sparkly combs and beaded barettes are all versatile finishing touches for your holiday hair. Add an embellished hairband to your high ponytail, or a pretty comb to your low updo.
Try these embellished bobby pins ($4.80), or faceted bead floral hair pins ($2.50), both Forever 21.
For your face
Try: High impact
Bright pinks, fuschias and oranges are everywhere right now. Try bold coral lips to make a statement, or smudge bright pink eyeshadow along your lower lashline. And of course, don’t forget the blush for that glowing winter flush.
Try Yves Saint Laurent Fard A Levres Rouge Pur in Rosy Coral, $30.
Try: Jewels & metallics
Jewel tones and metallics have become a classic go-to for holiday eyeshadows. Rich emerald and amethyst eyeshadows are universally flattering when done right, and silver and gold make eyes sparkle. Smudge the shadow along your lashlines for a smoky eye. Or, apply a neutral light brown shade all over your eyelids, and blend the coloured shadow outwards on the outer half of your eyelids to create a dramatic gaze.
For your nails
Try: Glitter
Everything sparkles this time of year. Why leave your nails out? Forget the topcoats with mini sparkles. Layer your nail polish with a topcoat that contains big flakes of glitter. It looks great when the base polish and the glitter are the same colour, or bold opposites, like dark violet and silver.
Try: Playing peekaboo
Nothing says notice me like a pop of colour. Try painting all but your ring finger nail on each hand a demure colour like this season’s greige (a mix of grey and beige), and paint the remaining nail a bright colour like mauve or turquoise.
For a more involved (but totally worth it) mani, also try the lace nails seen on fall runways. To pull it off, cut pieces of thin black lace to fit your nails. Apply a light-coloured polish like a soft pink or bold white to your nails and let them dry completely. Then put the cut lace on top and lock it in with clear topcoat.
Or take a shortcut with Sephora by OPI Chic Print for Nails in Chrome Lace, $15.
