Beauty essentials to keep your festive makeup locked in all night long

First things first, priming your face is essential for a flawless, smooth base and to keep your glam locked in all day. A good primer should hydrate your skin, blur pores, give you a radiant, non-greasy glow, and have a lightweight, long-lasting finish, such as RMS Beauty’s ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer. After priming, be sure to let the product dry down before applying the next product to avoid pilling.

The secret to long-lasting makeup without smothering on too much product is to layer your products wisely. For your foundation, start with a thin layer of a lightweight, water-based foundation—think Chanel’s Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch—let it dry down, then follow up with a fuller coverage foundation in thin layers. Lancôme’s famed Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation will give you that natural, full-coverage finish for hours on end without creasing or feeling heavy on your skin. It’s also sweat and humidity-resistant, perfect for long nights of celebrations.

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Whilst a thick, long-wearing concealer may seem like the best choice for maximum coverage, it can also leave a cakey finish that accentuates texture rather than concealing it. Instead, opt for a lightweight, buildable formula like Kosas’ Revealer Concealer, which delivers a more natural, seamless finish whilst still offering the coverage you need.

As an extra tip, for areas that crease easily such as your under-eyes and smile lines, avoid applying the product directly on top to prevent it from settling into fine lines. The trick is to apply the concealer in small amounts around the hollow areas, then use a makeup blender or your fingers and slowly work your way in. If you need more coverage, repeat the process in thin layers. Alternatively, you can also apply the concealer on the back of your hand and blend off some excess product before dabbing it onto the skin, which allows for better control and a smoother blend.

Similar to foundation, layering your blush and bronzer is an excellent way to maintain their wear and enhance their pigment. The key is to layer two different formulas: first is cream, then powder. For blush, Armani Beauty’s coveted Luminous Silk Cheek Tint is a liquid blush that delivers intense pigment with just a dot or two, and it melts into the skin like a dream with an ultra-weightless finish. For the second layer, Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Blush is an all-time favourite powder blush with a natural, luminous finish that will accentuate your cheeks beautifully.

As for bronzer, Patrick Ta’s Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo is a two-in-one sculpting palette that comes with a cream contour and powder bronzer in complementary shades. Both formulas blend effortlessly and leave a smooth, sun-kissed finish.

Now, a brow pomade would be ideal for long-lasting, budge-proof wear, but making them look natural can be quite a challenge (we all remember the 2015 Instagram brows). A brow pencil offers a more precise application that allows you to fill in gaps while maintaining a soft, natural finish. Of course, there are some great long-wearing brow pencils out there such as Benefit Cosmetics’ classic Precisely, My Brow pencil, but ultimately, it’s all about your application.

To ensure your brows stay put all day, remove any moisture by patting them with setting powder before filling them in, then set them again with another layer, followed by a brow gel for a fuller look, then a brow setter to seal it all in.

Eyeshadow primer is non-negotiable, especially if you’re going for a bold, full-glam look. Not only will it prevent your eyeshadow from creasing, fading, and smudging, but it’ll also accentuate the colour pigment and ensure they blend smoothly. Nars’ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is exactly what you need, and it has all the raving reviews to vouch for it. It has a lightweight, fast-drying consistency that prevents caking and creasing and boasts incredible staying power for all-day wear.

Whilst an eyeshadow primer will ensure your powder pigments stay put, liquid eyeshadows take it a step further by delivering intense colour payoff and extra long-lasting wear. And as far as eyeshadows go, be it powder or liquid, Pat McGrath Labs’ formulas are unmatched.

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These days, most eyeliners on the market are waterproof, a good waterproof eyeliner that gives you that perfect wing and actually stays put all day can be hard to come by. If you have yet to find your holy grail liner, Stila’s award-winning Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner lives up to its name and cult status. It’s available in numerous vibrant shades that are long-wearing, smudge-proof, and deliver intense pigment.

As for your lashes, if you haven’t already seen all the viral TikTok videos on L’Oreal Paris’ Voluminous Panorama Waterproof Mascara, it’s never too late to hop on the bandwagon. This mascara provides intense volume and separation, with a waterproof formula that stands up to whatever the day brings.

Lipsticks are often the first to wear off, and of course, you can always just reapply whenever it’s needed, but sometimes it’d be nice to rock a perfect lip without the hassle of constant touch-ups. And you can do just that with the right formula. Start with a lip liner for a fuller, more defined look. Natasha Denona’s Lip Crayon is an iconic favourite for its long-lasting rich pigment and waterproof, smudge-proof, and transfer-proof formula that glides onto the lips with a creamy finish.

To fill in your lips, Dior’s Rouge Dior is a timeless must-have for long-lasting bold, velvet lips that are transfer-proof even when drinking or eating. For the glossy girls, YSL’s Loveshine is the way to go. And of course, you can always count on a lip tint to last all day and perhaps even the day after. If there’s any lip tint you should go for, it’s one from none other than Peripera.

And finally, it’s time to seal your look with the final steps. Gently press on a light layer of setting powder on your forehead, chin, nose, and under your eyes and let it sit for a few minutes before dusting off for a smooth finish. Using too much will lead to a cakey finish and may cause excess product to accumulate in your fine lines, even more so in textured spots or areas prone to creasing, making them more noticeable rather than smoothing them out. Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder has reigned supreme since it was launched for a reason—it has a super fine, airy consistency, doesn’t settle into creases, and does the job with absolute perfection.

Finish off with a setting spray. Opt for one with a microfine mist and is basically everything-proof. Be sure to keep it at a good distance when spraying for an even layer, then let it dry down. Urban Decay’s All Nighter Waterproof Setting Spray remains unmatched in ensuring your makeup stays locked in from day to night, no matter the weather or occasion. Last but not least, keep a compact powder in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish is a must-have for blurring imperfections and minimising shine with an airbrushed finish.

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