It’s December and you know what that means – events, parties and gatherings are in full swing, making this the perfect time to research the latest makeup styles.
Bold lips, shimmery eyeshadow and face jewels are some of the hottest makeup trends for party season, and for hair, romantic curls and mermaid braids are making waves.
Mandatory mask-wearing is a thing of the past (but you’re still advised to wear one in crowded or enclosed spaces) so this gives you a lot more freedom to experiment with makeup.
We’ve broken down the most popular trends for party makeup this year, which mainly focus on the eyes and lips, and creative ways to enhance your best features.
Experiment with eyeliner
Broken lines, as seen in Dior’s makeup for the brand’s Fall 2022 collection, saw a wide variety of eyeliner styles, including the “broken line” trend, where soft-edged lines emphasise the outer corner of the eyes, continued on the lower eyelid and broken in the centre.
Drawing a line in the crease of the upper eyelid is also an option, while the rest of the eyeliner follows the shape of your eyes.
Shimmery eyeshadow
Tinsel, glitter and shine are all part and parcel of Christmas deco, as well as makeup.
Match your eyes to your sequined dress and try out metallic colours, to give your eyes a reflective shine that kind of looks like foil.
Foiled eyeshadows can be applied smoothly to the eyelids without messing up the rest of your face (unlike glitter) and are a chic choice of eye makeup to play around with this festive season.
Read more: Need inspiration for your upcoming party outfits? Look to red carpet fashion
‘Euphoria’ makeup
Yes, this trend has been popular ever since this series starring Zendaya hit TV screens, and it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.
Bedazzling your eyes, cheekbones and forehead with stick-on face jewels add drama to your look, and it’s relatively easier to apply these as opposed to tedious eyeliner styles that you might have to attempt several times before achieving the look you want.
Season highlights
Christmas is the only time when you can rock snowflakes, tiny trees and candy canes on your face, so why not give these tiny drawings a go?
Of course, to achieve this, you’ll need a bit of practice – don’t wait until the actual event because in order for this look to work, the art needs to be almost flawless!
However, if you’re unsure about pulling this off yourself, there are always other options apart from hiring a professional, such as stickers or temporary tattoos.
Neon makeup
“This look is really on trend now, and it involves using special colours that glow in the dark, giving your face a funky and vibrant look,” says Jasmin.
To achieve this look, check with a professional or have a makeup artist put your look together, if you aren’t sure which products to buy or how to use them.
Full-on glam
It’s party season, which is a great excuse to go all out with your makeup with 50s-inspired eyeliner and striking red lipstick.
“Most parties these days come with themes, and they are usually on the ‘glitz and glam’ side. Having themes is great for those who have no idea what kind of look they want to achieve,” says Jasmin. “It acts as a guide for party-goers to follow and this makes it easier for a makeup artist to come up with a look for you.”
“For glam themes, we usually use glitter on the eyes to give them a shine and the highlight will be on point,” she adds.
Crimson lips
Go all out with red lips, whether your shade is a lighter cherry or a deep wine or burgundy.
To match, brush on a touch of blush and draw a subtle wing for eyeliner or tightline your eyes.
Prevent your lip colour from bleeding by using a lip liner, and not just to outline your lips, you can also colour your entire lip area with lip liner before applying lipstick. This is so that when the colour does come off, it won’t be too noticeable.
Long-lasting lip colour
Stained lips are a no-brainer if you’re going to be out for hours, hopping from one event to the next – choose a colour and stick with it.
For a flushed effect, blot – not swipe – a liquid lipstick on for a flushed effect, advises Glamour.com.
Keeping it classic
If “go big or go home” isn’t your style, you can’t go wrong with makeup that is classic glam.
Glamour.com suggests using subtle brown shadow, rose lipstick, and plenty of highlighter if you’re going for classic glam, and an updo with pearl hairpins to complete the look.
Glow up
Ambient soft glow foundation and a touch of highlights on your cheekbones and browbones to give your face a golden glow is sometimes all you need to achieve this look.
Use a concealer that gives your skin a warm glow, and apply it sparingly to the corners of your eyes and give your face a lift effect by pulling it up towards the temple.
Another way to give your look a radiant glow is the dewy skin aesthetic, a trend which has been going strong for years now.
Swap out matte, full-coverage foundations and thick concealers for skin tints and lightweight formulas, in favour of a more natural look.
Luscious lashes
If you’ve been hesitating when it comes to false eyelashes, don’t hold back this party season, as this is the best time to really go all out with eye makeup.
Before you buy them, do some research to find out what type of lash suits your eye shape, because there are tons of varying styles out there.
Elle.com recently published a guide on how to choose the right lashes for your eyes, from round eyes and monolids to near-set eyes and hooded eyes.
For example, if you have almond eyes like actress Margot Robbie, which are slightly pointed at the end with a wider centre where the curve of the iris is hidden by the upper and lower lids, add volume with full lashes that are evenly distributed.
Another example is hooded eyes, like those of Blake Lively. These types of eyes have a crease with a prominent brow bone so the eyelid is not clearly visible when the eye is open.
The article suggests trying a fluttery mix with long lashes directly above the pupil to really open the eye at the centre.
Burnt blush and highlights
While this is very much a summer trend, level up by adding more or both blush and highlights.
If your event is in the daytime, tone it down a little by applying minimal blush, and layer it for night events.
Shimmer is in for year-end parties, so lay on the highlights thick, especially across your cheekbones and browbones.
Read more: Achieve perfectly shaped eyebrows with the 'soap brow' beauty trick
Hair trends
No look is complete without a cool hairstyle, and there’s no denying that most ladies love curls for a night out.
“There are lots of types of curls,” says Jasmin. “But wavy curls are a huge trend right now and it’s suitable for all kinds of parties. It’s popular because it gives your hair a bounce.”
Another top style is the chignon bun, especially in warmer weather as it keeps your locks neat while looking super elegant.
“Add some sparkly hair accessories to complete the look,” suggests Jasmin.
Smooth, silky waves are a low- maintenance style that suits just about everyone, and it’s not hard to achieve by most hair stylists.
You can also try your hand at mermaid braids (or get someone with experience to do it), a hair trend for any season.
December is hugely popular for weddings and this style is a top choice among brides, bridesmaids and even wedding guests.
“It’s neat, pleasant-looking and even ladies with short hair can rock this style, or they can use hair extensions,” says Jasmin.
At the end of the day, whatever look you end up choosing for all those fun parties you’re going to attend, just make sure it’s something you can live with for a few hours or you’ll just end up feeling uncomfortable.
And finally, to take the stress out of doing your own makeup, hire a professional, especially if it’s an important event.
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