Gilty pleasures: gold makeup for the party season

Add a hint of metal to your make-up this festive season for the easiest way to achieve a party-ready look

Glitter nail polishes and gold lipstick might sound like the kind of thing experimented with on your first discovery of make-up, but put aside those ill-advised notions of badly applied gloss – molten cosmetics are having a moment.

Of course all things gold and sparkly are not exactly a new phenomenon for the festive season, but thanks to the innovative skills of one particular make-up artist, this is a trend that is expected to run right through to spring.

A consistent highlight of Milan Fashion Week, the Prada show is never short of attention. Rather than the clothing stealing the scene, back in September at the spring/summer 2016 show, the beauty was afforded a moment, when make-up artist Pat McGrath chose the show to debut the first product from her very own make- up collection, Gold 001.

Legend isn’t a word used lightly – but its appropriate to describe McGrath, the British cosmetic wizard whom Vogue has described as the most influential in the world. As the creative director of Procter & Gamble beauty she oversees many of the products you’ll find in your make-up bag, including for Max Factor and Dolce & Gabbana. This however, is the very first time she’s branched out on her own.

Rather than test the waters with something subtle, McGrath went bold. Gold 001 is a rather eye-catching bright gold pigment that can be used in multiple ways from a soft face shimmer or eye-shadow to the sleek gold lips that were shown at Prada. Released in limited quantities last month it unsurprisingly immediately sold out.

Fortunately, McGrath is planning an extended product line offering, although this isn’t pegged to be released till 2016, but there are plenty of other offerings available to get a metallic inspired look in the meantime.

If the Prada show is your inspiration MAC’s powder pigment in Old Gold might just do the trick, for something a little more understated a gold lipstick like Tom Ford’s Rory shade will leave a pretty subtle sheen.