Nightlife

Get your party face on: Holiday makeup tips

Image
Makeup artist Krystle Randall works on a Kardashian-inspired New Year’s Eve makeup look on Weekly staffer Deanna Rilling.
Photo: Leila Navidi

Ladies, it’s time to put your best face forward. Holiday parties aplenty are descending upon Las Vegas, but getting dolled up for the clubs doesn’t have to mean looking like the 10-year-old who got into Mommy’s cosmetics. Makeup artist Krystle Randall stopped by the Weekly office to transform three staffers with step-by-step, nightclub-ready makeovers for the holidays and New Year’s Eve. For the winter party season, Randall says the trend is all about sparkles and incorporated them into each look.

Makeup Tips Slideshow

Nightlife Makeup Tips

General tips to remember for all of the looks created by Randall:

1. Always start with a moisturizer. Randall recommends stopping by Kiehl's at the Forum Shops for an all-natural lotion that’s easy on skin.

2. Start with eye makeup first, especially when using sparkles, so they don’t set on foundation and you can clean them off.

3. Never use craft glitter as sparkles on the face! Use loose sparkle pigment, instead, available in the cosmetics aisle.

4. Go thicker on the eyeliner for deeper set eyes.

5. Apply mascara to bottom lashes first, because you look up when applying mascara to the bottom lashes. If top lashes are still wet when you apply the bottom, you’ll smudge your makeup.

6. When it comes to foundation, less is more. Use a creamy concealer only when you need it. Not everyone needs a foundation. Simply moisturize, then use powder to keep skin looking nice and healthy. Mineral powders give an everyday softer appearance. Inexpensive lines are available at Target. Apply with a reusable sponge for a flawless look or go with a brush for thicker coverage.

7. For eyebrows, Randall says there’s a return to the natural look – not too thin or thick. Simply fill in the brow where needed. Tame brows with a cream, and always go a shade lighter with brow color, not darker.

8. A good eyebrow arch is always important. Eyebrow threading is better than waxing, because it doesn’t damage the skin.

9. When using fake eyelashes, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re going it alone, put lashes right into the lash line, lift brow and let glue get tacky to the point when it’s almost dry before applying. (FYI: Eyelash glue comes in black, as well). Thinner lashes will make for a more natural look; fuller lashes are for a more dramatic eye.

10. Randall says dark complexions can usually pull off a variety of pigments, especially red lipstick, but ladies with thin lips should skip cherry lips. Red-heads or women with Indian heritage should make sure to find a shade that doesn’t clash with their skin tone.

Look #1—April Corbin

Saying April Corbin isn’t a fan of wearing makeup is an understatement. Yet, we convinced her to climb into the chair for a whole new look. For April’s makeover, Randall went for basic soft and smoky eyes. Go lighter on the shades for a daytime look, heavier on the shadow – and add currently trendy red lipstick—for a nighttime look. Here, the step-by-step guide to getting April’s look:

1. Apply moisturizer.

2. Cover from lash to browline with a cream base eye shadow. Randall used the MAC paint pot in “Constructivist.”

3. Next, add a goldish/brown sparkle eye shadow over the whole lid, but not near the brow, with a flat or crease brush.

4. For added sparkle, use loose pigments on top of the shadow.

5. Using a soft brown sparkle eye pencil, line the lower and upper lash lines.

6. Smoke out bottom lash line with a loose sparkle pigment.

7. Add light sparkles on the inner rim of eyes near the nose. Clean up any dropped sparkles.

8. Apply black mascara to the top and bottom lashes. Let one coat dry, then apply second.

9. On the brow bone, use a skin-colored shadow to add extra shimmer.

10. Set makeup with a loose powder to help it last longer.

11. Fill in the brows as needed.

12. For the lips, Randall used a NARS velvet matte chubby lip pencil in “Diablo” to line and fill.

13. Add false eyelashes just to the outside of the lid.

Total application time: About 15 minutes.

Look #2—Laura Davis

Twilight is not only a hit at the box office, but also in makeup trends this season. Going for the sultry-yet-simple look mixed with a touch of Hollywood glam, Randall transformed Laura from office-friendly to red carpet-ready.

1. Apply moisturizer.

2. Cover the eyelids with a cream base in a light white, like Smashbox’s. When using a light eye color, put eye drops in the eyes first so they won’t not look yellow.

3. Add a shimmery layer all over the lid and underneath the lower lashline on the inside near the bridge of the nose.

4. Brush a white shimmery eye shadow all over the lid again with a puffy crease brush.

5. Next, use a white glitter, applying as little as possible.

6. For eyeliner, Randall recommends a cake eyeliner. Add a bit of water and use a thin, long eyeliner brush to make long strokes starting at the lashline near the nose, following the lashline, then winging out a little bit before the lash line ends. If you’re not comfortable with cake eyeliner, liquid liner is a good substitute. Do not line the bottom lashes.

7. Fill in spaces on the eyebrows if needed.

8. Add a white soft shimmer underneath the eyes.

9. Use sparkle mascara, such as Benefit, on top of black mascara to catch the light.

10. Apply, thick fake lashes and reapply sparkle mascara.

11. For this look, do not use bronzer or blush.

12. Apply loose powder to set the makeup.

13. Red lipstick gives this look an extra kick of color. Try MAC “Russian Red” then gloss with MAC dazzleglass in “She-zam.”

Total time: About 20 minutes.

Look #3—Deanna Rilling

If anyone knows how to get club-ready, it’s the Kardashian sisters. To recreate Kim’s signature look we had to call in a professional like Randall. Since you probably don’t have an airbrush machine just lying around, focus on mastering the basics of the eye makeup for a dramatic look on New Year’s Eve.

1. When you’ve got hereditary dark circles like Deanna’s, an under-eye brightener layered on top of concealer will help make the eyes pop.

2. Apply a cream base black eye shadow as a primer in a sideways “V” shape around the outside corner of eyes and along the lash line.

3. Use dark colors to create a smoky eye effect, such as browns, purples and greys.

4. Brush shadow directly over the base in the same sideways “V”. Be sure to blend well. “If you have black up to your eyebrow you’re going to look like you’re on drugs,” Randall jokes.

5. Add purple tones to make green eyes pop, gold for blue eyes and brown eyes have the most freedom, because they are good with any color. Avoid using red or pink too close to the eye; it will make you look tired.

6. Brush the inside corner of the eye with a neutral shimmer shadow.

7. Line the inner lower rim of the eyes with a kohl black liner, smudging the liner all over with a thin brush.

8. Apply mascara to lower and upper lashes.

9. Add a set of full false eyelashes, and use a liquid liner on top of the lash to cover the lashline.

More

From the Archives
Body-painting makeover with Randall (10/29/09)
Beyond the Weekly
Makeup by KoLoR

10. For a flawless look, visit a professional for a literal airbrushing, as Randall did here in lieu of standard foundation. Airbrushing gives you thin, full coverage and stands up well to a long night of partying.

11. Apply bronzer to define cheekbones.

12. Whenever you go with a dark eye, choose a nude gloss.

13. Finally, to really look like a Kardashian, Randall says you’ll need a large eye base and good eye crease. Anyone with close-set eyes should keep dark shades on the outside only. If the eyes are far apart, bring dark colors near the middle to bring the eyes closer together.

Total time: About 40 minutes

-Additional reporting by Laura Davis

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