How to party-proof your makeup this festive season

Make sure your look lasts through an evening of cocktails and canapés, says Sarah Young

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The season for socialising is finally upon us as our calendars begin to fill up with after-work get-togethers, boozy bashes and invites to the ultimate shindig, New Year’s Eve.

A time for cocktail dresses, champagne glugging and munching on mince pies, the holiday party period is full of festive fun but also brings with it a lethal combination of sweaty drunk dancing and extreme weather

Alas, it’s going to take some effort to ensure your makeup stays in place until you’re ready to catch your Uber ride home.

Luckily, there are things you can do to ensure your festive face stays put after hours of sipping on champagne.

Here, we take a look at everything you need to party-proof your look.

In your prime

Smashbox, The Original Photo Finish Foundation Primer, £26, Look Fantastic

Using a primer might seem like an extra, unnecessary step in your routine but trust us when we say your 2am face will thank you.

Essential to achieving a smooth complexion, the right primer will plump and hydrate your skin while simultaneously providing something for the rest of your makeup to grip on to.

Whether you have oily, dry or ageing skin, there are plenty of options available on the market to help you achieve the best possible canvas to work with. However, our favourite all-rounder is Smashbox’s Original Photo Finish Foundation Primer which uses an oil-free formula to blur pores and imperfections.

Layer up

It Cosmetics, Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, £30, Boots

When it comes to foundation, you want to invest in a product that, while long-lasting, won’t look cakey.

For this, we recommend It Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. A full-coverage formula that’s budge-free, it blends seamlessly into your skin without the need for relentless blending.

It’s also important to build up your base in light layers rather than blanket coverage. This will ensure your makeup lasts longer and always looks more natural. For optimal results, apply yours with a damp beauty sponge.

Bake off

Airbrush Flawless Finish, £34, Charlotte Tilbury

No, we’re not suggesting that you whip up a quick Victoria Sponge, we’re talking about baking your makeup.

A term that requires packing loose powder onto the areas where your makeup might slip – underneath the eyes, along the jawline and underneath your cheekbones – before sweeping it away with a brush, baking promises to fix your base in place all night long.

If that sounds a little OTT for your taste though, invest in a pressed powder like Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish, which uses micro powders and nano-particles to blur away lines, and smooth your skin.

The perfect formula

Luxe Matte Lip Colour, £28, Bobbi Brown

If you want your lipstick to last through an evening of cocktails and canapes then only a matte formula will do.

Here you have the choice of a standard lippie or a liquid version, though the latter requires a much steadier hand. Our product of choice here is Bobbi Brown’s Luxe Matte Lip Colour, which offers heavily pigmented colour in an impressive 18 shades.

If you prefer a more subtle look, try patting the colour onto your lips instead swiping but, if it’s high-impact hues you’re after remember to prep your pout with a lip scrub and lip liner.

Get set and go

Prep + Prime Fix+, £19, Mac Cosmetics

The final product in your party-proof beauty kit, a setting spray is arguably the most important step.

In fact, we’d go as far as to say if you’re going to buy just one item from this list, then Mac’s Prep + Prime Fix+ should be it.

A lightweight mist that’s packed with vitamins and minerals, it will give your skin an instant boost of hydration while giving your finished look the staying power it needs.