It's almost New Year's Eve, so what better time than now to rock dramatic makeup, right? With that said, sporting a bold new trend is NOT the same as over-the-top makeup that makes you look like a total drag queen. So many chicas don't seem to know where to draw the line between drama and drag.
Take this old school picture of Christina Aguilera for instance. I get that she was at a M.A.C. cosmetics event, but still, what the hell was she thinking? That hot pink shadow extended from her lids to her forehead and even blended in with her blush. And why does it perfectly match her outfit? Ugh! So glad she finally got her makeup act together!
Readmore ¿Qué más? Jennifer Lopez shows us how to rock emerald green eye shadow for the holidays
The problem most women have is they wind up using WAY more makeup than they need to. They cake on the foundation, they overdo it with the shadow, and they do so much contouring it looks like they just came out of a plastic surgery office. Not OK! You can rock colorful lids and bright, bold lips without looking like a finalist out of RuPaul's Drag Race. Here's a few tips on how to avoid caked-on makeup this holiday season!
Create a natural-looking canvas: Nothing irks me more than cakey foundation. It totally defeats the point of putting on foundation in the first place. You want your skin to look smooth and flawless, but still natural. I recommend applying a face primer, like Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfecting Primer ($30) first. Apply a lightweight liquid foundation, like Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Treatment Foundation ($52) using a sponge, like the Beauty Blender ($20). It picks up less product than a foundation brush would.
Use an eyeshadow palette: Want to try a smokey eye? Avoid an eye makeup disaster and use a smokey eyeshadow kit, like Too Face Smokey Eye Shadow Collection ($36). It comes with complementary shades along with how-to lesson cards that make it easy (and of course possible) for anyone to nail this look.
Keep your lips simple: My rule for makeup is, if you're going to go big and bold with the eyes, keep your lips simple. Dark lids look great with a bare pout. Try a gloss, like Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Shiny Perfect Nude ($14).
Keep your blush subtle: You already have a layer of primer and foundation on. To prevent your skin from looking cakey, add a dap of cream blush to the apples of your cheeks. I'm obsessed with Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Powder Pink ($26). You can use it to stain your lips too!
Relax with the bronzer: Bronzer is not a self-tanner. I repeat bronzer is NOT a self-tanner. Don't apply it all over your face. Instead, take a stick formula, like NARS The Multiple in Palm Beach ($39), and blend it on your cheeks, bridge of your nose, and chin. That's it!
Image via Getty Images
