Holiday 2007 Make Up: Easy Glam Looks that Sparkle at Every Party!

You have a great outfit. You have killer heels, not to mention the best bling. Yet the overall look is still unfinished. Why? You can't go out of the house wearing just lip balm. You need to bring everything together with make up. You don't have to go overboard. Even some mascara, blush and lip gloss can bring sparkle to an evening ensemble.

The first step for any evening look is prepping your skin. After washing it apply a primer like Smashbox' s to help foundation and blush stay vibrant through the night. A moisturizer will also do the trick, leaving skin dewy and fresh looking. It will also eliminate any dry patches and make applying cosmetics easier. A good one to use is Origins Constant Comfort, a soothing concoction of healing herbs.

You can follow it up with the company's Plantidote serums to tone skin. Now you're ready for foundation if you want a more finished look. A party face deserves some shimmer so add a few drops of an illuminator like Revlon's Bare It All to your regular color. It gives the face a nice glow without looking too sparkly.

You can also wear it alone for a more radiant look. If you want a more matte look, then go with a durable, long lasting foundation such as Cover Girl's or Revlon's . After the foundation apply concealer to under eye circles and any breakout. Also cover eyelids with it to give eyes a brighter look.

If you're looking for a more natural look then apply only primer or moisturizer (any of the Origins' ones are the best) It also means not having to wipe off a full face of make up when you're dragging yourself to bed later on.

The next step is your eyes. Fall's cat's eye look is still a big trend. According to the December issue of Lucky magazine plum liner is the way to dress up lids for a big night out. Deep aubergine is a sexier alternative to black and highlights brown or blue eyes. . Almost every cosmetics company puts out a deep purple liner of some sort. If you're experimenting, go for the inexpensive ones such as e.l.f.'s liquid eyeliner. It only costs a dollar and it won't ruin your holiday budget.

It comes in a rich grape color and will makes eyes pop. Ulta and Prestige also have some good liners in a similar color that glide on effortlessly and won't give you "coon" eyes at the end of the night. They're also in the lower price range. What color shadow works with a plum liner? Lucky recommends a pale natural (think primer or base color). If you really want to add oomph then use a light dusting of a silvery purple or a shimmery silver eye color. Again go with Ulta or Prestige shadow here.

They come in a wide range of pretty shimmers that can go on sheer. Use a shadow brush for this, and dust the color on with a light hand. Line eyes. If you have this look , then downplay cheeks and lips. Delicately dust the your face with a pale pink such as Benefit's Dandelion blush. Finish with a pale lip color like Ulta's Baby Gloss or Revlon's' Moisturizing Lipstick in Naked Splash.

Another trend is the smoky gray eye Try Ulta's Sterling eye shadow, then smudge either charcoal or black eyeliner around rims. If the liner is a little too dramatic, then soften it with a navy color one. Navy will bring out blue eyes , making them look sparkly. If you want you can use a navy mascara such as Make Up Forever's Navy or Bobbi Brown's Midnight. Again keep blush and lip color to a bare minimum, Again Benefit's Dandelion or peach hued Hula all over blushes work here. For a soft mouth, try e.l.f;s Super Glossy Lip Shine 15 spf in Candlelight, Pink Kiss or Angel.

Red lips and a bare face are also a great party look (think Greta Garbo at her most glam).Companies such as Clinique and Estee Lauder have a wide range of red lipsticks with shades ranging from deep carmine to fire truck scarlet. Unfortunately this look scares many women. If that's the case, then think gloss. Again e.l.f. comes to the rescue with their Super Glossy Lip Shine spf 15 in Mauve Luxe (don't let the name fool you). This is a pale red infused with a golden hue.

It gives lips a soft candlelit glow, perfect for evening parties. You can also slick on Revlon's Just Bitten a vampy clear red stain that can also be use don cheeks. Prestige also has some ultra glossy reds in their Vinyl Wear High Shine lip Color collection. What goes with red lips? Nothing! If you want you can add subtle emphasis then concentrate on your lashes. Use an inky black one like Cover Girl's Lash Exact and Volume Exact . Brush on two to three coats and you're good to go. If you still feel your face is unfinished , just use a moisturizer for a dewy look.

The best look of all this season is the "I just got back from the islands for this party" look. All it requires is bronzer dusted all over the face. , a quick dusting of eye shadow and an easy swipe of gloss. First start off with a primer or your regular foundation. Dab on a cream blush on cheekbones and the bridge of your nose. Blend Then using a kabuki style brush, lightly dust bronzer over your face, including the temples and along the jaw line. Good bronzers to use are e.l.f.'s, Clinique's, or Ulta 's.

For eyes stay with the bronze color and try Cover Girl's Shadow Squease in Cocoa, Wet 'n Wild's Mega Eyes Liquid Shadow in Café Au Lait or Ulta's pressed shadow in Café Ole. Brush on two to three coats of mascara in brown and then slick on a pale bronzy gloss or lipstick such as e.l.f.'s Super Glossy Lip Shine 15 spf in Candlelit or Revlon's Moisturizing Lipstick in Honey Sip. What' so lovable about this look is that it can be done in minutes - great if you're short on prep time.

Strapped for time before the big do? Then go for the 1-2-3 route. Moisturize face and then dust with an all over blush such as Benefit's Dandelion or Hula or a light pressed powder such as Rimmel's Stay Matte. Add false eyelashes and your favorite gloss. The falsies will emphasize your eyes and the gloss will add glam without going over the top. You'll have a polished look that only took minutes to create.

Remember to include fingers and toes in this holiday look equation. A good mani/pedi accentuates and polishes off the whole look. Just remember don't have the cutesy reindeer/ candy cane/ Santa/elf airbrushed on your nails. Opt for dramatic cranberry or oxblood that will work with any look. (it'll also make that LBD look much more sophisticated) You can give yourself dramatic nails by using OPI's new Russian collection that is chock full of deep rubies and navies.

Revlon also has a wide array of jewel colors. Tired of this season's darks? Then paint fingers and toes with shimmery pearls and opals. Champagne and oyster shades are always popular and give hands and feet a fresh look. Another holiday favorite is a sheer polish with a gold or silver sheen to it. Apply two coats with a top coat for a very subtle yet noticeable look.

.Make the worst part of getting ready the most fun with a variety of looks. Go with smoky eyes for drama or red lips for glam. You can turn yourself into a tanned island hopping party girl just by using your favorite bronzer. Or just add false eyelashes and your favorite gloss for quick party look that will last until the wee hours of the morning! Create a look that will go perfectly with your party outfit this holiday season!