With the inspo, tips and trends to see you through Christmas Eve partying and Christmas Day relaxing in style, Fragrance Direct is playing Santa this month, bringing the makeup looks you need to try. Oh, and where would we be without some clever post-indulgence pick-me-ups for Boxing Day? It's going to be a pretty hot Christmas'
Christmas Eve | It's time to party!
You want to make an impact and we've got the just the thing: glitterball lips.
OK, it's bold and it's high-maintenance, but if you can't do it on the most festive night of the year, when can you?How to: It's simpler than you'd think: just apply your favourite gloss or satin lippie (we love Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer for a bold and beautiful base colour) then simply use your finger to press loose glitter onto your pout. Perfect!
Want high-impact eyes instead? The cat-eye flick got an update on the catwalks this season, as stipple-effect liner took centre stage.How to: Try the avant-garde trend championed by the likes of Lavin by applying a black gel liner all over your upper eyelid, using the brush to blend it out in a jagged edge towards your brow. Work the trend with pared-down nude lips and sleek hair to balance out its rebellious side. We'll be adding a hint of sparkle for some extra festive spirit.
Christmas Day | Perfectly pretty with minimal effort!
There are presents to open and we're impatient. Bring on those multitasking products!
It's time to BB beautify or CC get seriously flawless. With a sheerer formula than traditional foundations, these wonder-creams get you looking perfect in seconds and you can pretty much apply them as you tear open your presents. Kind of.How To: We'll be smoothing on colour correction creams to counter any redness or, if all that Christmas Eve excitement has left our skin in a little more need, Rimmel's BB Cream 9 in 1 Super Makeup to prime, moisturise, minimise pores, conceal, cover, smooth, mattify, brighten and protect our skin. Phew! That's more than we'll be doing this Christmas Day'
Ethereal eyes are all over the catwalks, and thanks to the light shades and soft, smudgy application technique they necessitate, they're the perfect still-half-asleep makeup look to go for. We'll be reaching for lightly iridescent shades in brown, taupe and beige (with Bobbi Brown's Metallic Eye Shadow in Champaign Quartz being our hands-down favourite) because it is the perfect time for sparkle, after all.
Boxing Day | We may not feel great, but that won't stop us from looking great!
Cue the pick-me-up products!
Our skin will need a treat by now so we'll be reaching for the face masks and exfoliators to pamper and remove dulling dead skin cells. Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask is essentially heaven-sent if you're feeling a little lack lustre.How To: After over-indulgence, not enough water-sipping and generally having too much of a good time, it's days like this that we could kiss our foundation bottles we're so grateful for them. If you're yet to discover that feeling, we suggest you give Revlon's Colourstay 24H Foundation a go in time to deal with Boxing Day dullness.
Brighten up in a flash by swirling a blusher over the apples of your cheeks. Ta dah! - instantly healthy and well-rested. If your eyes are giving the game away, grab a white eye liner and use it on your lower lash line for a wide-awake look in seconds.
How are you planning on spending the holidays?
