Holiday Beauty Failures

That wonderful time of year has come in which we all stuff ourselves into itchy sweaters, rack up ridiculous credit card bills, and head off to glamorous holiday shindigs. But no matter how glamorous that they seem, we all know a few people who have fallen victim to some terrible holiday beauty faux-pas. What makes the holidays different from any other time of year, beauty-wise? The short answer is, nothing. But yet, here are some common mistakes that women repeat year after year.

Blue eyeshadow. It seems to be a common misconception that frosty blue eyeshadow is the best possible complement to the frosty blue air. No. Over and over again at holiday parties do I see done-up women dressed to the nines, who then proceed to wreck it with this tacky blue shadow. Any color of eyeshadow, done correctly and in the right shade, can be pulled off. But when you're made up like Mimi from "The Drew Carey Show," you are doing it wrong. Pick a color that suits your skin tone and not the weather!

Glitter. Now, this may sound Grinch-y, but there is nothing tackier than sparkles all over a person's face - glittery eyeshadow, glittery lipgloss, glitter eye liner. There seems to be some sort of unwritten belief that a festive season that is celebrated with bright lights means that you need to try to emulate that light on your face...with the heavy use of glitter. Ladies, no. Everything in moderation, please! Glitter and shimmer can be cute and a girl's best friend, but don't use the holidays as an excuse to overdo it. Too much of a good thing is possible after all.

Too much bronzer. This is another area in which you need to be careful. Many people think that just because the weather is cold and the sun isn't out as long, that we need to get our color from somewhere. I mean, who wants to be pale and pasty anyway? While I am a strong advocate of embracing your natural coloring, I understand that sometimes bronzer can be a beautiful thing. It can make us look warm and healthy, and who wouldn't want that? Well, bronzer is one of those things where a little bit can go a long way. Ladies, it's winter - nobody expects you to be 4 shades darker than you really are unless you just came back from a tropical vacation and trust me, no one thinks you did. It is the harsh, bronzed truth.

Too much perfume. This one is personal. They say that a person's sense of smell is the best trigger for memories, and for me this is absolutely true. The one thing I have hated about every single holiday party that I have ever attended, is that men and women pile on way too much perfume and cologne! It's like their all battling for their scent to be the strongest; what is this, the jungle?! Before you head out the door, dab on no more perfume than usual, please. There seems to be something about the holidays that makes us overdo it, and it's killing your friends' olfactory senses.

The holidays tend to be a time of surplus - too much food, too much money spent, but too much makeup and other beauty products should be shelved year-round. Before you step out this season, give yourself a quick once-over and get rid of all the extras bogging down your style. It's true what they say - less really is more. It's great to show off around the holiday season, but when it comes to your makeup (no matter what we think), not all seasons are created equal!