Don’t be afraid to try a different look

You’ve prepared all month for Christmas, picking out the ultimate Christmas Eve outfit, matching with the perfect hairstyle, the perfect shoes, even down to the perfect jewelry. Although wait, hold on: you have no idea how to do your makeup! Will fake lashes look tacky? Is glitter only for teens? Is the natural look still in? What lip color should I wear? What do I do?

Don’t worry. From my years working in beauty, I have learned that one must be open to all the different kinds of looks. Don’t be afraid to try something new. I used to despise wearing red lipstick. I thought it made me look old, but the more I tried it, the more I fell in love with it, and now I feel like the ultimate Bond girl wearing it.

Makeup is about expression. Of course there is a fair share of wanting to impress others (who wouldn’t?), but the reality of it is that makeup is a tool of self-expression. When used correctly, it can emphasize your style and express who you are. So don’t be afraid and do whatever feels right!

The dark, bold lip

The dark, bold lip has been a very popular trend for the holiday season. Plum purple to deep reds make for the ultimate festive lips, inspired by the early ’90s and ’80s grungy glam look. Although it can be quite intimidating to wear at first, it actually looks beautiful, especially if you have fair skin.

Heavy eye makeup

Festive holidays and colder weather are actually the best times to go for heavier colors. I mean, who would do it in summer? Not me.

Recently I’ve been in love with the dark eyes-and-dark lip makeup combo with a beautiful flawless base; ladies rocking it like Rita Ora and Rihanna look so sexy but elegant at the same time. Although remember, like I always say, apply makeup moderately. When working with dark colors, it is easy for the look to become too heavy. No one wants to look like they are ready to go to a nightclub while actually attending a wholesome family dinner. No, no, not good. So just remember to be gentle and it will work wonders.

The natural look

The natural look will always be in, no matter what. It will always remain a classic look you cannot go wrong with. Although if you want to add a bit more oomph to the look, I suggest using fake lashes. A trick I use for my clients to make the fake lashes look more natural is to cut the lashes in half, and only apply to the outer part. This looks more natural while still adding extra character.

The red lip

Whenever I hear Christmas, I think red lipstick! Nothing says Christmas more than red lipstick.

Funky colored eye makeup

There is no better time than Christmas and New Year’s Eve to play with eye makeup, so if you’ve been wanting to try an eye shadow that pops, now would be the best time to do it. Don’t be afraid to play with color. So be wild, have fun, and be yourself!

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You can email the author at clarapettersen95@gmail.com or visit her website www.clarapettersen.com.