Blogmas | An everyday festive face

I think there's a fine line between going overboard on your make up around Christmas, and getting it just right. I feel I've managed to get my everyday face for December just right - with the perfect amount of sparkle without going overboard.

I'm going to follow this up with an evening look as well that may help a few of your for your Christmas Do's, however this face is very much one for heading to work everyday, or just going to a Christmas Market. So let's run through what I do.


BASE
Before I put anything on my face I always put on a mattifying moisturiser, just to smooth everything over and keep my face nice and hydrated throughout the day. But after that, I put on the Max Factor Smooth Miracle Primer, which is a beautiful little primer that smooths everything out ready for easy foundation application. It also helps to blur the skin a little to help mask imperfections, and gets rid of any redness. I've then applied my L'Oreal True Match Foundation, which is the perfect everyday base and buff this in with the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush. It has a lovely natural glow to it without making you look sweaty or oily, and their colour matches are incredibly. It has a very even finish and lasts really well throughout the day. I then brighten under my eyes with the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer which just helps to disguise any dark circles and bags. I finish off my base by using the Hourglass Surreal Light Powder in the Ambient Lighting Edit Surreal Light palette. I dust this all over my face with the Real Techniques Powder Brush.

CHEEKS
For my cheeks, I continue using the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Surreal Light. I take the bronzer Surreal Bronze Light and lightly contour my cheek bones, using the Real Techniques Contour Brush. It gives a really natural contour and it's not too in your face. It also has a touch of shimmer so lightens and gives a little something special for December. I then use the Surreal Effect blush from the same palette, applying it with the Real Techniques Blush Brush, sweeping it up my cheekbones. It gives a gorgeous natural rosey blush with a little highlight thrown in.

EYES
For the eyes I like to keep it simple, but I've loved using a gorgeous gold on my lids to keep it festive. It's really easy to make sure it stays daytime friendly as well - just don't overdo it. I've been using the Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette, which I got for Christmas last year. Using the Eco Tools Shading Brush, I cover my life with the light champagne shimmer shade, High, concentrating on my inner corner to lighten my eyes and make them look more awake.. Then with the Eco Tools Blending Brush I take the gorgeous gold shade, DirtySweet and take it all over my lid. I then use the same brush and take Radar, a lovely bronze shade, and blend in the outer corners and crease to create a very subtle everyday smoke. My lashes are then coated with the perfect all day mascara, the Benefit Rollerlash mascara. It gives the perfect length, definition and curl.

LIPS
Before I put any colour on my lips, I like to scrub any dry skin away with a Lush lip scrub, and then smooth over with my Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm. Then for my lips I like to go a bit more dramatic, so I line my lips with the Rimmel Exaggerate in Obsession, a gorgeous dark berry. I then add a little gloss with Mac Creemsheen Gloss.

And that's it! This is my everyday festive face. The gold eyeshadow gives the perfect touch of festive feeling, while the rest of the face stays quite subtle.