Party season is here and with it comes a jam-packed calendar, from gatherings with friends and family to the annual office party. This is the time of year when your makeup, much like the festive decorations adorning the trees and lighting up the streets, can really sparkle and shine. 

If you’re not sure where to start with party makeup, we have enlisted the expert advice of pro makeup artist Mira Parmar to share with us some tips and tricks to encourage you to get playful with your party makeup looks this festive season.

From brightening up weary eyes for your third night out of the week to experimenting with colours that are well out of your go-to realm, here are 7 makeup tips to take you through to new year.

1. Eye Up a New Colour

When it comes to party makeup, is your go-to a smokey eye? If it is, you probably reach for the same charcoal grey or brown shadows every time. “Be adventurous and go brighter for a fun look! Why not try a burnt orange or rich red smoky eye? Team it with a dark brown eyeliner, smudged into the lash line, to create a surprisingly flattering eye look for the party season,” says Mira.

Try the Miracle Red Smokey Eye Palette.

2. Smoke in Seconds!

“To create a quick, subtle party smokey eye, apply a soft pencil eyeliner or eyeshadow stick in a horizontal ‘v’ shape (with the point at the outer corner) and blend with a brush until it looks soft and smoky,” says Mira. “A smokey eye in seconds, magic!”

Try the Miracle Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Stick or Miracle Eye Pencil.

3. Fake Awake

If your calendar is jam-packed this holiday season, use makeup to fake awake. “Highlighting the inner corners of the eyes brightens up tired peepers,” notes Mira. “It also makes a smoky eye pop!”

Still looking a little weary? “Using a nude eyeliner in the waterline instantly revitalises the look of tired eyes,” she adds.

Try the Miracle Highlight & Glow Stick

4. Day to Night Highlight

With the sun just a distant memory, our complexions can look a little sallow at this time of year. Mira suggests giving your complexion a lift with highlighter when going from day to night. “I love to use a cream highlighter on the cheekbones, but then I set it with my favourite powder highlighter to pack more of a long-lasting and intense glow!”

Mira also suggests using your lipstick as a blusher, if you’re in a pinch. "Apply a couple of dots of lipstick to your cheeks and blend with your fingers. Always apply blush to the apples of your cheeks for a healthy-looking flush!”

Try the Lip Stick in Pure Red

5. A Quick Eye Update

Heading out and no time to create a smokey eye? No worries! “A really easy and glam way to jazz up eyes from day to night is to apply a clear or subtly tinted lip gloss to the eyelids and apply a few coats of mascara to open up the eyes,” suggests Mira. Easy.

Try the Miracle Lipgloss in Pink Berry

6. Keep It Simple

It’s tempting to throw all the glitter and glow at your face at this time of year, and why not? But, if your outfit is doing the sparkling, create balance by opting for a chic and simple makeup look. “Dewy ‘no makeup makeup’ skin paired with a dark berry lip looks amazing for night time glam,” notes Mira.

Try the Miracle Liquid Lipstick in Plum.

The key with ‘no makeup makeup’ is to avoid a blanket coverage of foundation and instead take a step back and look at the areas of your complexion that need a little help. It could be blemishes, redness or dark circles—conceal those but leave the rest of your skin to shine through.

7. Bold Lips Made Easy

Bright, bold lipstick can be daunting, but Mira recommends applying your lipstick and blending it out with the tip of your finger to create a more lived-in, stain effect. “To create the illusion of a fuller-looking pout, pat a lighter colour to the centre of your lips, followed by a touch of gloss to create a 3D effect.”

Quick pro tips to know:

Remember Mira’s 3 top tips when you’re doing your makeup this holiday season, for a pro look every time:

1. When contouring, start light and build up slowly. This will give you a more natural subtle contour.
   
   
2. Brush up your brows with soap! Take a spoolie brush and pick up the soap from a wet bar before brushing through your brows and filling in any gaps with brow powder or pencil.
   
   
3. Wearing a bold lip colour? Fill your lips with liner pencil before applying your lipstick for great staying power.