Holiday Makeup Trends - Long Lasting Makeup for Holiday Events & New Years Eve

Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree…

When you realize half of your makeup has migrated off your face and onto your white cashmere sweater! I’m sure most women have encountered this makeup faux-pas. Here are a few tips on how to get long lasting makeup that will survive any holiday party!

Much like oil & water - oil and makeup do not mix! If you use an oil based moisturizer underneath a long lasting foundation, you can forget about your makeup lasting longer than a couple of hours. Oil (both from products and from our skin) causes all types of makeup to dissolve. This is why most makeup removers are oil based.

Check to make sure your foundation & moisturizer say “oil-free”.

If you typically use a thick moisturizer, opt instead for a lighter-weight product that will not leave behind a greasy residue. Oily skin types do best with a light weight gel moisturizer, like Mattify Cosmetic's Incredi-Gel. It contains an aloe base, to provide non-greasy moisture. Gel moisturizers also have a cooling effect on the skin, to reduce puffiness under eyes and around breakouts.

Primer provides a smooth, even layer for foundation. It also helps protect pores, absorbs excess oil, and allows for a longer lasting lasting finish.

If you have very dry skin with small pores, try a silicone based gel primer like Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer. Many people have a bad reaction to silicone – if you are one of them, try Lorac’s silicone free primer. If your skin is more on the combination to oily side, use an absorbent powder primer like Mattify Cosmetic’s ULTRA Powder for Oily Skin. Whichever product you select, apply the primer to your entire face, including eye lids.

While most foundations can't live up to their full 16 hour promise, they are designed to go the distance. When used with the correct complimentary products, they will last a good 5-6 hours without smudging or transferring. High end brands or airbrush makeup typically last 6-8 hours, while drugstore brands will give you 4-5 hours of wear. Keep in mind that they do last longer on dry skin, as long as an oily moisturizer is not used beforehand. Using primer (as mentioned in step 2) will prevent oily build-up and help foundation last longer.

When you’re exerting yourself while enjoying holiday activities like tree trimming, sledding, or dancing, your skin will typically produce more oil, and you will probably break a sweat. Waterproof eye liner will stay put no matter what & won’t leave you looking like a raccoon.

Crème shadows break down when the skin begins to produce oil, giving you sticky & creased eye lids. Not pretty! Powder eye shadows absorb excess oil and have greater staying power. Try Urban Decay's Naked Palette, or Mattify Cosmetic's Long Lasting Mineral Eyeshadow, which contains a built-in primer.

If you have oily skin, you can use the same product (Mattify ULTRA Powder) that you used as your base primer. It prevents skin oils from causing makeup melt-down and will give your face a fresh, clean, flawless appearance. For maximum oil control, apply it with a powder puff by pressing onto the skin in sections. Blend away excess with a fluffy powder brush. Those with dry skin can either skip this step, or apply lightly with a fluffy brush.

Whether oily or dry, everyone can benefit from a makeup setting spray such as Urban Decay’s All Nighter or Model in a Bottle Original Spray. It helps makeup last hours longer & prevents makeup from transferring onto clothing - a must for holiday parties!

Follow these tips to achieve the longest lasting holiday makeup! All your friends will wonder how your makeup still looks perfectly applied at the end of the night.