Of all the holidays we celebrate, Christmas is my favourite for more than one reason. Not only is this the season of good cheer, it’s also the season when women, who usually walk around with a dull look all year, perk up and pay attention to their wardrobe and make-up.

The most common complaint I hear is that most women hardly have time on a daily basis to pay attention to make-up application details. Even worse, some find this time of the year much too hectic to even bother about upgrading the make-up. Today, I will share some quick tips for that holiday makeover which can be done in minutes.

The first and most important thing is to have an array of cosmetics to choose from. Remember the finish is just as important as the start. A lot of women are content with just powder and foundation, but I always say a plain face is like a wall that’s just been painted with primer.

The basic products for this look are foundation, loose powder, blush or bronzer, eye shadow, lipstick or lip gloss, eye pencil and mascara. Now since this is about the holidays, I would recommend that you buy shades that are in keeping with Christmas themes. Examples of these shades include precious metals like rich gold, deep purple, bold reds, plums and burgundy. My tips for quick fixes are a combination of three looks: shimmery eyes, glowing skin and luscious lips.

Prep the skin with some oil-free lotion and let it breathe for a few minutes before you apply your foundation. I like to experiment a lot, so if you are willing to try some new tricks take a glittered cream and mix with a liquid foundation (make sure it’s water-based so that it doesn’t separate when mixed). Use this glitter creation to give that sparkly glow to the skin. Absorb the excess oils with some facial tissue before applying a light coat of loose powder as foundations that are greasy tend to absorb a lot of powder giving the face a cake-like appearance. Your blush or bronzer should have a slight glitter texture so that it gives a shine on the cheekbones. For the lips, use a rich, long-lasting lip colour in taupe and use a clear crystal gloss over it for that Christmas dazzle.

For the golden eyes, don’t be afraid to go bolder than usual. Shimmery doesn’t mean dramatic or carnival glitter, but instead sultry and sophisticated. Gently line the upper and lower lash-line with your eye-pencil then, using a small brush, take any shade of deep eyeshadow and smudge over the lined area to create a softened texture. Use a medium shade and go over the creases blending slowly upwards. With a nude shade of shadow, I used a pale peach to highlight the brow bones. To finish this power look, take a bit of golden shimmer shadow and place a slightly exaggerated amount on the inner eye areas.

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