Holiday Make-Up, Fab and Festive

Sometimes preparing yourself for that holiday party seems more challenging than preparing for the new year ahead. We're sharing some seasonal trends and personal tips to make-up your face fabulous... and festive!

First, we suggest starting with a primer. This fills in the lines of your face and makes sure those holiday pictures turn out perfect! Our pick is Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which helps to even out your skin's texture.

Next, the most important step: Moisturize! It is important to choose a cream with sun protection, even in the winter, such as Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. This is also the point at which to apply a concealer or other corrector under the eyes or other spots needing a cover-up. One of our favorites is MAC's Studio Finish Concealer, also with SPF.

Once you've created the perfect canvas, choose any foundation - from tinted moisturizer to full coverage - that suits your skin tone. Find one with light reflecting particles, like Clarins True Radiance Foundation, which gives your skin a gorgeous glow. Use a dime size or smaller amount, starting from the center of your face and swiping outward with a sponge or foundation brush.

Especially for brunettes and darker haired beauties, don't forget the blush! Blush brightens your expression, defines your cheekbones, and completes your overall look. Apply a shade, like Nars Dolce Vita or any other berry, peach, or mauve hue to the apples of your cheeks, or high on the cheekbones, depending on your face shape. Use just enough to give yourself that "just in from the snow" glow.

And now, here is the best part. The latest cosmetic trends apply the "Either" Rule - either eyes or lips, and we agree! Heavy color in both places is harsh and too made-up. Instead, choose to wow with either the smoky eye or the luscious lip.

The smouldering eye is easy to achieve. Layer dark powder shadow, dark enough to pop on your entire lid, or choose a palette specifically for creating a smoky eye like Sephora's Smokey Eyes Palette, so you can just see it above your lashes when eyes are open. Blend away the hard edges. Line the upper and inside bottom rim (gently!) of your eyes with a dark brown or black cream eyeliner. We suggest Clinique Quickliner for Eyes, which glides on smoothly and comes in a great selection of shades. Dior Show Mascara creates long, thick, curvy lashes. But for some added oomph - Ardell False Eyelashes, in strips or singles, can up the ante!

Or, if you've chosen the lip look, don't pass up Shiseido Perfect Rouge LipStick in Dragon, for classy, kissable kissers.

You'll be ready for the stroke of midnight and a marvelous new year ahead!