Dear Bobbi

Here To Solve Your Holiday Makeup Problems

POST BY: ALI LABELLE’S

À La Carte

Dear Bobbi,

I typically don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I’m going to a fancy holiday party and it's time to zhuzh it up. How can I elevate my look but still keep it natural?

Sincerely,

Plain Jane

If you like the no-makeup makeup look like I do, here’s what I do when I have to go to a party. Believe it or not, I start with my earrings and choose a pair that has some sparkle and a little bit of drama, even if they’re small. I try to replicate that sparkle on my face.

I start with my skin, depending on what it needs—whether it’s moisturizer, foundation, or even a few face pencils. I lighten up under my eyes, then use a bronzer to gently tint my skin and help the foundation last longer. I always begin with brown shadow and pencil, which is perfect for a no-makeup makeup look. But if I want to take it up a notch, I apply one to two coats of black mascara, sometimes going up to four coats. I also add black liner on top of the brown shadow for great definition.

Now it’s time for sparkle. There’s nothing better for me than sparkle wash during the holidays because it adds the feeling of having rhinestone or diamond earrings on my cheeks. I love pink and maybe a little bit of sparkly Miracle Balm, or you can even use sparkle wash shadow on top of your blush. For me, I always go nude on the lips. I don’t believe there’s a red for everyone, as there definitely isn’t a red for me.

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Dear Bobbi,

I always feel like a fraud when I wear a red lip. Maybe I just haven’t found my shade??? How does one figure out which red lipstick is the right red lipstick? Help!!!

Sincerely,

Ho-Ho-Hot Mess

Funnily enough, I once said a quote many years ago that became an ad: "You’re either a red lipstick person or you’re not." So, if you’re struggling to find a red lipstick, my advice is to stop looking. I prefer to wear red on my short nails, which gives me a bit of polish and a pop of color. But for my lips, I always go for lip-tone lipstick and experiment with different textures depending on my mood.

If you still think you want to try a red lipstick, go for a sheer red gloss or a tinted balm. It’s much more forgiving, and you can easily pull it off by blotting it on.

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Dear Bobbi,

I want to wear some shimmery makeup on New Year’s Eve, but I can’t figure out where to put it. My eyes? My cheekbones? Everywhere?! How much sparkle is just enough sparkle?

Sincerely,

Spark-less

The difference between shimmer, sparkle, and glitter is very subtle, and I like all of them. The trick is to find ones that are forgiving in texture and not too matte or dense. However, if you go bold with sparkle on the eyes—which is what I love to do for New Year’s Eve—keep a little luminosity on your cheeks with a subtle highlight and skip shimmer on the lips. Instead, opt for a gloss or a nude matte lip.

And if you're wearing a short dress, don’t forget to mix some shimmer with your moisturizer—it gives your body a beautiful sheen.

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Dear Bobbi,

I need a gift for my mother-in-law, and I thought she’d like a makeup refresh, but it’s a little out of my wheelhouse. Where should I start? Any crowd-pleasers you’d recommend?

Sincerely,

UnfaMILiar

I’m going to say, if you happen to live near a Jones Road Beauty store, it’s a great place to start. The artists there are trained by me and know how to work with anyone’s style and skill set. If you're in the UK, there’s a counter at Liberty, and the makeup artists there are fantastic.

Another option is to visit the Jones Road Beauty website, take the quiz, and start learning how to apply makeup and choose the colors that are right for her.

Lastly, if you hire a local makeup artist, make sure you at least like their personal style. If you’re a makeup minimalist and the artist is not, she may not be the right fit—especially for your mother-in-law!

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