Shimmering Holiday Makeup: Guest Post by MakeUp by Tiffany M {Virginia Photographer}

Happy Wednesday, Lovelies!

I have a secret confession…. I love, love, love Christmas.  I secretly listen to Christmas music in July.  I’ve made gingerbread cookies just because.  And here’s the worst, I didn’t take my tree down until March last year!

So in the spirit of everlasting holiday, I asked Tiffany of MakeUp by Tiffany M to post some tricks on holiday makeup.  As you may know, she was the makeup artist for my Ekster Antiques styled shoot. 

I love to look glam, but in all honesty, I keep it super simple.  No lipstick and certainly no brows.  As I look at myself in photos, I look washed out!  Tiffany knows how to do makeup for amazing photos.  I’m hoping to not only incorporate some of her tricks for Mi Amor’s work holiday shindig at a fancy museum, but also use them in my wedding.

Here’s Tiffany’s advice on a great holiday glam look:

Holiday's are all about sparkle, baby! So why limit yourself to using only one precious metal to make you eyes twinkle?! I chose this silver and bronze eye look as a fun, modern twist on a classic look. I also love doing smokey eyes with lighter colors like this.  It makes the look less vampy and a whole lot more romantic. Remember, makeup is a representation of you, so tweak it to suite your style and have fun with it!

It's a crime not to prime! Primer makes your makeup last through anything so start by priming your eyes and face. I like to use Tarte's Clean Slate 360 degree creaseless eye primer; your face primer should be chosen to suit your skin type. Next, fill in brows.

In order for these metallic shadows to really POP! you need to start with a bold base. Which is why I am using a silver cream eye shadow from Illamasqua's "fundamental" eye shadow palette. Make Up For Ever's "aqua cream #3" would also work.

Next take a shimmery silver eyeshadow, I'm using Urban Decay's "strip", and pack it into the lid up into the crease, focusing on the inner part of the eye, extend the shade into the tear duct area and up towards the inner brow to make eyes look bright and open.

Next blend a shimmery bronze or gold color into the crease, I used Tarina Tarantino's "sparklicity pure pigment" in bronze. Now blend and blend and blend some more!

Finish the look with liquid liner, a sexy cat eye is the exclamation point to any bold look.  Line your waterline with a black pencil and smudge the silver eye shadow across the lower lashline and blend into the eyeliner. Curl lashes and add mascara. Optional ways to jazz it up even more; use a raw cosmetic glitter or glitter eyeliner around the tear duct area of the eye to add sparkle then pop on some dramatic lashes! 

Doing the eyes first is important so that any glitter/shadow fall out can be easily wiped away. Proceed with a good medium to full coverage foundation, I used Kat Von D's "lock it tattoo foundation", then conceal under the eyes and any blemishes. I like to set my foundation with a superfine translucent setting powder, they look a lot more natural and never cake up. I like Make Up For Ever's "HD microfinish powder."

Contour cheekbones with bronzer and blush and follow up with a highlighter on the top of the cheekbones and down the bridge of the nose. I like Benefit's "high beam" for pink toned or fair skinned girls, or "sun beam" for olive and deeper skin tones. 

Now polish it off with a nude lip, I lined my lips with Make Up For Ever's "aqua lipliner #3c" and filled in with Soap and Glory's "sexy mother pucker lip gloss in half naked." 

So, what do you think?  Do you think you can incorporate this look for one of your holiday gatherings?

* I was not paid for this post.  I just love Tiffany's work.

* Photos by MakeUp by Tiffany M