How To: Get Your Holiday Glow On
Photo By Raymond Meier/Trunk Archive
We all love a sun-kissed glow in the summer, but a chic touch of sparkle can be just as appealing for the peak of party season. That said, there’s a fine line to walk when it comes to shimmer and shine; go overboard with glitter, and you’ll wind up looking costume-y instead of glam. Here, experts share the dos and don’ts of getting your gorgeous winter glow on.
Do: Prep your skin to create a base for your glow.
We all know the mantra “moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.” In cold weather, just make sure to opt for creams (oil-based) instead of lotions (water-based) for hydration that lasts. Beyond that, for a glowing complexion, don’t skip those extra prep steps. Jenny Kim, MD, Ph.D, a dermatologist at the UCLA School of Medicine, suggests gently exfoliating once a week to clear away dead cells before following up with a hydrating mask to grab glowy,dewy skin. “Masks with collagen and hyaluronic acid are good, as they’re packed with vitamins,” Kim explains. “Also, masks that contain niacin-amide can give a radiant glow, and formulations with with gold and adenosine are rejuvenating.” Try ARCONA Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant to refresh, followed by Dr. Jart+ Premium Water-Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask for extra moisture to brighten complexion, or the brand’s Firming Sleeping Mask for anti-aging benefits.
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Don’t: Opt for “dark”self-tanner before trying “light.”
All too often, you know when someone has a faux glow, especially in the winter. If you opt to use a self-tanner, don’t go from porcelain to golden in one jump. “Try self-tanner in ‘light’ before opting for ‘dark’ so the look is more natural,” says celebrity makeup artist Marni Burton, explaining you should graduate to a deeper color like you would with a real sun-kissed glow. “You want to make sure you like the product first before using medium or dark.” Burton suggests Rodial Self-Tanner for a pretty, natural look.
Do: Add shimmer over finished eye makeup.
For the holidays, try this one additional step on your lids. According to Burton, adding glitter over top of makeup will modernize your sparkly eyes. “It will add a whole different dimension to the look,” she says. “Just make sure to apply a lot of mascara after, so your lashes don’t get lost. Burton also suggests strategically adding a dot of shimmer in the center of your lid for a “wide-eye look.” Try Burton’s personal favorite Jewel Dust by Becca Cosmetics, or the easy-to-apply Fairy Dust Eye Shimmer from Laura Mercier.
Don’t: Use a body-shimmer moisturizer.
Lots of moisturizers are labeled as “shimmer,” but these are better saved for summertime. Burton says to nix the all-over glimmer in favor of a more muted cold-weather glow. “Try an oil-based moisturizer instead of shimmer, such as NUXE or NARS,” Burton explains. “It is more subtle for the winter months.”
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DON’T: Put shimmer on your brow bone.
When in doubt, focus shimmer on the lids and inner corners of the eyes for a winning party glow, says celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow. “You can even blend glitter or shimmer into eyeliner on the lower lash-line to create a diffused, shimmery smudge.” she says, warning to avoid going too far. “Personally, I don’t like a frosty brow-bone.” Which can be a bit too much sparkle n’ shine. To achieve just the right balance of color and glitter, Turnbow uses Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks and tubes of Metallic Crème Eye Colour, which you can use with Make Up For Ever’s Metal Powder for an extra glint.
Do: Add glitter over your lip color.
For an on-trend evening look, Turnbow suggests pressing glitter into lipstick. “Do it while lips are still moist, and it will stick,” says Turnbow, whose go-tos are red glitter on a red lip, garnet sparkle on a burgundy lip, or pearly glitter on a pink lip for fairer skin tones. If you’re not into such a bold look, try slicking lips with a gloss like Lancome’s Gloss in Love for party season instead. “There are glosses with glitter, which, if used lightly, can be pretty for an evening to add some festive sparkle.” Try MAC lipstick in “Runner Up” for a rich matte burgundy, or MAC heirloom mix lipstick in the glittery, Dorothy’s-slippers red “Sparks of Romance” for a dramatic base; or try Smashbox Be Legendary lip color in “Bubblegum Pink” for a lighter, icy glow. Then top with Make Up For Ever glitter for an unexpected pop.
Don’t: Skip your blush base if you have oily skin.
For that NYE or party glow, Burton likes a shimmer blush for most women. However, especially if you have oily skin, you should prime first. “I like a matte blush first, then dust over it with shimmer blush,” she says. “Shimmer blush on oily skin can look blotchy, so this trick helps.” You want your makeup to shine through the night, not look slick. Burton suggests NARS Blush for lasting matte and shimmer shades in every color. We like “Gaiety” with “Angelika” for a light, lasting shimmery-pink glow on lighter skin tones, or “Almería” under “Seduction” with for a cool-based flush on darker skin tones.
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Do: Try a glimmering stain your cheeks.
If you don’t have oily skin and like a more subtly, glowing-from-within look, try opting for a stain in stick or tube form to reflect just enough color and sparkle. “I love a cream stain, which taps into the skin so it blends in rather than lays on top,” says Turnbow. “Tarte has a great cheek stain. I use ‘Fearless’ on fair skin tones, and ‘Exposed’ for warmer skin tones.” Top with a light powder blush to set if you wish.
Don’t: Skip illuminator.
If you really want your face to glow with a flush of warm color, Burton says you can definitely keep your usual bronzer in your winter rotation — with one added step. “You can use your bronzing powder as your blush on cheeks, and then highlight cheekbones with a cream illuminator to add sheen.” The illuminator winterizes your summery glow a bit, so the look is more natural — and evening appropriate, with a moonlit shine. Burton’s a big fan of Guerlain bronzers like Terracotta 4 Seasons and Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow.
Don’t: Hold back on nail color and accents.
If you’re a strong style personality, it’s your season to play. “I never subscribe to rules when it comes to beauty — except for individuality and expressing oneself with reckless abandon. You should feel free to experiment with the playful, vibrant, sparkly, even gaudy,” says Dineh Mohajer, co-founder and creative director of luxury nail brand Smith & Cult. “That said, I think we will see many glittery, geometric shapes over rich wine-hued shades. Try Smith & Cult’s “Dark Like Me” (a shade that screams 2015 in Pantone’s upcoming color-of-the-year selection “marsala”) with Sally Hansen’s “Crown Jewels” to achieve this look.
Do: Subtle shines if you’re the sophisticated type.
Although you can embrace your dramatic side, not every sparkly nail look this holiday season has to be dark and daring. “A nude base layered with a soft pink or lavender glitter shade can be both understated and opulent,” says Mohajer, “I like a caramel-beige shade like ‘Feathers & Flesh,’ with the ultrafine, holographic, lavender glitter of ‘Vegas Post Apocalyptic.’ It’s bold yet refined.” Mohajer suggests dousing glitter on just one accent nail, or painting just the tips for a “delicately beautiful” look on longer nails. And for a little extra glimmer in the base shade, you can côte no. 13 for a subtle dazzle. Who knew glitter could be this sophisticated?
